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Chapter Text

In the lonely house of the Williams lies a small half-ghost child named Erma. She is about 8 years old, and has very loving parents, Emiko for her mom and Samuel for her dad. (In case you can’t tell, Emiko is where the “half ghost” part of Erma’s genes came.)

She also has a little dog named Siris that they found in the middle of nowhere, which she apparently doesn’t seem to mind. They discovered that the dog was apparently undead after it got shot three times (in the head) and run over by a car. Amazingly, it survived.

She has many aunts (and an uncle) which live in several other places, namely Japan at a smaller village for Yokai to live peacefully in. “Mortals” normally aren’t allowed in, but exceptions do exist. Namely it’s those who are marriageably connected and willing to keep the location a secret. Make what of what you will.

That morning, Erma woke up for the school day of Friday. She could remember the Parent-Teacher Conference was coming up on Saturday, and she really wanted to see what it was all about.

She woke up in the morning with Siris licking her face. She was very happy and excited with this wake-up and was feeling that perhaps the day would be full of good surprises. She got up and headed to the breakfast table where the cereal for her to eat was already ready.

Her mother and father were up, so she wasn’t alone eating, and had some people to be with. They were both very happy with her being awake and—after breakfast—helped her out for school. She got her backpack, her lunch, and left out for the school bus. The school bus took her to the painfully normal school and Erma attended her painfully normal day.

Blairwood Middle School was relatively okay. The teachers were relatively well educated, and…not as prepared for Erma’s antics as you think they would be. Still, they manage to get past their day and teach the students what they need to know to survive in the larger world. Erma was…evidently different from the other students, and the teachers knew it, but they were still able to work with her too.

Math was teaching how to calculate the area of a circle, English was teaching how to work on creating tension in writing, and Science was focusing on some of the elements in the periodic table. It was all easy enough. After the classes were finished, Erma had a short conversation with her friends before walking back to her house.

At home, there was a good dinner with her parents, and she played around with Siris. Siris stayed around with her to watch Unicorn Warrior Princess with Erma and eventually ran for it when Erma had to take a bath. Of course, she didn’t like bath-time and had to escape, but her mother was still able to find her anyway.

After the torture that was bath-time, Erma got in her onesie covered with skulls. She got ready for bed by using a toothbrush to brush her teeth, and then crawled into bed. Her mother gave her a kiss on the forehead and left her to sleep.

Chapter Text

As mentioned before, Erma has her aunts, uncle, and grandparents living in the Yokai village in Japan. Osamu rules the village as a patriarch of his clan. In more specific reasons, he is, by far, the most powerful Yokai in there.

Ena is a nukekubi, or a person with their head floating around their body. Usually, she helps everyone around and keeps them safe and happy.

Kentaro is the only male of the group (excluding the grandfather) and an oni, or basically a Japanese demon of sorts.

Fumiko is…well, herself. To be absolutely clear, she is essentially akin to a human woman with poisonous barbs at the end of some of her strands of hair.

Haru is a servant personally assigned to Fumiko, which apparently is effective as they have a yearlong relationship. 

Rin apparently does not fit into any known category of Yokai, but she is notable for having a snake body and a human head. Usually she hides herself away for when she is afraid (which isn’t often, mind you), and usually does so when family matters are involved.

Yori is one of Emiko’s older sisters and can stretch her neck to incredible lengths. She is also the mother of Mitsu and Momo, the village’s child terrorizers and Erma’s (annoying) cousins. Constantly, Yori looks out for them and has to keep them in check.

Mayoumi is a noppera-bo, or a Yokai that looks human with no facial features. She is considered to be the baby of the family.

Yuyu is a family servant. Although we have barely any information, she apparently makes very good tea.

Lastly, Osamu and Amaya are the patriarchs of this large family. They rule the village as something akin to king and queen (despite their old age) and are evidently very powerful. Osamu is the most powerful of them all due to being able to transform into a demonic angel at will.

The village of the Yokai never has a dull moment. The village has been under heavy work to prepare for the upcoming Yokai Night Parade. Currently, the village has been under heavy pressure to keep working and achieve the highest levels of quality. Osamu was not as pleased.

He was (relatively) delighted to see his children again, but his thoughts were mainly focused on Erma. He had some sort of scheme in his head to replace himself with her when the time was right. However, Emiko was ensuring that nothing of the sort could happen.

At first, this particular timeline in the multiverse seemed to be more or less the same…with one thing being off…Kyle the Conquerer. Who he is or was, no one knew. All we can say for certain is that he was a particularly violent and ambitious person of confusing taste. 

Chapter Text

When Kyle the Conquerer set his first footstep upon the Yokai village, his immediate first impression was to put on headphones. He came from the Grand Elder herself to conquer whatever world he saw in her name.

The first thing he did upon entering was going to the nearest store for supplies. He gained some masks, a metal pipe, and a few chemicals of various sorts. Then, he paid the store attendant with a coin that he himself had forged. It read “fifty dollars.”

At a nearby house for a family, Kyle barges in intrusively and throws smoke bombs. Then, he pulls gags over everyone’s mouths except for the patriarch of this family. Finally, he grabbed incendiary fire starters and threw them at the end of the rooms. The patriarch of the family spoke up as the flames curled around them.

“Just who do you think you are?!” She asked, “This is our home you masked-” She was gagged with dynamite before she could finish.

“I believe that whatever doesn’t kill you simply makes you…” said Kyle before removing his mask and revealing his face, “…stronger.” He then dropped a playing card and started walking away…

The fire destroyed a small portion of the village, which most people didn’t care about. Osamu cared least of all, except that it was a “grand display of power and destruction.” He asked to see who caused such damage, but was surprised to see that the fire consumed the people inside the original house too.

Eventually they decided that the fire was an accident and that it should be avoided. It was late the next day when a few Yokai of the other groups saw Kyle’s calling card and read it. Then, they sped with all haste to Osamu’s family home.

When they reached Osamu’s home, they told Fumiko everything:

“We found this card at the place of the fire,” the cyclops said, “We read it…and…” Instead of finishing that sentence, they just showed the card to Fumiko.

She took one look at the playing card and replied with “I’ll send it to him immediately.” She ran through the house straight to Osamu. When she reached him, she showed him the card.

It read:

“Will Osamu please stand up unless he wants to see that happen to his entire family? —Kyle the Conqueror”

Chapter Text

Almost immediately, Osamu set up a council against this new threat known as Kyle the Conqueror. At first, everyone thought that the council wouldn’t bring up anything meaningful for at least a month.

A result was brought in the first day.

“So!” Osamu said as he sat down and the meeting began, “Can anyone tell me what we know about this ‘Kyle’ person?”

“He’s not one of us.” One of the council members said, “We checked the records, the citizens, everything… nothing showed up.”

“So, whoever he is,” Osamu concluded, “He is not one of us.”

“I saw him once…” another council member claimed.

“Why didn’t you tell us?!” Someone yelled.

“You didn’t ask,” he responded, “He’s just another dreamer…in a cheap black coat.” At this, everyone in the council chuckled to themselves.

Then the chuckling stopped, and another mocking laughter occurred. A tall man in a black coat that reached his knees walked in. He had the brightest blue eyes anyone ever saw in their entire life.

“Ha-ha-ha-ha-haaa…” he mockingly laughed, “Haha-ha-haaa-ha-hee-ha-ha-haaa-ha-hee-ha-Ho-Ho-ha-hee-haw…” Kyle stood at their table and said, “I thought my jokes were bad! Also, this coat wasn’t cheap, and you should know…because you paid for it.”

“Give us one reason why we shouldn’t send someone over to tear your head off.” Osamu said.

“How about a magic trick?” Kyle asked. He pulled a pencil out of his ear and put it, pointed side up, on the table.

“I shall make this pencil…disappear…” Kyle said as someone walked over to him. Just before they could touch Kyle, he grabbed them by the neck and smashed their face on the pencil. They fell on the floor with a thud and the pencil was gone from the table.

“Ta-da!” Kyle said, “It’s gone!” No one moved. Kyle sat down at the table where the man who is now dead sat.

“Relax everyone,” Kyle said, “I’m not here to kill you all, in fact, I’m here to help.”

“How is that?” Someone asked.

“I heard that this kingdom is needing some… leadership help. I can bring the one he chose and keep her here on her own will.”

“If it’s so easy,” someone said, “Why haven’t you done it already?”

“If you’re good at something,” Kyle states, “Never do it for free.” Osamu understood these words.

“How much do you want?” Osamu asked.

“Your kingdom in it’s entirety.” Kyle responded, Osamu flinched, and everyone laughed.

“Careful!” Kyle warned, “We’re setting a price for reuniting your family, can’t be too cheap.” Osamu was silent, then finally said “deal.” Kyle walked over to him…

“Let’s shake on it, human style.” Osamu did shake hands, but he also kept his other hand behind him and crossed his fingers. Kyle, with his piercing blue eyes, saw this, but said nothing.

Chapter Text

Kyle started pacing through the hallway of Osamu’s massive house. He looked at family servants, studied the family members, and finally came to a conclusion. He called all of Osamu’s family, ‘friends,’ and servants to the living room and announced his plans.

“Everyone!” Kyle shouted indoors, “Osamu has chosen me to bring his daughter, Emiko Williams, to him again. For this task, I would be rewarded with the kingdom he so highly values! But the task will be difficult, so here I am asking for volunteers, so I do not need to do things on my own…” No one spoke up.

