az: Because I had to have to write something on this 'kindred' spirit to Yumeto. Read & Review. Because I know my take on these two would probably be off a bit.

Loop : Manaka Tomoo

Written by Izzu alias honou-no-izumi

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He wished that he could have died as well... long ago.

When Hideo died, he felt sorrow.

He felt anger at the injustice.

He felt... at lost.

But he had buried those feelings inside his heart, because his mother was still alive. With Hideo gone, he was the only other family his mother had. He have to become a strength to which his mother could depend on to keep living. Yet, even that was taken away. The moment that spiteful man sent his lawyer to deliver the last insult to his mother.

A monetary condolence.

As if that could bring Hideo back.

Have any of them asked them for money? No. Aside from the justice that has been taken away from them, his mother and him wanted nothing from those rich bastards. Despicable people! Are the lives of the people they sacrificed along their paths valued little in their eyes? So worthless that they could have just throw their worthless papers to others, expecting their sins to be cleared? Arrogant fools!

As he continued watching Serizawa constantly year by year, his heart had been constantly bombarded with endless cycle of despair and anger. While he had been suffering, that person continued to live happily. As if Hideo was nothing but a past memory. He wondered which of the two he hated more? That young man... or the father?

He hated the fact that this hatred that continued to grow and mutate inside his heart, continuing to eat him. He hated the fact that he had remained living in despair, while the injustice still continued to be unresolved. They should also kill him as well. They've already taken his brother, mother... as well as his own livelihood. What else he should live for?

Thankfully, he was not truly alone. He had Ryo by his side, he could at least have a bit of comfort in company of another. But then, that also had been taken away the moment Ryo died. It had been just an instant, but Ryo had risked his own safety to push him out of danger. At the cost of his own life.

Again, he continued to live... while others have died, leaving him behind. Another life had been lost. Another reminder of what Serizawa had done to ruin his life. If Hideo had still be alive, if his mother was still alive as well—his life would have turned out to be different. He and Ryo wouldn't have ended up running towards that place for shelter, and Ryo would not have died so early. And he could have been able to live happily with his sister.

Perhaps, that was why... he did not hesitate when he took on Ryo's name and killed himself. It seemed fate kept wanting to let him remain in the darkness.

Alas, the only salvation he have had, during all those years... had been Ryo's sister. As well as that girl. That one who had brought his brother's truth to the open. Even if it was not much, he appreciated it all the same. As for Ryo's sister, at least he could spare her grief by not knowing of her brother's death while pretending as Ryo. In return, he could keep to this new identity of his while bidding his time.

Despite that, his feelings had been real. He had treated Makiko-san as his own sister. That's... the only thing left of his supposedly normal life.

When he met Shiori again after so long, he had vowed to keep his distance from her. But saying it and acting on it were totally different thing. Without meaning to, he have let her to reside inside his heart. Like moth to a fire, they were drawn to each other. Though he wondered who was actually the moth, who was it the fire? Like that story of the two siblings, Shiori-san seemed to have been able to melt his heart that had so long turned into stone. Yet, he could not allow himself such bliss. He, who had strayed far into the depth of hell. He has no right to seek for salvation, for her or even his own stained soul.

Perhaps it had been the same for that person as well.

Somehow, as he continued his path of vengeance—he started having his own doubts. Did he really hated that person? Had he somehow misunderstood everything? As he got to know more about Serizawa Naoto, the more he wished for that person to quickly find his way towards him. Perhaps—he really did, want to be saved. Like Shiori-san said. Perhaps...

Or could all those repeated requests for forgiveness had somehow mellowed the raging fire inside of him? Or that... Shiori-san's words...

It was no use. It was too late to turn back now. Even if he wanted to.

He couldn't even stop Yamano.

Even then, perhaps there would at least be someone who will be spared out of these chains of events that he had started. Perhaps, that friend of Serizawa.

And of course... her.

That's what he decided. That's why... in the end, he just wanted to end this quickly. Though... even that didn't go as planned, eh?

He hadn't expected Serizawa to hesitate as he had. He hadn't expected the guy to end up dead before him. He hadn't expected...

"What were you thinking, Serizawa?" he said as he struggled to move the dead body towards the corner.

It's not as if he would be able to return to Shiori's side anymore.

Not when he was also dying.

"Idiot..."