Note: Short chapter, but I'm happy with the end.

Days blurred together, and I found myself leaving the world behind for long periods of time, until I was pulled out by Kyou. After what seemed like years, I woke up in a hospital bed, sitting up abruptly, apparently after surgery. I studied where my right hand used to be, poking the stump. The doctors said they had to get rid of it. It was weird. I thought I felt it, but they said that was normal. Kyou tapped me on the shoulder, trying to look happy for me. Probably to snap me out of whatever the doctors said I had.

"How are you doing, Shugosha?"

I simply shook my head, not caring to speak. I didn't have to, after all. They couldn't make me. Kyou tilted my head up, making me look into her eyes.

"Come on Shugosha. Please, tell me how you're doing."

I couldn't help it.

"Sad. Hand is gone."

My mouth wasn't working well. Kyou sat down beside me, putting her head on my shoulder.

"I'm here. You're not alone."

I put my arm around her, trying to find something to anchor me to the world. I looked at the woman I would protect for the rest of my life, the one that loved me. I let myself lean on her, putting my trust in her.

"You're here."


Everyone was there. The Okazaki family, Ryou and her fiancé, Kotomi, Youhei, Misae, and my mother. They all looked down at the resting place of Hitomi, and they each said something. I was surprised by the amount of help that each of them had given her when I left. Kotomi helped her with grades. Nagisa got her a job. Ryou and Kyou took turns babysitting her. Youhei kept her athletic. And Misae had taken both her and my mother in, of course. They each paid their respects, and left. The only people that remained were me, and Kyou. I stared off into the distance, seeing nothing, hearing nothing, until Kyou looped her arm around mine. I gave her a small, sad smile, and with help, made my way over to the grave, step by step.

Hitomi Miyano

An innocent child loved by all, taken from us.

The flowers that I was trying to hold onto with my only hand were slipping. I left them in front of the grave, as carefully as possible. I cleared my throat, trying to get my mouth to function properly.

"Hitomi. Sorry. My fault. You're gone."

I choked back a tremor, sadness getting in the way.

"Couldn't protect you."

I fell to my knees, hugging the grave.

"Please come back. Please. I can't lose you."

Kyou wrapped her arms around me, and shared my pain. After a few moments of grief, I got up slowly, and thought about everything we had done together.

"Never forget you, baby sister."

I stood up, feeling a warm drop roll off my cheek. And I walked away.


I lapsed into a spiral of despair, but I never hit the bottom. Kyou was still holding on to me, adamant on not letting go. A year passed, and another. I lost track of time, but I never forgot. Even through everything, Kyou stayed. Her kids left kindergarden, but before, they almost took care of me too. Heh, Ushio made a hand out of clay and put it on my stump. She also gave me a picture of her and Hitomi. She told me that Hitomi used to babysit her. I kept the picture, slipping it through the fingers of the hand I left on my desk. Many times, I asked Kyou the question that always baffled me.

"Why?"

She would just look at me, her face softening, and she would give me a kiss, repeating the answer she would always give.

"Because I love you. For your scars, your kindness, and for the person that you are."

She would then grin that mischievous little smile, tackle me onto the couch, and we would sleep there, at peace. I would be a guardian to Kyou, never letting any harm come to her. Maybe, one day, I could be happy again. Now, I'm content with watching over my love, the one person who saved me. I wasn't a monster, anymore, I realized. Just another human.


Note: You know, I hate endings. In anything. They usually leave us wanting more, especially with Clannad. But in a way, I understand them, now. Maybe the fan, who discovered the story, would want more, but the characters will always live in the author's mind, living the rest of their imaginary lives. And as my story fades into the annals of the Clannad section of Fanfiction, will my story be remembered? Did I do a good job? These are questions I will continue to ask myself as I move forward as a writer. And of course, I'm happy I was able to give Shugosha life, in the end.