“If that’s the case,” Kyle said, “Then I’ll choose my own volunteers! The people who are to join me on orders of Osamu the patriarch are Mayoumi, Yuyu, Yori, Ena, Fumiko, and Haru. Would they be so kind as to step up?” They stepped toward Kyle, but not willingly.

“We’re going to have a lot of fun this week…” Kyle said as he now received a forced applause.

At first, Kyle’s immediate reaction was to get supplies and prepare themselves for the long trip to Blairwood… easier said than done. At first, he received many different conversations from Emiko’s different family members.

“Are we doing the right thing?” Yori asked.

“If you want a simple answer…no.” Kyle responded, “But Osamu has big plans, plans to benefit the entire village, plans to ensure that it doesn’t turn out like…last time… Our paths are intertwined, are they not?” Yori didn’t answer, but nodded understandingly.

Yuyu came up to Kyle several times.

“Why did you choose me?” Yuyu would ask.

“Because you’re unique,” Kyle responded, “And in all seriousness, you’re an errand girl hired by grocery clerks to collect a bill. You also make good tea, I’ll admit, but not the best. Now? Now is your chance to be someone…” Yuyu was silent for awhile before she just agreed.

Ena seemed to be a little more nervous around Kyle than most others. Usually it was Kyle who spoke to her first…

“Are you afraid of death?” Kyle asked.

“No.” Ena would respond.

“Then why do you keep on living?” Kyle would then ask. Ena wouldn’t respond, no matter how many times Kyle asked.

Fumiko and Haru kept questioning why they had to be brought in, but Kyle always hand-waved the argument away.

“I would like to question why we’re brought into this situation.” Fumiko said.

“Because you’re an organizer with a loyal pet,” Kyle said, “And because I can’t hire the snake or the cousins. If you want something to do, go and make me some food I haven’t tasted before.”

“And I don’t even know what you’ve tasted before…” Fumiko argued.

“Exactly.” Kyle responded.

Mayoumi was silent all the time she was with Kyle.

When it was finally time to leave, Kyle and his volunteers took a plane across the world to Blairwood. There, Kyle registered them all in a nearby hotel, paid for dinner, and later went to an abandoned building.

There, Kyle took an empty room, made it even worse than it was already, and set up a chair with several ropes tied on it.

“Mayoumi.” Kyle said before pointing to the chair. Mayoumi sat down in the chair before Kyle tied her up with the ropes.

“Wait,” Fumiko said, “How exactly does this bring Emiko back?”

“If I asked her directly,” Kyle mused, “Then she would’ve ignored me, haunted me, or just left me hanging around… Instead, I’ll dig thoughts under her skull in a spot where she can’t ignore me. To start, I will question how much she cares for her own family by using you as bait.”

“She does care about us!” Ena argues.

“Then why did she leave you all behind?” Kyle asked. No one answered.

The filming started. Kyle walked forward to Mayoumi as she was strapped in the chair. Emiko’s other family members were not in the filming at the moment. They stood away from the camera and just watched, hoping that their job would be over soon.

“So, Mayoumi…” Kyle said, “You’re related to Emiko, aren’t you?” Mayoumi nodded.

“Does it make you feel scared?” Kyle asked, “Does it make you realize how powerless you are in comparison to her?” Mayoumi didn’t respond.

“Why do you not respond?” Kyle asked.

“Because…” Mayoumi whispered, “Because we don’t need to fear you anymore…” Kyle was stunned at her speaking but decided to continue with his script.

“Oh,” he said, “But you should…you very much should…” Kyle then turned the camera around to himself and posed.

“Emiko Williams,” he said, “Don’t bother with trying to catch me, I’m already trying to find you. Here’s how this is going to work. You are going to step up and we are going to talk… Oh, and everyday you don’t, people are going to die. Starting tonight. I’m a man of my word.” Kyle thrusted the camera into Fumiko’s hands and then tackled Mayoumi.

Fumiko dropped the camera in shock before Kyle grabbed a knife and cut off Mayoumi’s bonds. Then, he walked over and turned off the film.

“It is done.” He said, “Now I’m going to edit this for a few hours. Everyone is free to look around, but whatever you do…do not communicate with Emiko or her family… yet.” Everyone nodded and Kyle walked away to get to work.

Chapter Text

A few hours later, Kyle called everyone back to him. The filming was complete, and it seemed to have been made with editing to make the “murder” appear even more violent than it really was.

“Now.” Said Kyle, “Who’s ready to go deliver this to her?” No one raised their hand.

“Alright then.” Kyle concluded, “If we won’t send her the video, we’ll show it…to everyone.” He pointed to Yuyu and said “Get a magnifying glass and keep an eye on Emiko’s house…from a distance. Just as her little daughter is coming home, I’ll broadcast the video over everything. She’ll have to see that…” Yuyu was frightened but didn’t say anything. She walked away.

At Erma’s house, the episode of her favorite show, Unicorn Warrior Princess, was about to begin… She was floating her way home with her close friend Amy.

When Erma finally got home, it was nothing like she expected. Her mother was busy fighting her tears and her anger. The remote was thrown at the TV and shattered it entirely. Samuel Williams was next to her trying to comfort her. Erma had no idea what was going on.

That’s when Emiko noticed Erma and ran up to give her a big hug. Emiko didn’t say much, just that the TV showed something horrible and now a close family member from her childhood was dead.

Erma understood and every thought about watching Unicorn Warrior Princess left her head immediately. She gave a close hug to her mother and refused to let go. She felt uncomfortable with what she heard and was unsure on how to react. A few small tears came from her eyes.

She spent the night crying. Quietly, so her parents couldn’t hear her, but softly so that it wouldn’t be evident either. She wanted to help her mother out, but she didn’t know how. Then, her thoughts turned to the fact that her aunt was dead, and she concluded that she would be avenged, somehow.

Chapter Text

Back at his empty apartment, Kyle got his minions prepared for their next move. This was to set the final set in motion for sending Emiko back home. But it wasn’t easy.

Kyle first disguised his minions with Myst, or a facial altering technique in a can. Then, he brought in special clothes that would prevent Emiko from recognizing them. They were black coats, black boots with red buckles, and some wigs to further sell the illusion.

They could hardly tell who anyone was.

“We’re ready,” Kyle said, “Prepare yourself for the finishing move… I’ll do the talking, everyone else just stand there and look like you’re with me. And whatever happens, do not talk until I tell you to.” Everyone agreed.

(Asleep…)

Erma woke up that morning for the parent-teacher conference. She was shocked that it took place on a Saturday, of all days. She was even more shocked for the “entertainment” that had followed.

The night began with Erma finding her friend’s parents and eventually finding her friends for the night. She talked with them for awhile before they asked her how she was doing. She didn’t say anything, only made a very upset face. Just as they were about to ask what was wrong, the windows burst open and Kyle the Conqueror stepped in.

“Hello everyone!” He loudly shouted, “I am tonight’s entertainment!” A few of his “minions” followed behind him. Others were secretly behind doors to keep them barred shut.

Kyle strutted around the room, taking a champagne glass full of Apple Juice before tossing most of it out and drinking the little bit that was left. Then he threw the glass away onto the floor. The children were terrified of him.

“We just have one question!” Kyle informed as he took a mouthful of cubed cheese, “Where is Emiko Williams?” No one answered immediately, even Emiko herself was busy with watching him. Kyle strolled around the room as he looked at the various members of this party before throwing them aside. Then he grabbed a random plate of chocolate cake and started eating.

“You know what?” Kyle concluded, “I’ll settle for her husband! Where is her husband?” At this, Samuel Williams stepped forth.

“You’ve got a lot of nerve to shove yourself into the fray immediately…” Kyle said.

“Believe me,” Samuel said, “I’m not scared by people like you.”

“Oh.” Kyle smiled, “You should be… You remind me a lot about my own father…I miss him…so much…” Before Kyle could say anything else, Emiko stepped up. Kyle pushed Samuel away.

“Well,” Kyle said, “There you are! In all your stunning beauty…” Kyle finished off his cake and threw the paper plate off to the wall.

“Why did you do that?” Emiko asked, “What were you thinking?!” At this, Kyle signaled to his minions and they blocked off the open windows. Then Kyle turned to face Emiko.

“You’re a terrible person,” Kyle said, “You didn’t even bother to say goodbye.”

“And what difference does that make?!” Emiko asked.

“Every difference,” Kyle said, “Believe me…”

“What do you want?!” Emiko asked.

“I want you to hear me out,” Kyle said, “Just hear a fellow murderer out.” He grabbed a spoon and pointed it towards Emiko.

“You would let your own sister die,” Kyle said, “And then your put all of your blame on him, when in reality, you had the power to prevent it entirely.” Emiko said nothing.

“You don’t care about your own family, just yourself.” Kyle said, “You didn’t even bother to say goodbye.”

“That’s not true!” Emiko shouted back at him, clearly angry. Erma was becoming terrified and hugged her friends.

“Really?” Kyle said sarcastically, “Name even one time you thought about them as you made your escape. Even one time and I’ll take it all back.” Emiko opened her mouth to speak, but not a word came out.

“Thought so.” Kyle said, “But focusing on the now, why didn’t you come out the first time? Were you scared?” Emiko made a face that only Kyle could see, and he smiled at it.

“Get away from me.” Emiko requested.

“If I go away,” Kyle said, “Then I’ll come back, again, and again, a thousand times if I have to.”

“Get away from me!” Emiko screamed again. Erma was now genuinely terrified.

“No,” Kyle responded simply, “Because other people have to say something to you.” Kyle signaled to one of his minions. They removed their mask and wiped off the Myst on their face.

