The apparition that had confronted Mei in her hellish trance was now standing before her, tentacles and all. "Yuzu?" she said again, petrified with horror. "Who do you think you are, wretch?" returned Zu. Mei was taken aback by her words. "Don't you know me, Yuzu?" "Yuzu? The one who is dead?" Zu scoffed. "Don't you dare mistake the dead for the living!" Here she extended one of her tentacles and grabbed Mei by the throat. "Yuzu!" she screamed. Mei tore at the horrible appendage and managed to yank it off in her desperation to reach her sister. "What has happened to you?" Zu was shocked. In her rankling mind, she had not guessed that her stepsister could overpower her will. "WHAT HAS HAPPENED?!" she screamed as tears began to stream down her face. "YOU KILLED HER, IDIOT! YUZU IS DEAD, NEVER TO RETURN!" Mei herself started to weep, realizing the pitiable state Yuzu had fallen into. "Come here, Yuzu," she whispered with open arms and downcast face. "I want to taste your lips again and satisfy your longings! I want be the sister I never was, even though I've mistreated you so cruelly." She touched Zu's cheek. "Because I still love you, no matter what's happened between us," Mei boldly spoke. Yuzu felt herself returning. Her tentacles withered, and her claws shrank away. She felt her will suddenly failing after realizing the injury she had dealt to Mei. But her heart was still so heavily wounded that she once again yielded to her Oni side and said with a breaking voice, "But I don't," before morphing back into Zu and vanishing into her portal of sorrow. Mei sank down on her knees, breaking down instantly. Her heart was shattered into a million pieces at that moment. What's happening to us? she said to herself. Am I now the one chasing Yuzu, instead of the two of us coming together? She clutched at her chest in anguish. Yuzu, I'm so sorry, Mei said in her grief. I didn't think you would come to this after I'd left you. But you're not finished with me. I will bring you back, Yuzu, no matter how much pain I have to go through. She had picked herself up and had folded her bed sheets when a shadowy figure entered the room. "Aihara Mei, are you ill?" "Oh, Shirapon-senpai," sighed Mei, turning around to face her, "I am in a tight spot with Yuzu right now. Since I've returned from my cancelled engagement, she's been a different person." "Yuzupon must have been profoundly hurt," said Suzuran. "No offense, Mei-san, but I honestly can't blame her for falling this low because of what happened." Mei pleaded, "But what can I do to get her back? You did tell her that you would help us together." "Perhaps you didn't express your feelings clearly to her?" inquired Suzuran. "I don't know. Maybe Yuzu wasn't ready for it." "Perhaps so. But I think you mustn't only tell Yuzupon how much you love her, Mei-san. You need to prove to her how much you need her." It suddenly dawned upon Mei. Why did I tell her what I want as a sibling? she asked herself. I have to tell her what I need as her... well, as her beloved. I can't give up everything I had for Yuzu just to leave me. I- Her thoughts were interrupted by another strange sight. It was Zu, standing in the courtyard, with her crystalline red eyes focused on her. Her medusal growths were expanding yet again, and she herself was speaking to Mei. Is that so? said Zu. You really are strange to love the dead, Mei. Bear in mind, though, that the Yuzu you once knew does love you. It's just that... here Zu paused for a brief period - you caused her so much pain. Mei's eyes widened at this. You mortally wounded her spirit. There's only one way to bring her back: To cure a fatal wound. Mei's reply was quite enigmatic:

AND YOU WILL, YUZU.



END OF ARC ONE