As the Death Stench tentacle dragged her across the floor Kaori managed to snag an item from the shelves, specifically a hand-held battery-operated electric fan. As this was a display model it already contained batteries.

She hurriedly twisted around and sat up as she switched on the fan and aimed it at the tentacle that held her ankle. It disappeared as the wind blew away the miasma. She raised the fan in time to disperse the other tentacles.

From outside she heard the Death Stench beast roar again. Before it could send more tentacles after her she scrambled to her feet, picked up the firework and phial, and rushed upstairs. It took only a moment for her to reach the rooftop door.

Kaori pushed open the door and ran out onto the roof. She hurried over to the edge and peered down. She sighed in relief as she saw that Toriyama was alive. He had finally come to his senses and was struggling furiously but uselessly against the tentacles that held him. The creature was observing him with what seemed like amusement.

She heard a whooshing sound from behind her and turned to see what looked like a winged version of the machine Koyanagi had made fly past the roof. Had Shirakawa been present he would have recognised the machine, and the infected man strapped to it as Koyanagi, the scientist having zoomed past him on that very machine after he had said his goodbyes to Kaori.

As it was, the machine and its "pilot" flew away and disappeared before she could get a closer look at it but before it did so someone jumped off and stood up to face her.

That 'someone' was the Citrus Circus Ringmaster.

"I know you" he said. "My main attraction ran away as soon as it saw you. Why was that I wonder?"

She glared at him. "His name was Tadashi and he was my fiancé! You had no right to treat him that way!"

"Well it is of no consequence now" he replied. "What matters is you want to destroy the gas and I cannot allow that."

"Why not? We're trying to help the sick people be well again."

"Sick people? Have you still not learned? I'll tell you like I told the scientist. The gas is a living being. One that will be around after all the humans and animals are gone for it is a superior life form to anything else on this world."

"If you truly believe this disease is superior to human beings then I pity you." said Kaori firmly. "What does this creature know of love or kindness? What does it know of being in love with someone with all your heart? I'll tell you. It knows NOTHING because it has no heart! Even animals feel and care about each other. This gas is not superior, it's inferior!"

"Enough! I'll hear no more of this!" With that he pulled out a switchblade, extended it with a click and charged right at her!

Kaori jumped out of the way and the Ringmaster ran past her. Before he could stop himself he went over the edge of the roof. She tried to catch his ankle but was too late and he fell with a terrified scream. She managed to get back just in time to avoid seeing him hit the ground.

Willing herself not to think about what had just happened she took out some electrical wire she'd borrowed from the lab and secured the phial to the firework. She then aimed it up at the sky, lit the fuse and hastily backed away.

Please let this work she thought as the fuse burned away.

The firework flew up into the gas-filled sky with a high-pitched whistle and exploded high overhead in a burst of red and yellow lights. For several tense seconds nothing happened. Then a light shower of blue-tinted rain began to fall.

As if by magic the putrid fumes of the Death Stench gas disappeared, leaving the air clear and untainted once more. Just like that the horrible odour that had defiled the city was completely gone. The air even seemed to grow lighter as the oppressive, smothering pall was lifted.

The Death Stench beast uttered a chilling wail as it melted away, the sickening miasma that formed it being destroyed on a molecular level. Then it disappeared entirely, a fading wail the only trace it had ever been there.

Toriyama hit the ground, the impact leaving him bruised but otherwise unhurt. He got to his feet, looked up at Kaori with a huge grin and gave a thumb's up. She returned the gesture with an overjoyed smile.

It worked! Kaori thought giddily as she inhaled deeply. It felt wonderful to again be able to breath air that didn't stink of rotting flesh. She couldn't wait to tell everyone else aboard the ship!

The captain didn't even notice the rain at first, so focused was he on pleading with Chihiro not to throw herself overboard while struggling fruitlessly to stop her as she made it to the deck. When she stopped moving he let go and moved back, ready to pounce again if she started for the deck railings but she stayed still. Only then did he notice the bluish rain.

Before his eyes Chihiro shrank down to her regular size. The bumps and green discolouration disappeared from her skin. Within seconds she was fully returned to normal.

"Ch, Chihiro-chan?" he said haltingly, barely able to believe what he had just seen. Coming to his senses he hurriedly pulled off his coat and put it around her.

"Father, am, am I okay?" she asked unsurely as she got up.

"Yes my child, you're all right" he replied, tears tricking down his cheeks. Father and daughter hugged each other in joy and relief.