It was Mayoumi.

Chapter Text

Emiko was at a loss for words.

“See why I wouldn’t leave?” Kyle asked, “She has something to ask you!”

Mayoumi stepped up to Emiko, Erma had no idea what was going on. Mayoumi asked in a quiet voice if she really never thought about them as she left. Emiko didn’t say anything, she just started crying. Then she hugged Mayoumi and apologized a thousand times over.

Then Kyle spoke up again, saying, “Seems that your average mother just barely cared about her own sister! But don’t worry, you have a chance to redeem yourself.” Emiko looked up at Kyle.

“Your father intended for me to send a message,” he said, “And that message was that he is dying.” Emiko didn’t move.

“Your father said it was his last wish to just see you one final time.” Kyle lied, “Just once. He wanted to see the strong woman that he raised. So how about you be the strong woman he thinks you are and come up to him?” Emiko gritted her teeth.

“Is…” she whimpered, “Is that true?”

“Dead true.” Kyle said, unnervingly solemn, “Why do you think your other family members were here right as I speak?” At this, Emiko got up and stared at him.

“That’s a lie.” She said.

“No, it is not.” Kyle responded. He turned around and signaled to his other “minions” to unmask. They unmasked and wiped off the Myst from their face. Emiko was now mentally broken.

“They watched all of that.” Kyle said, “But don’t worry, you still can redeem yourself. The question remains, will you come to your grandfather?” Emiko didn’t say anything for a while.

“Will you?” Kyle repeated. Emiko stared at the ground and nodded.

Kyle turned around, stole someone’s cheese cube with a toothpick, and shouted out, “WERE YOU NOT MOVED?!?!” Everyone cheered. Emiko said nothing.

To her, this was the strongest slap in the face she ever received. To Kyle, this was a show that had pragmatic reasons in his long scheme.

Chapter Text

Erma couldn’t sleep well after last night. Kyle the Conquerer’s sudden intrusion shook her world to her core. She couldn’t understand him, and that terrified her.

When she woke up, exhausted and a little scared, her mother was talking with her father.

“He said that my father was dying…and he wanted to see me.” Emiko said.

“But what he did was a little dramatic,” Samuel added, “Don’t you think?”

“Well, yes…but…” Emiko stuttered, “A part of me is kind of scared of him. I don’t think he would lie to me if everyone else was watching him. Surely someone would’ve pointed out that he was lying…”

“So, you really think he was truthful?” Samuel asked.

“Yes.” Emiko replied, “I really think so…”

“So, then we’re all going to say goodbye?” Samuel asked.

“You only need to come if you want to.” Emiko commented.

“I do,” Samuel replied earnestly, “It’s your family and I want to help them.”

“Okay then.” Emiko said understandingly, “If that’s it then…I guess we should tell Erma as well…” Erma could see them getting up to walk towards her room and proceeded to hide back under her bed covers…

(And so it was…)

Erma could kind-of understand the situation, but she couldn’t understand Kyle the Conquerer. He scared her, and not in a good way.

Fortunately, their ride on the plane was calm and quiet for as long as she was on it…

(Also, this happened.)

DJ Octopus is a tiny, insignificant speck that is only 3 seconds old on a Petri dish. He is overwatched by Cthulhu and Nyarlatha.

“Honey, look.” Cthulhu says stoically, “We’ve created life.”

“Interesting…” muses Nyarlatha, “Now let’s see how it feels about electrocution!!” Nyarlatha almost shocks the infant Octopus with an electric weapon, but then she is eaten alive by a Nameless Thing.

“Boring!” Cthulhu complains as he’s now busy working out the bureaucracy on Nyarlatha’s death…

(Back to Erma…as she settles down…)

When the plane finally landed in Japan, Erma walked out and was scared to see Kyle and his newfound “friends” awaiting them. (“Friends” being his selected minions.)

“Welcome, welcome…” Kyle said as he stood before Erma and her parents… Erma herself took a long step back.

“Are we all ready to say our two cents?” Kyle asked. Emiko didn’t respond verbally, only nodded. Kyle led them out of the airport to a Hover-Throne he created and led them with all speed to Osamu’s house.

Osamu’s house was as grand as she could remember it. Emiko looked upward at the several ornately detailed spires before immediately talking with Kyle again.

“Where is he?” Emiko asked.

“He‘ll be out shortly…” Kyle replied. Almost immediately, an elderly, smelly, and extremely thin Yokai exited Osamu’s palace and started walking his way to Emiko…

“What happened to him?” Emiko asked.

“Nah, that’s the offering.” Kyle replied. Just as the elderly Yokai was introducing himself, he was eaten by a dragon and died. Then Osamu came through the doors, old, but evidently healthy.

“That is Osamu.” Kyle said nonchalantly. Emiko looked at Osamu with careful eyes and knew immediately that she was tricked. She pulled Kyle by the collar off to the side for a moment.

“You said he was dying.” Emiko said at Kyle, anger written all over her face.

“He was dying to see you.” Kyle said, as if to clear up a simple confusion, “That’s nothing, I had to lie to myself for 416 years that everything is going to be okay. Now, why don’t you go talk to him since he so desperately wanted to see you?” Emiko glared at him intensely, but ultimately left him alone and turned around to face her grandfather.

The first thing Osamu did was turn to Kyle and give him a warm smile.

“Kyle!” He said happily, “Thank you for bringing her back…we’ll talk more about your payment later.”

“I know we will.” Said Kyle, rather darkly. However, no one took notice at what he said. Instead, everyone walked inside as if it were a personal business matter. Which it was.

Chapter Text

Kyle mainly just stood back and watched the events transpire. Emiko and her father got in a long argument over why he even brought her there, Samuel kept Erma close on hand, and then Osamu said they would continue discussing this matter at a later time. It was then that Kyle made his move.

“If I may,” Kyle said, “I believe I had some sort of reward promised for this?” Osamu was confused for a moment, but then realized his own words.

“Meet me in the throne room.” Osamu said simply. Kyle followed him. Osamu stood near his throne and put his hand on the armrest.

“I believe that this is mine.” Kyle said, knowing full well what Osamu was going to say next.

“It’s not,” Osamu replied, “It’s my family’s.” Kyle didn’t act stunned; he knew that this was his intention all along.

“Of course it is,” Kyle replied, “But I’m the one who reunited them, brought them together in ways your own men couldn’t.”

“And I have no words to say towards it,” Osamu said, “Because you are an infinitesimal man who will receive a different reward.”

“You could start by saying ‘thanks,’” Kyle replied, “If I were to use my full, unrestrained power, your life would be ruined in a matter of days.”

“I know it would.” Osamu replied, “But this is not a case of power or debate, this is a case of bloodlines and the land which we live on.”

“Is that so?” Kyle said suspiciously, preparing to activate his backup plan, “In that case, let’s make it official.” Kyle then pulled a small electronic tablet and threw it at Osamu. He held it up to his face and watched it.

Everyone in Osamu’s house was watching their televisions as well…

At Emiko’s house, Kyle had rigged the foundation of the building, and all nearby appliances, with bombs and similar devices. Kyle himself held the detonator in his hand. Worse, he was somehow there, and not at the mansion like he should have been.

“Emiko,” Kyle called on the screens, “Your sisters, your father, your daughter, you should all be watching… because this is what your father made me do…” Kyle pressed the button and saw their nearby grill flip in the air and crash in the ground.

“Really?!” Kyle asked before hitting his own remote a few times. Then, he pressed the button again before turning and seeing the entire building in flames… Kyle ran off for his getaway vehicle before shutting the door and speeding off while the foundations of the house exploded and collapsed…

Everyone had seen it.

Osamu had called for all his children.

Fumiko came as fast as she could, knowing the situation in full before Osamu said anything.

“Find Kyle the Conqueror and return him to me at once.” Osamu commanded.

“Understood.” Fumiko replied, knowing that she knew enough about Kyle, “I know his hideouts, his methods, his techniques, and his knowledge about our own family. He’s restricted because he does not know everything…”

Suddenly, out of nowhere, a body hung by a noose around its neck banged against the window, causing everyone to jump and/or fall to the floor from the shock. Even Samuel Williams did not expect this sudden event to occur.

After the shock had passed, everyone got a good look at the body and were horrified to see that it was that of Yori’s daughter Mitsu. She had a smaller cut on her forehead with her right eye missing. A small note with pen-like scribbles was adhesived to her sweater.

The note read:

“I know more about your family than you think I do. P.S. This was an easy target. —Kyle the Conqueror.”

When they had just finished inspecting the body, Momo had just run into the room.

“Does anyone know where Mitsu is?” She asked, completely unaware of what happened. Then, her eyes turned to the middle of the room, and she saw it all. She saw her twin sister’s body on the rug in the middle of the room and the note attached to it.

Momo was scared.

Chapter Text

Everyone was with Osamu. They were planning to strike back at Kyle and end his career forever. Everyone thought it would work. No one thought it wouldn’t.

“Currently,” Osamu says, “Our only plan is to search for Kyle’s hideout, send out a bounty, and then punish him. Anyone have any suggestions?”

“He just destroyed our house,” Emiko notes, “So he must still be in Blairwood…”

“We’ll send the bounty there, then.” Osamu concluded.

“And since our house is destroyed,” Emiko continued, “I…guess we’ll stay here…”

“So that’s how Kyle was going to keep his promise…” Osamu suddenly realized, “He brought you here and then deprived you of any way to return home…”

“And you made him do that?” Yori asked.

