Shikigami flew past his head, most missing, some not.

Block! Chant... cast. One, two- no! More coming- dodge...aahh! Damn- he got me... block! An opening... there! and? Now it's over...finally.

Then he felt it- warm, sticky- ebbing out of his opposite's body- taking away what's left of both their souls... Finally seeing his hands. Red, still wet from the blood that was still leaving his enemy's body from the fatal wound. Then he heard it... soft, barely audible.

" Now... you've won our bet. Now...I can love you..."

Blood and tears mixed together on his face as finally, it was over. Crying, as he had not done in a very long time, he said goodbye to his heart, his revenge. He bid farewell to his enemy, and love. His other half.

The fourteenth head of the Sumeragi Clan shook her head- She didn't really understand why, but she felt drawn to this place. After the last head had come back after many years of wandering, he had brought a body, and had buried it here. Then, after he had chosen her to be the next head of the clan, he had asked her order that he be buried next to that unmarked grave.

She had agreed, a little surprised by the odd request. And then, with a tired smile, he died. She had ordered him buried as he had wished, and then had watched, astonished, as over the next few days, a cherry tree with pure white blossoms started to grow over both of the graves.

She put her hand on the tree, not knowing what to expect. She had been expecting almost anything, ready to exorcise anything, but what she felt truly surprised her. Peace and serenity, happiness, and understanding...

The hunt had finally ended. The predator, and the prey- who was which? had become one, in the Earth. Their impossible love had been able to grow... blossoming like the tree- pure white- no pain, just happiness. Innocent laughter of three happy souls rang in her mind, as the fourteenth head removed her hand from the tree, smiled, and, a little wiser, left the souls in peace.

---Finis---