Had either of them looked towards the shore they would have seen the army of human walkers slump on top of the machines, tubes falling away from their bodies as they also were cured. The machines themselves remained still, no longer infectious and unable to move without the gas to power them.

Koyanagi also found himself caught in the rain. He fell like a stone as his flying machine sputtered and died, finally crashing to earth and leaving nothing but twisted wreckage.

When his remains were finally found only Kaori realised what they were but she said nothing. Despite what he had done she knew that Tadashi would not want his uncle's memory to be dragged through the mud.

The next few weeks were incredibly busy but the feeling of overpowering joy and relief at being free of the Death Stench kept everyone's spirits high.

Kaori returned to the ship to be greeted by a heroine's welcome. Chihiro and her father in particular had thanked her profusely. While flattered she explained that there was no time to celebrate yet. A lot of people needed help.

The ship came ashore and the survivors quickly gathered up the newly-cured people, "borrowing" clothes for them from deserted stores and getting them to hospitals. At first the people were comatose but before long they began awakening.

The Citrus Circus Big Top was found abandoned, the members having fled into hiding without the Ringmaster to direct them. The people they had used as attractions, including those used to power the Colossal Cannon, were all cured and rescued.

Sadly not everyone was recovered. Erika and Aki had died before being reanimated by the gas. Once it was neutralised they returned to being lifeless. Kaori was saddened by this but took comfort in the fact that at least they could now rest in peace.

Shirakawa by contrast was restored to full health. Kaori visited him as often as she could and when he woke up she hugged him happily.

"Thank you so much Kaori-san" he said as he returned the hug. "You truly are a remarkable person."

"It wasn't only me" she replied. "I'll tell you the whole story later."

"I'll be happy to hear it."

As more people awoke things began to return to normal. Electricity and running water were quickly restored to the city and families were reunited. Pilots took to the skies with canisters filled with the neutralising agent that they distributed throughout Japan. Once that was done teams of volunteers moved in to help the cured people recover and begin the process of restoring order.

Once Japan had been fully cleansed of the gas they turned their attention to the rest of the world. It was a monumental task but was made easier by the fact that their numbers only grew as time went by. Bit by bit humanity reclaimed Earth from the vile pestilence that had threatened to engulf it until finally every last trace of the Death Stench had been erased.

As the world returned fully to normal Kaori was content to remain anonymous, with only a few people knowing the full extent of her role in saving Earth. Toriyama, Shirakawa, Chihiro and the captain urged her to accept the acknowledgement she deserved but she declined, not wanting to be a public figure. They respected her wishes but assured her that they would never forget what she had done.

Months later Kaori stood before a beautifully carved family grave. In her hand was a bouquet of sweet-smelling flowers. She gazed tenderly at the most recent name added to the monument.

Tadashi's body had been torn apart by the walkers so completely that no remains could be recovered but she had obtained permission to bury the scrapped chassis of the walker he had died on. It was better than nothing.

She took a moment to look around. The sun shone down from a bright blue sky, no longer obscured by patterns of gas. The air was fresh and clear, without even a hint of noxious fumes. From nearby came the sound of birds singing.

Finally she spoke. "I wish you could see this. Since we got rid of that awful gas everything seems so much more vibrant. It's almost like the Earth wants to remind us that this is a world of life, not of decay."

She paused for a moment before continuing.

"I'm sorry I couldn't save you Tadashi" she said softly. "I know you wouldn't want me to feel that way but I can't help it." Her lips curled into a small smile. "Don't worry, I won't spend the rest of my life filled with sadness and guilt because I know you wouldn't want that either. I'll honour you by living and by making the most of each day until I can be with you again in Heaven."

As she knelt to place the flowers on the grave a light breeze brushed against her cheek. It felt like a kiss.

Smiling she stood up. "I have to go now but I'll come back soon. I love you Tadashi."

As she turned and walked away the flowers rustled slightly. Almost as if someone had sniffed them…

Author's Note: And with that we come to the end. After watching "Gyo: Tokyo Fish Attack" I really wanted to write a "what happened next?" story for it in order to provide a happier outcome.

I realise that the main religions in Japan are Shinto and Buddhism. I mean no offence to any Shinto or Buddhist readers. I simply felt more comfortable making references to Christianity (i.e. Heaven) as I am more familiar with it personally. In my defence even a minority religion in a country has some followers so it's not totally impossible Kaori could be a Christian.

Thank you very much to everyone who reads this story. Special thanks go to Traitor of All Traitors for adding this story to their Favourites list and for very kindly reviewing each chapter. I really appreciate it and I hope you liked how it went.