“I didn’t think he would go this far,” Osamu said, “I thought he’d be more sensible…”

“He shoved one of our guy’s face into a pencil,” Kentaro reminded Osamu, “I don’t call that sensible…”

“It doesn’t matter now,” Osamu said, “The trap is being set, and he’ll be caught before long…” Against anyone’s potential warnings, the bounty was sent out and results came back within the first day.

A group of young(er) Yokai came back to Osamu’s house with a bodybag. They claimed it had the dead body of Kyle the Conqueror, and they gave it to Fumiko, who in turn gave it to Osamu and Amaya. They inspected the body and it’s face that showed an evidently dead and bald head.

“That’s dead then.” Amaya observed, “Very well, you earned your prize…” At the mention of the word “prize,” Kyle’s eyes shot open and he grabbed Amaya by the shoulder before throwing her to the table and holding a knife at her throat.

“How about alive?” Kyle asked. The other Yokai (who were actually in league with Kyle) kicked off Osamu’s cane and held him at gunpoint. Although she refused to admit it, Amaya was terrified.

“You look scared,” Kyle noticed, “Is it the scarred head? I’ll tell you how it happened!” Amaya’s eyes were filled with pure terror when she heard the story…

“You see,” Kyle said, “I had a girlfriend of my own, she was beautiful, like you. She kept on going about her days showing how much she didn’t even acknowledge my presence. We were friends, but that wasn’t enough… So, after an accident, I told her how I felt. And I even gave her some gifts that she would treasure for a lifetime! And you know what? SHE CAN’T STAND THE SIGHT OF ME!!! Now I’m the one who’s messed up, now I’m the one who doesn’t care! And you better believe that I don’t take sass from others…” Kyle then took the blade to Amaya’s mouth and cut her left cheek. She fell down from the pain.

“Bring them to the spot.” Kyle commanded his Yokai minions. They obeyed.

Hours later, Osamu and Amaya were noticed to be missing. Rumors spread like wildfire among the surrounding staff and servants: “Where are they?” “I think Kyle got them.” “I think they just died.” “I heard that Kyle’s dead body was brought in today!” “I heard that someone apparently forgot to tell someone how much she loved him.” “I think Kyle’s still alive and his next victim is going to be Kentaro.” “No! His next victim is going to be another one of the kids!”

“This is out of control…” Emiko fretted, “First, he nearly kills my sister, then he brings us here, then he blows up our house, then he kills my niece, and now he just got away with kidnapping my parents!” Samuel was thinking on what to say next.

“If he’s going to attack again, he’ll be going after us.” Samuel says.

“Why?” Emiko asks.

“Well,” Samuel says, “I’ve been paying attention to his behavior, and the only one he’s really after is your grandfather. He promised Kyle some sort of reward before promptly rejecting it, and now Kyle wants revenge.”

“He already has his revenge!” Emiko replies.

“No,” Samuel continues, “It’s deeper than that. He’s trying to overthrow the government of this entire country. If that’s his goal, then his next move would be to remove the potential heir your grandfather originally intended.”

“And who might that be?” Emiko asks, “Fumiko? Yori? Ena? Mayoumi? I’d honestly bet that Kyle would then capture Kentaro, who my grandfather seemed to focus on…”

“No,” Samuel then said, “He’s not after any of them…”

“Then who…?” Emiko asked. It wasn’t long before they received a horrifying answer from Yuyu.

Erma was missing.

Search parties were sent out. The spot was found within the hour. It was the decrepit building Kyle had originally rented.

Chapter Text

Emiko runs through the building and reaches the top floor where her parents and her daughter were tied to the ceiling with special chains. Emiko slowly walked up until she felt a sharp kick in the back.

“Welcome to the freak show!” Kyle said behind her, “I think we’re going to enjoy this very, very much.” Emiko got up on her elbows…

“Why are you doing this?” Emiko asked, evidently scared, “What did we do to you?!”

“In short,” Kyle replied, “Nothing. But your grandfather needs to learn a little lesson…” Kyle then proceeded to pull out a gun from his coat.

“Where did you get that gun?!” Emiko asked, frightened.

“At the getting place.” Kyle replied nonchalantly. Emiko had no idea what he meant. Then, Kyle slowly walked towards his captives… Suddenly, the rest of Emiko’s family came into the room.

“Kyle! Stop!” Yuyu yelled, “This isn’t how it needs to be!”

“Yes it is.” Kyle replied.

“Is this really what you want?” Yori asked, attempting to deter Kyle.

“It’s not about what I want,” Kyle yelled, “It’s about what’s fair!!! I thought I could be a decent person in an indecent time…I was wrong… Your world is cruel, and the only morality in this cruel world…” Kyle stopped himself and pulled out a coin.

“Is chance.” He finished, “Unbiased, unprejudiced…fair.”

“What happened to you wasn’t chance!” Kentaro attempted to explain.

“Of course it was,” Kyle talked back, “You don’t know what happened before any of this happened. I had the same chance as they will have, 50/50.” At this, everyone was in desperation.

“You wouldn’t hurt everyone!” Ena called out.

“No.” Kyle confirmed, “Just the one he loves the most…and that would be…” Kyle walked away to his captives.

“Himself?” Kyle asked as he held the gun to Osamu’s head. Osamu didn’t flinch.

“His wife?” Kyle asked as he pointed at Amaya, “Or maybe…”

“Don’t…” Osamu said as Kyle was now slowly pointing towards… “No…no, POINT THAT THING AWAY FROM MY FAMILY!” Kyle had his answer. He pulled out Erma from his chains…

“We have a winner.” Kyle said.

“Look,” Emiko said, “You’re the one with the gun, just point it at those responsible…” Kyle pondered over this for a minute…

“Alright.” Kyle said, at last, “Her first.” Kyle flipped his coin…it landed on a dagger. He leveled his gun and shot it through Amaya’s head. She was dead now. Then he pointed it at Osamu…

“If the coin somehow ends up failing,” Kyle said, “I’m going to be so-super-disappointed.” He flipped the coin…Osamu was spared.

“You have got to be kidding me!!!” Kyle shouted. He then turned to Erma again.

“No!” Osamu shouted, “Punish me! Not her!”

“I will,” Kyle responded, “The best way to break you is to break her.”

“Stop!” Yori shouted, “This isn’t going to fix anything!”

“It’ll ruin his plans for the patriarchy,” Kyle said, “And that’s good enough for me.” Osamu was thoroughly shocked.

“Yeah,” Kyle said, “I was listening.” The gun was now pointed at Erma’s head…

“So, Osamu…” Kyle said, “This is your last chance…lie…like I lied.” Osamu was now evidently terrified.

“It’s going to be okay…” Osamu said, though he knew he was wrong. Kyle flipped his coin…

…

…he was tackled by Yuyu and dropped his gun in the process. Emiko stood up and watched. Yuyu and Kyle both went over the edge along with Erma. Several sickening-crunch sounds were heard along with a loud scream. Then, Kyle’s coin dropped. It landed on a “spare” side.

When Emiko had finally reached down the building, everyone was knocked out. Kyle stood up for a moment but was knocked out again when a sudden brick hit him. Emiko looked at Erma. It was evident that she was the one who screamed because her left eye was now an empty socket and surrounded with her blood.

“He got you…” Emiko said, and gave Erma a sincere hug. Erma returned the hug and started crying.

Back in the building, Osamu was just freed and he looked out to see that Emiko and Erma were alright. He felt slightly relieved, then he turned to Fumiko.

“Get Kyle arrested and taken away,” Osamu said, “I’ll interrogate him later…” Fumiko agreed and floated down to do just that.

Emiko and Erma were now leaving the scene. Erma was at least a little happy that she fainted when she saw Kyle being cuffed and dragged away…

Chapter Text

Osamu came into the prison quietly.

“My granddaughter didn’t return home last night.” He said.

“Of course she didn’t.” Kyle replied, knowing that this would happen.

“What did you do to her?” Osamu asked.

“Me?” Kyle asked, confused, “I’ve been locked up here.” He shook his handcuffs, “Who did you leave her with? Does it make you feel responsible for her? I mean her current…issue?”

“Where is she?” Osamu demanded.

“If I knew,” Kyle said, “Believe me when I said I would’ve told you already. And…what’s the time?”

“What difference does that make?” Osamu asked.

“Well,” Kyle elaborated, “Depending on the time, she could be in one place…or several.” At this, Osamu broke Kyle’s handcuffs with his cane before walking away.

“If we’re going to play mind games, then I’m leaving.” Osamu said before locking the door.

The lights clicked on and Kyle’s head was thrusted into the table. Fumiko did that out of malice.

“Ow!” He yelled, “Don’t start with the head! The victim can’t tell where the next blow is coming-” Fumiko then slammed into his hand. Kyle didn’t flinch.

“See?” He said.

“Where is Erma?” Fumiko asked.

“Again?” Kyle asked. Instead of receiving an answer, he was thrown at the wall.

“WHERE’S ERMA?!” Fumiko now yelled. Kyle laughed.

“I don’t know!” He said, telling the truth. Fumiko then picked him up and threw him onto the table before kicking him in the groin to the other side of the room.

“WHERE’S ERMA?!” Fumiko asked calmly.

“You really want an answer?” Kyle asked, “Fine then, look into my eyes…” Fumiko looked deep into the slits of his burning blue eyes. Shortly after, they became wider and wider, encompassing his whole eye. Then, his eyes were completely two black wells filled with the darkness of night.

Fumiko dropped Kyle and watched as he simply blinked to return his eyes to their normal appearance.

“How dangerous are you?!” Fumiko asked.

“Compared to what?” Kyle mocked, “Bubonic plague?” Fumiko ignored his question and ran out the door. Kentaro met her there.

“Watch him.” Fumiko said quickly and panicked before running away. Kentaro went into the room and locked the door from the inside.

They were both silent for about half-an-hour. Finally, Kyle knew how to break Kentaro…

“How many of your friends died in that first fire I started?” Kyle asked. Kentaro only replied with “six.”

“Six?!” Kyle said, surprised, “Haha… You want to know why I kill people slowly? Quick deaths remove the ability to know a person. In their last moments, a person will show you exactly who they really are… So, in a way, I got to know your friends better than you ever did. Would you like to know which of them were cowards?” At this, Kentaro approached Kyle slowly…

“You’re just going to enjoy this…” Kentaro growled, “So I’m just going to have to enjoy it more…”

Kentaro was now begging for mercy. Kyle’s fighting style was too much for him.

“Are you going to kill me?” Kentaro asked, frightened. Kyle appeared behind him and shoved his face into the ground.

“That depends…” Kyle replied, “Do you see me?” Kentaro threw Kyle off and ran out of the room. Within a few minutes, guards had come to take Kyle to a more secure cell.

“I’M GONNA KILL YOU ALL!” Kyle shouted loudly, “I’LL DRIVE YOU CRAZY THEN I’LL KILL YOU ALL!!! YOU WILL NEVER PASS ON YOUR STUPID MONARCHY EVER AGAIN!!!” Then, Kyle took a deep breath and let himself be dragged away.

“You haven’t seen the last of me…” Kyle said, “and I mean it.”

Chapter Text

“Who are you?” The prison warden asked Kyle as he was trapped inside his cell.

“We advise you not to speak,” Fumiko said, “He has ways of using words to instill fear and obedience.”

“Alright then…” the warden replied and grabbed a sheet of paper with a marker. On the paper, he wrote the words ‘Write your name:’ with a black marker. Then, he gave the paper and marker to Kyle through his cell bars.

In response, Kyle look at his paper and did six strokes. This was the end result:

./:T

“That doesn’t even make any sense!” The warden yelled upon seeing the paper. He wrenched the cell bars open before tackling Kyle.

After that, Kyle shoved off his dead body, and triumphantly stood on his neck…

“Run.” Fumiko stated, “Run and leave him in the cell! He can’t escape that way!” Everyone ran and left Kyle in the cell. They even locked every surrounding door around Kyle in an attempt to trap him in the room.

Hours later, a lunch tray came in. The contents were hot gruel, an apple, and a cupcake. Normally, prisoners are not allowed anything beyond the hot gruel, but Kyle clearly is an exception.

Kyle reached down for the apple with both hands and broke it in half using only his thumbs. He plucked a small seed out and took a bedspring from his room. He cut into the seed with the sharp edge of the bedspring and then pulled out some bath soap from his ear.

“They should’ve checked me for something like this.” Kyle states mockingly. He inserted the soap into the cut in the seed…

The results were explosive and we’ll leave it at that.

As the charred opening of the prison greeted Kyle with sunlight, his pants were on fire and his torso was both exposed and scarred heavily from his “experiment.” Then, he started walking out of the hole he had just created when guards came in holding spears and bow-strung arrows.

“Cute.” Said Kyle as he turned around. This was to be too easy for him.

“Care to know why I wrote that?” Kyle asked, no one answered.

“You see,” Kyle explained, “I’m not from here, you could clearly tell that. I’ve seen horrors…horrors you won’t believe. All of them from…her…”

The guards watching from afar could hear everything Kyle was saying. They could hear Kyle describing his childhood, then his time in the military, finally, he told them one thing that they wished they never knew existed. Then, everyone who could hear him fell down.

“They’re all dead,” Kyle announced, “Dave.”

It was true.

Kyle ran out of the hole he created in the prison and back to the village. Just as two thieves were running out with bags of stolen possessions, Kyle threw a rock at their heads and said “mine.”

He stole their stolen possessions as they lay on the floor and walked away. Eventually, he came across a clothing store.

“Jackpot.” Kyle said to himself, as oddly, no one seemed to recognize him. No one even seemed to know what he did.

Kyle entered the store and made his purchase clear.

“A wig, a black coat, a lab coat, a safety mask, new pants, new shoes, and some black gloves please.” Kyle said. The store clerk rushed off to get his items and returned with everything Kyle asked for.

“Thank you,” Kyle replied, and simply gave over his bags of stolen stolen possessions.

“Where’d you get this?” The clerk asked.

“At the getting place.” Kyle replied. Then, Kyle grabbed his new purchases and began putting his new lab coat on.

“Freeze!” The local guards shouted, “Police!”

“But I didn’t steal anything!” The clerk said loudly.

“Tell that to Osamu!” The guards shouted before knocking out the clerk and then dragging him away. From a distance, Kyle saw everything. He growled in anger…

Chapter Text

At a radio show, Emiko and Osamu were busy being interviewed for news of the current situation.

“I heard that someone who called himself ‘Kyle the Conqueror’ was seen in your building,” the interviewer said, “What was he doing?”

“Attempting to destroy our nation,” Osamu replied, “That’s what.”

“He got some of my closest family members…” Emiko said. Her pain was very visible on her face. From afar, Kyle was watching everything on his television in his rented building. Kyle then intercepted the interview…

“Greetings, everyone,” Kyle said, “My name is Kyle the Conqueror. Your most recent threat, and the killer of every second-born-or-female-not-to-be-ruler in your kingdom. It has come to my attention of who the patriarchy will fall on next: Erma.” Everyone listened to his voice on the interview.

“I’ve had a vision.” Kyle stated, “A vision of a world without Erma… Osamu would just be disappointed at her ‘weakness,’ Emiko would go on emotionally unstable, and the people would hate everyone…like always…” Everyone was not expected for Kyle’s next message…

“It was all…so…boring…” Kyle said, “I’ve had a change of heart, and here’s how we’re going to do things… If Emiko and Osamu aren’t dead within sixty minutes, I’m blowing up a hospital.” Immediately, panic and despair erupted over the city. It was divided in a matter of second. There were those protective of Osamu, and those who were prepared to kill him and end his reign forever.

Osamu had escaped via secret passages, but then came the people who had somehow found said passages. One rioter held out a gun (that they bought for sale at the local gun store) and leveled it.

Osamu was alive, but one of his horns was chipped and hanging from the blast of the gun.

Emiko, in particular, was preparing to make a new option for everyone. She hoped that it would stop the chaos Kyle was inflicting upon their village.

“Everyone!” She shouted, “Kyle seeks to divide and conquer us, but if we work together, we can defeat him and have everyone survive!”

“How?” Someone asked randomly.

“He said he’ll blow up a hospital,” Emiko reminded them, “Let’s give him no hospital to blow up.” Everyone understood and ran off to the hospital. Hundreds upon hundreds of people were taking the hospital beds and rushing them out of the building, preparing for what they thought was an inevitable collapse of the building.

Everyone in the hospital was evacuated in a matter of minutes, and they all awaited the final blow…but it never came.

“Why is it still standing?” Someone asked, checking their watch. Suddenly, a blast could be heard from the other side of the world.

“He wasn’t hitting us…” someone realized.

(A few hours earlier…)

Erma is stuck in something black and sticky and huge. She can’t get out, can’t survive, can’t-

She woke up. Too weak to move, but able to see some things. She could see her father talking with a rather human looking doctor and could see said doctor scribbling notes on a clipboard. Then, she slowly was able to hear…

“So it’s terrorism?” The doctor asked.

“Well, yes,” Samuel replied, “But it goes a little deeper than that…”

“Are they specifically after her?” The doctor asked.

“It’s just one guy,” Samuel said, “But yes.” The doctor then scribbled something else on their clipboard.

“Alright,” she said, “We’ll get 24-hour watch over her to prevent him from sneaking in. He’s not getting to her if we have anything to say about it.”

“Thank you.” Said Samuel, and watched the doctor leave the room. Then, he noticed that his daughter was blinking…

Chapter Text

“Well, good morning young lady…” Samuel said as he looked at his daughter. Erma looked at him in both confusion and exhaustion.

“Your mother is staying behind in the village to see what she can do about Kyle…” Erma’s father said, “She cares a lot about you, and I do too.” Erma held out her hand before noticing it was held down with a cuff to prevent her from wandering off. Cuff or not, Samuel grabbed onto it.

“I’m here for you…” Samuel said, “I’m here…” Suddenly, the door opened up behind him. A man with curly midnight-blue hair and a lab coat was inside the room.

“If you’ll excuse me,” the man said, “I have some…medical based procedures I need to conduct to ensure that she is alright.”

“Of course,” Samuel replied, and stepped outside the room. Quickly, the man locked the door and shoved a thin metal pipe in between the holding-pieces. Samuel suddenly began banging on the door.

Then, the man turned towards Erma and took of his wig, which revealed his bright oceanic green hair, and took off his safety mask, which revealed the face everyone never thought possible.

“Hi…” Kyle said slowly. Erma attempted to seize him violently, but the cuffs kept her in place.

“Look,” Kyle said as he held Erma’s hand, “When I say that what happened between me and Osamu had nothing to do with you-” Before he could finish, Erma twitched and growled loudly.

“-had nothing to do with you,” Kyle finished, “Then you know I’m telling the truth.” Erma stared at him in a judging manner.

“Don’t give me that!” Kyle said back, “Do you know why I even did that? It’s because your grandfather is a cheating, lousy, cowardly, corrupt man with visions of greatness.” At this, Erma began listening. Samuel ran off to find help.

“He’s a schemer,” Kyle said, “So am I, but at least I’ve got reasons. Your grandfather would sell you to a family much, much greater than his if it means increasing his power or influence. That’s his thing!” Erma was shocked.

“That’s not even the worst part,” Kyle continued, “You know why he brought you here? He wanted you to take his place after he died. Not out of any reason of familial or personal bonds…but simply because he liked you. Or more specifically, because you’re part of his family. If that’s anything to go off of, the thousands he left starving to death at his gate?” Kyle then laughed. Erma’s eyes were widened.

“So,” Kyle continued, “I took his little scheme, and I turned it on inside itself. If I was in charge, as I planned a long time ago, it would be much different today.” Then, Samuel returned with the doctor, and several other people in hopes of breaking down the door.

“And you know what else?” Kyle asked, “What else they’d do to you simply because you’re a girl?” He got closer to her ears and whispered…

…

Samuel couldn’t hear what was happening, but Kyle was picking open the cuffs on Erma’s wrists with his long nails… Then, he was whispering something in Erma’s ear. Samuel could tell, even from this distance, that whatever Kyle was saying was enough to turn Erma’s nightmares into sweet dreams. What Kyle was saying was enough to destroy her sanity in one clawing stroke.

Finally, the people broke the door down, but Kyle and Erma were gone from their original places. But just as suddenly as their disappearance, Kyle reappeared and snapped the doctors’ necks. Then, he turned to Samuel and smiled. Kyle smacked Samuel upside the head and chained his leg to the higher wall of the room.

“Stay there.” Kyle ordered. Samuel couldn’t refuse. Kyle proceeded to strut outside the room with the detonator in his hand. He twisted it activated, then pressed the button.

The rooms side-by-side around Kyle exploded with extreme force. The flames reached the roof while he slowly strutted out of the building before stopping when only the entrance room collapsed. (Leaving about 4/5ths of the hospital intact.)

Kyle smacked his remote before throwing it on the ground and stomping on it. Then, the remaining explosions kicked off and the hospital collapsed entirely…

Except for one wall with Samuel hanging by his leg.

“This world deserves a better class of royalty,” Kyle said as he walked back to his hideout, “And I’m going to give it to them!”

Chapter Text

Emiko knew what had happened, Kyle had gone out to get the Blairwood Hospital in an attempt to draw attention to the village and cause even more chaos. If Osamu was dead, he would’ve let them live in peace but now they only have one option left…

“We need to run.” Emiko said, “We need to leave the village right now!” Everyone began running away to get their possessions before the TVs and Radio suddenly turned on again.

In the TV was Samuel, reading from a script Kyle had given to him moments ago.

“The Blairwood hospital has been destroyed, nice going people. Tonight, every street I stand on will be mine. Anyone who stays is my subject and everyone is given the equal opportunity to leave.” Everyone freaks out and begins running away…

“Do not go out on the way you came in,” Samuel suddenly said, “Expect a surprise there. Hahahahaha!” Then, the TVs shut off and everyone continued panicking. They grab necessary supplies before running to the docks. Two large boats, capable of holding everyone in the village and more than necessary, were docked and ready to leave.

Everyone boarded them.

The leftmost boat was reserved for the normal civilians, while the right boat was held for the patriarchy and their families with guards to protect them. These are the notable people on each:

(Huh, just realized that I didn’t bother taking the time to note many civilians…)

Just as everyone got comfy for the long ride away, they received yet another surprise. Two presents, one for each boat.

They opened them.

Both of the presents held detonators.

Then the intercoms kicked in, and Kyle’s voice was heard…

“Good evening everyone!” Kyle said, “Tonight…you are all going to be part of a very special…SOCIAL EXPERIMENT. You are both given a gift, it is the detonator to the other group’s boat. Anyone caught trying to escape causes me to kill you all. At midnight, I blow you all up anyway, BUT! If one of you has the guts to press your detonator…I’ll let that boat live. So who’s it going to be? The collected family of royal scumbags who are ever so destined to maintain their rule? Or the oh-so-noble civilians who are willing to take their suffering for…oh…FOUR-HUNDRED-AND-SIXTEEN YEARS?!” Everyone stared at the other group’s boat…

“Oh…and you might want to be quick,” Kyle added, “Because the people on the other boat might not be so noble…” Then the intercoms switched off. The night was coming over them…

Emiko ran out of the boat and flew to the Patriarchy’s boat. She quickly talked with everyone:

“Kyle has his own detonator,” Emiko stated, “If we get him, we can get rid of the threat at midnight and everyone can escape. Fumiko, didn’t you once say that you knew where Kyle’s hideout was?”

“Yes,” Fumiko replies, “It’s back in Blairwood.”

“You’re coming along,” Emiko says, “If Kyle has something unexpected, you’ll be able to help out.”

“I’m coming too.” Kentaro said, “He killed some of my friends in the fire that started it all…”

“And me too,” Rin added, “I’m not just going to stand around, but what about the people and the detonators?”

“Mayoumi can’t bring herself to do something like that,” Emiko reminds her, “And I’m pretty sure that everyone in the other boat can’t do that either.”

“Too late,” Fumiko alerts, “They’re already democratically voting on to press the button or not.” Emiko Looked over and saw that yes, they are.

“Let’s take that as a token that we should move quickly then…” Emiko decides. Then, they all flew out to Blairwood as fast as they could…

Chapter Text

Emiko and her family members burst through the door to Kyle’s hideout. They ran through the floors and found him in the “office room” he put himself in hours before.

“Welcome,” Kyle said, “Members of the Yureimoto clan.”

“Where’s the detonator?!” Kentaro asked frantically.

“I’ll notify you when I find the detonator.” Kyle said with infinite majesty and calm.

“Why were you doing all of this?!” Emiko asked, keeping her distance in case Kyle had the detonator on his person, “What did we ever do to deserve this?!?!”

“I do not want to answer that question,” Kyle replied, evidently upset at the question.

“Why don’t you love us?” Emiko asked, “Why don’t you care for us?! WHAT IS YOUR PROBLEM?!”

“JUST $#%1 UP!!!” Kyle yelled, extremely angry. Everyone stopped and stared at him.

“You want to know why I hate you so much? Why I want to destroy it all?” Kyle asked, “It’s because of him. Osamu was in charge of everything, and you were his little children, his most prized…possessions…”

“Why do you say…” Emiko asked, shakily, “‘Possessions’ like that?”

“Because he didn’t keep you out of love,” Kyle replies, “No one does. He needed you right then and there, and as soon as you inconvenienced him…he casted you out, like a leper. He did the same thing to everyone who wasn’t him…because he viewed himself as ‘God.’”

“That’s not true.” Kentaro argued, “We don’t just betray others the moment they inconvenience us.” Kyle laughed mockingly.

“Do you?” Kyle asked rhetorically, “When this all started with me bringing Emiko home, I appointed five…friends…if you will, and the second I turned on Osamu, they abandoned me.”

“Because you tried to kill us!!” Rin argues. Instantly, Kyle moved faster than the eye and stroked Rin’s scars slowly.

“And he didn’t?” Kyle asked, knowing exactly where the scars came from. Rin didn’t say anything, wide-eyed.

“And he did that to everyone else in the village through indirect starvation,” Kyle said next before sitting back in his chair, “That I can find it in my heart to forgive, but there’s just one thing that I cannot find it in my heart to forgive. Ever.”

“And that is…?” Fumiko asked.

“He banned religion,” Kyle said, “And made himself become ‘God’ over their lives. The one correct religion will never come to that village as long as he’s around.”

“What do you mean?” Kentaro asked.

“The correct religion,” Kyle says, “The one that is true, effective, and provable. He denied it without even bothering to know what it was. It never would’ve come as long as he was alive.”

“So what is your ‘correct’ religion, then?” Fumiko asked, knowing Kyle deserved to be heard.

“Simply, Christianity.” Kyle replied, “And I get that my actions don’t match my beliefs, that’s for God to decide, not you. In my opinion, life is pointless because we all die eventually. So the afterlife is real, according to Christianity (and Geniuses can prove Christianity is correct without using the Bible), so it was the simple case of ‘get everyone to believe.’ I was trying to get everyone to listen to my opinions honestly and calmly, but noooo~! No one would listen! So here I am, being the villain to protect everyone else. And do you know why?”

“Stop it.” Rin commanded, but Kyle didn’t listen.

“Stop what?” Kyle asked, “Stop something that you yourselves are no better of? You don’t deserve to tell me to stop anything. Your universe’s culture sells firearms (with the knowledge that they can be used for murder), illegal drugs (for good or ill), lets the police shoot people and destroy their property (innocent or not) without bothering to even say ‘sorry,’ and starts wars with itself for no reason whatsoever.”

“Then stop,” Emiko begged, “And we’ll stop it all.”

“You can’t stop anything that you didn’t start,” Kyle reminded them all, “I can.”

“How?” Emiko asked.

“I’ll end it all,” Kyle said simply, “I’ll end all wars, starting by erasing the power that no small group of people deserve. Even the police.”

“What are you?!” Fumiko asked, “Some person that believes in an ‘Aryan Society?!’”

“No.” Kyle replied simply, “Also, that’s Indo-Iranian, please get the names correct next time. I’ll erase your love based on conveniences, and replace it with a love based on the personality and inherent worth of a person. It’ll be paradise…will you participate in that paradise, my good friends?” After saying this, Kyle held out his hand. The clock struck 11:55. . . .

Emiko and her family members stood in a defensive manner.

“NEVER.” They said defiantly.

Kyle clearly isn’t happy, and sets his final argument.

“Do you believe that everyone is a good person?” Kyle asks.

“Yes.” They rely simply.

“Then why do I see a majority voting for the option of killing the Royal family’s boat?” Kyle asked…

“Because they’re afraid they’re going to die first.” Emiko replied simply.

“And is that not an inconvenience?” Kyle asked. Immediately, everyone knew what he was saying…

“Time’s running out,” Kyle said, “And you cannot defeat me.”

“Not alone we can’t.” Emiko said, defiant to the end. Kyle sighed.

“You really are an idiot.” Kyle said definitely before suddenly vanishing.

Everyone looked around and found Kyle sitting on a couple cages with snarling bulldogs in them…

And then the creepy battle music started…

Kyle stared at them… Then, he slowly unhitched the locks and opened the cages.

“Get them.” Kyle said simply, knowing this was the outcome he was attempting to avoid. The dogs ran out of the cages and to Emiko’s small group.

Fumiko grabs one dog by the throat and paralyzes it with her poison-needle hair.

Kentaro grabs another dog by the collar and throws it aside, only for it to accidentally hit Emiko and cause her more trouble than originally intended. She throws it aside, only for the lights in the building to be abruptly destroyed by Kyle.

Out of nowhere in the dark, Kyle attacks Emiko with a metal pipe and overpowers her with a furry of swift attacks. He corners her to the corner of a wall before throwing his metal pipe to a nearby window.

Emiko tries to escape the battle, but Kyle chases her to the roof and pulls a scaffolding onto her body.

(The boat of Royalty…)

At the boat for royalty, a decision still couldn’t be made between Mayoumi and her other high-ranked social workers. This is when Momo took her chance and spoke up:

“Give it to me.” Momo replied, “And I’ll do what you should’ve done ten minutes ago…” At this, Mayoumi was scared, but felt it was easier for her to make the decision. (This is in spite of Momo’s young age…)

Almost immediately, Momo took the detonator and threw it out the window and into the water.

“You should’ve done that a long time ago!” Momo berated, “He killed my sister! That Kyle guy probably was planning on rigging our own boat…or something! Whatever it is, I am done playing by his-” Before she could finish her thought, a sudden dart hit her neck and caused a small prick.

When Momo looked at the wall, she could see Kyle the Conquerer dancing by kicking one foot to the wall and then his other while taking his clasped hands and holding them together around his groin area. Then, he smiled a slasher smile before revealing a small eyeball held on a string held between his fingers. The eye searched this way and that before resting its gaze on Momo. Then, the eye itself narrowed into a small slit…

At this moment, Osamu had recovered enough to use his full power and fly out of the boat. When they went searching for him, they found his room empty…

“Where’d he go?” Someone had asked.

(Back at Kyle’s Hideout…)

Emiko was trapped under the scaffolding. Kyle’s eyes gazed into hers.

“On what boat is your grandfather on?” Kyle asked Emiko. His eyes penetrated her soul, and she couldn’t refuse.

“The royalty boat.” She said. A smile suddenly stretched across Kyle’s face…

“I have done it…” Kyle said, knowing the deadline was drawing near, “I have become death, and destroyer of worlds.” Fumiko’s hair attempted to strike, but Kyle had caught it.

“I’m afraid that won’t be happening.” Kyle said simply. He pulled Fumiko to him and paralyzed her neck with her own hair. The paralysis left her face stuck in an expression of agony and horror…

Emiko’s other family members then came to the scene, but Kyle didn’t do anything this time.

“We really have to stop fighting,” he said, “Or else we’re going to miss the fireworks!”

“There won’t be any fireworks!” Rin attempted to argue, though she still was uncertain. Kyle looked out with his all-seeing-eyes to the two boats…

With that, Kyle said, “And here…we…GO.”

(The civilian boat…)

Yuyu had just finished the voting, it reached a 674/732 vote in favor of blowing up the royalty boat. (About a 92% majority.) In response, Yuyu is given the detonator…and she hold it…ready to press the button…

Then…she stops and reflects on herself…

…

“If I press this,” Yuyu thinks out loud, “He’ll be gone, thousands of generations will grow in peace and never even know his name…”

“So do it.” Someone said. 

…

…Yuyu…

…

…she shakily puts the detonator back in the box.

Then, she sits back down in her chair.

(Back at Kyle’s hideout…)

Kyle was initially happy and expecting, but now he’s confused and unsure. He checks his watch. It’s 12:01 PM.

“What were you trying to prove?” Emiko asks, “That deep down, everyone is as horrible as you?” Kyle suddenly stops…

“You’re alone.” Emiko says simply. Kyle responds by tearing off and angrily throwing away a piece of the scaffolding.

“You can’t count on anyone nowadays,” Kyle says, “That’s why I came prepared!” He felt around in his pockets before showing a shocked expression on his face. He pulled out his detonator.

“It was in my pocket this whole time?!?!” Kyle shouts, “Well, it’s a funny world we live in. Speaking of which, do you know where I came from?”

“No.” Emiko replies, “But I know where you’re going next.” She breaks free of the scaffolding and punches Kyle in the face. He drops his detonator.

Then, Emiko throws him away.

Then, she realizes where she threw him.

Kyle laughed insanely when he realized that he was falling from the top of his building. He no longer cared that his theories proved false…

Then, he was caught, just before he hit the ground. (If your music is still going, stop it.)

Kyle was shocked at this revelation, but then saw that Osamu had caught him in his talons. Now, Kyle was being brought up to the top of his building. He stared at Emiko as Osamu held him up high. Kentaro helped Fumiko break free of her paralysis.

“You just couldn’t let me go? Could you?” Kyle asked, “You people can’t kill me out of some misplaced sense of self-righteousness, and I can’t kill you, because you haven’t mistaken convenience and real love…”

“And you’ll be staying in a padded cell forever.” Emiko says.

“Maybe we’ll share one!” Kyle suggested, “At the rate this village is going to explode…”

“This village just proved that it’s full of good people, who are willing to make a change.” Emiko argued.

“But, wait until they see what I did to Erma!” Kyle said, causing Emiko to lose all bravery.

“What?!” Kyle asked, “You didn’t think I’d risk the battle for this village’s future in a fist-fight with you, did you? No, no…you need an ace-in-the-hole. Mine’s Erma!”

“What did you do to her?” Fumiko asked.

“I took Emiko’s precious ‘everything,’” Kyle said, “And…brought her down to my level. It wasn’t hard, all I had to do was tell her everything…everything you wouldn’t tell her. Then, I let her loose…she’s in no way capable of ruling a world like this now!”

“That won’t matter,” Osamu said, “She’ll take my mantel after…whatever is necessary to fix your delusions on her…” Everyone stared at Osamu now…

“Then what now?” Kyle asked, knowing the answer, “A public execution? Killing me slowly? Death without honor? All of the above?!”

“Precisely,” Osamu said simply, “I am the patriarch, and you will die when I permit it.”

“No.” Emiko suddenly said. Both Kyle and Osamu looked at her, surprised at this sudden intrusion.

“No?” Osamu repeated, not believing what he heard.

“NO!!!” Emiko yells loudly and defiantly. She slashes at Osamu’s feet with her prehensile hair, allowing Kyle to crawl around his flying body. In the moment that followed, Kyle grabbed Osamu’s wings and tore them off.

They both plummeted to the ground.

Osamu hit the ground and broke both his legs in an instant, but Kyle used his jacket as a parachute and reached the ground safely…

“Thank you.” Kyle said, “Now if you’ll excuse me, you have a daughter to find and I have another dimension to be going to.” And with that, Kyle walked…

“So what are you leaving me to?!” Osamu yelled, “Death?!”

“No! Haha!” Kyle laughed, “I have someone much more fitting for you.” Then, Kyle disappeared into the shadows.

Osamu stared around before seeing a pair of glinting lights in the sewer drain… From said sewer came none other than a shadow-skinned monster.

“Heya loser!” The monster said, “That’s a nice death you have there!”

“Who are you?” Asked Osamu.

“My name’s Baku,” the monster said.

“Are you the death Kyle prepared for me?” Osamu asked.

“Nope,” Baku lied, “I ate that.”

“You…ate it?” Osamu asked.

“Yep!” Baku lied again, “Care to join me? I’ve got good foods like popcorn…soda…and…?”

“Spring-water?” Osamu asked, still suspicious.

“‘Spring-water!’” Baku laughed, “Well, that’s good! We’ve got plenty of that down here!” Then, Osamu extended his hand to Baku.

“Help me.” Osamu pleaded.

“Help…?” Baku repeated, “YOU?!?!” In that instant, Baku revealed his sharp fangs and bit off Osamu’s left arm.

Osamu turned around and saw his children watching him…

“Children…” Osamu said, knowing that he was truly helpless… Before anyone could do anything, Baku’s arm lengthened and pulled Osamu by his legs. Osamu screamed.

Then, he was pulled into the sewer drain and disappeared…

No one said anything…

No screams of pain followed…

No one cared.

“I need to save Erma…” Emiko said, “And father… he’s…”

“We’ll get him.” Fumiko said before looking at Emiko, “Go get her…she needs you.” Emiko nodded and then flew off…

She didn’t know where to start looking…

Chapter Text

Emiko didn’t know where to start looking, but knew that her husband was still trapped at the remains of the hospital, and that was as good of a start as any.

She descended on the wall which he was still hanging from, and saw his body hanging from a chain on his ankle on the wall. He was awake, and had been for hours on end.

“Emiko…?” Samuel whispered, tired from his situation for the last how many hours.

“I’m here.” Emiko said as she cut open the chain with her prehensile hair, “Where’s Erma?”

“She was here hours ago,” Samuel said quietly, “Then Kyle came along and…did something to her…”

“He was trying to protect her…” Emiko said.

“Really?” Samuel asked.

“Yes,” Emiko replied, “He wanted to get rid of father because he…was…”

“A bit oppressive?” Samuel finished.

“Yes…” Emiko answered, “And Erma was to be his next in line, so if he couldn’t kill her, he did the only other thing he could do…”

“Which is?” Samuel asked.

“He brought her over to his side.” Emiko finished. Samuel was shocked.

“Where is she?” Samuel asked.

“I don’t know,” Emiko answered, “That’s why I’m here…”

“How about that trail?” Samuel asked after noticing a small blood trail accompanied by scattered bandages.

“That’s a start…” Emiko concluded. She held Samuel by his arm and followed said trail of blood and tears…

The trail led into the woods before seemingly leading into a deep pond. Emiko looked deep into the pond and saw a small red streak seemingly coming from the very bottom…

“I’m going in.” Emiko said simply.

Samuel tried to intervene, “But-”

“This is serious,” Emiko replied, “Erma could be drowning down there and I need to help her…” Samuel understood…

“Go get her, then.” Samuel said. Emiko dove in.

…

At first, the Lake held only redness all around Emiko. Then, the redness gave way to visions of the unknowns, including things man was not meant to know…

Then, it all suddenly was torn away into two small walls on both sides of Emiko. Psychedelic dreams and nightmares surrounded her on all sides…

Then, the shapes man was not meant to know started appearing. Sharps started appearing behind those shapes, and would have driven anyone off of the deep end…

Finally, it returned to red again with black pits surrounding Emiko and leaking into the water. That was when she saw Erma lying motionless at the bottom of the lake. She dove down deep and picked her up before swimming upward as fast as she could.

When she finally reached the surface, Emiko took a deep breath and tossed Erma onto the ground. Samuel started attempting CPR…

…

…Erma woke up for a brief moment to cough up the water and blood in her lungs before falling unconscious again…

This was when Emiko started crying.

“What do we do?” She asked.

“What do you mean?” Samuel asked.

“Kyle won…” Emiko replied before sniffling, “He tore apart my own family…destroyed our house…and destroyed my childhood home as we know it…”

“It can’t be all bad, can it?” Samuel asked, being completely oblivious to what had happened earlier…

“Hundreds are dead,” Emiko answered, “Two of which are the patriarchy of the entire village…and my daughter…” Emiko stopped talking and looked at the gaping eye cavity Kyle had accidentally given her daughter days ago…

“Well,” Samuel says, “We still have each other, and that’s good enough for me…” Emiko didn’t respond…but she did slowly stop crying…

“Come on,” Samuel said, “We need to leave, for the sake of our daughter…” Emiko wiped away a tear from her eye, picked up her daughter’s unconscious body, and started walking away…

Chapter Text

Late the next morning, Erma woke up. She rubbed her left eye before looking around to see that she was in a hospital. No one was inside her room. She tried to get out of the bed but could see that she was bolted down yet again…

So, she instead tried to hear what everyone was saying…

…suddenly, she could pick up on voices.

“And she was stuck at the bottom of a lake for what seemed like a couple hours.” A voice like her father’s said.

“And may I ask what caused all of this in the first place?” Another, unknown voice asked.

“It’s a long story,” a voice like her mother’s said, “Just trust us that you don’t want to know.” A small scribbling sound was made before they started talking again.

“Alright.” Said the unknown voice, “If all of this happened, it might be best for her to be by herself to process her feelings for a moment, then we’ll open her up to visits.”

“…alright, then.” The motherly voice said, and then the talking stopped.

Erma was by herself for the next couple hours, and felt tired, sticky, sore, and achy, but alive. Her immediate reaction was to try and recall what had happened…

She could remember the game of chance Kyle played with her entire family…she was sure that her grandfather landed on a “spare” side. Then, he turned to test her coin chance before they were both suddenly pushed over the edge by someone…then she remembered the pain in her right eye and being taken away from the fray…

Then, she remembered waking up in the hospital with her father before the new doctor arrive. Then, she remembered the doctor taking off his disguise and revealing himself to be Kyle before they started conversing. (Well, more communicating because of her silence…) Then, she remembered the one thing he told her that she desperately wished she could forget.

When she finally stopped reminiscing, she found herself crying in a cold sweat back in her small bed. She felt…she didn’t know what she felt…

…except that she was tired.

When Erma woke up again, she was still alone, but eventually she could hear footsteps outside her door with numerous voices talking over each other. Then, her mother’s voice spoke over all of them…

“Listen!” She said, “Erma isn’t exactly doing well right now and…having all of with her at the same time might overwhelm her…so…”

“I’ll go first,” the fatherly voice said, “I’ll make sure that she’s okay…” Then, everyone stopped and Erma could see her father walking into the room…

…she was terrified of him now…

…she attempted to escape…but her wrists were still bolted down…

Her father saw what she was doing and slowly started walking to her…

“Hey…” he said, “Its going to be alright…” All of a sudden, Erma stopped attempting to retreat and instead hissed at him with a terrifying face of hers.

It made him back off.

Then, he left the room. Erma calmed down again…

The voices outside the room went off again, this time, the motherly voice decided that she was going to go in…

The door opened, and Emiko had come into the room. Erma didn’t make any sudden movements this time…

“Are you okay?” Emiko asked. Erma didn’t respond…

“Are you okay?” Emiko repeated. Erma shook her head.

“Come here…” Emiko said before attempting a hug. Upon feeling touched, Erma started growling and hissing wildly. Emiko backed off, causing Erma to calm down again…

“I see…” Emiko said shortly after things quieted down. She got up and said, “I’ll be back in a little bit…” Then, Emiko left the room…

“She contracted severe PTSD from whatever it was that Kyle told her…” Emiko told her family.

“So…?” Samuel asked.

“It’s…complicated.” Emiko replied.

“I see.” Fumiko said, “What now?”

“Well,” Emiko replied, “I remembered that you went to find father…”

“Yes.”

“And…?”

“We found him,” Fumiko replied, “Well, half of him, anyway.” Everyone shuddered at that thought…

“Okay, then…” Emiko said, “What do we do now?”

“If anything counts,” Yori answered, “The two boats need to stay away…”

“No…bring them back.” Emiko said.

“What?” Everyone asked.

“Kyle was only attacking our village because he was worried about everything…going downhill…” Emiko replied, “If anything, I think they deserve to come back…”

“And…?” Rin asked.

“Reforms need to be taken out across the village…” Emiko replied, “Lots of them.”

“Including those ‘Christians’ Kyle advocated for?” Rin asked.

“Especially them,” Emiko replied, “And anyone else as well…”

“What about her?” Kentaro asked, pointing to Erma in the room as she was looking around with blank eyes…

“I’ll figure something out…” Emiko replied…

It was now the funeral day. Almost no one attended, and literally no one felt bad for not feeling bad.

“‘I see that I hold a sanctuary in their heart’…” said the preacher, “…’and in the hearts of their descendants, generations hence. It is a far, far better thing that I do…than I have ever done. It is a far, far better rest that I go to…than I have ever known.’ These were the words he wished to speak, but clearly they are not true.” Emiko and her living sisters nodded, as they looked around the empty church.

At this, Osamu’s remains were taken to a coffin and taken away, never to be seen by anyone again. At this, they all called it a farewell to their father (however heinous he was) and returned to the village.

Emiko walked back into the house, while her sisters joined her entry. Emiko knew that Osamu intended to give the house (along with the patriarchy) onto the shoulders of Erma. Unfortunately, due to her…mental instability…no one could allow this. The civilians took charge and Emiko was left with the house and it’s leftover possessions.

She walked into the house and saw Erma sleeping in her small bed. Her right eye had healed, but it was still missing one small thing…

“Well, I’m back,” Emiko said as she grabbed something out of her pocket. It was a small glass eye. Black for a sclera, and white for an iris. She laid it on the table next to Erma’s bed with a small note reading:

“For your eye. Love, mom.”

Awhile later, Erma woke up and saw her mother resting in her room.

“Hi, sweetie,” her mother said, “I’m back…and…I know things have been really rough in the last week, so…” She looked at her daughter sincerely…

“Would you like a hug?” Emiko asked. Erma, even in her drowsy and mentally shattered state, nodded with a weak smile.

They hugged tightly.

Then, Erma noticed the small glass eye.

“I bought it because…well,” her mother said, “I want to help you get over it. Try it on.” Erma took the eye slowly and, with help from her mother, put it in her eye socket. It didn’t restore her vision, but with the “normal” persona it seemed to give her, there was no reason not to use it.

This was fifty-seven years ago. That timeline has since long passed and the new timeline with a happy and healthy Erma is (soon to be was) underway. The new Erma would encounter Kyle the Conqueror again, face down his corrupted computer A.I., and then cry her heart out over what followed… For this timeline, Erma’s family had no Blairewood to return to, and now they remain in the Yokai Village as the heirs to Osamu’s estate. In his place, they watched the violent rules he originally imposed be destroyed with calmer, fairer, and more accepting ones being set in. This was all just fifty-seven years ago, and that Erma has since found peace…

THE END