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Today was the day.
Today is the day that Yashiro Nene is destined to die.
Tsuchigomori has known this for a long time, but knowing that today was the day changed things.
For months both Minamoto Kou and No.7 had been asking how to stop it, or how it was going to happen. Tsuchigomori had been ignoring them and not answering, knowing that somehow those two would try to stop it.
But now Tsuchigomori was pondering if it could be done.
Shaking his head to clear away those thoughts Tsuchigomori sets out to go about his day normally, until something catches his eye.
A note sitting on his desk in beautiful script, his name visible on the outside.
Sitting down with the letter in hand, Tsuchigomori tears open the letter to realize it was a rather lengthy letter, at least three pages worth. Thanking him for putting up with Kou and No.7 constantly bothering him, as well as thanking him for helping them as much as he has, finally asking him to watch out for Kou and Hanako once she is gone.
Once he got to the end of the letter something in him snapped. Launching out of his chair and heading straight for the 4pm bookstacks to grab an armful of books, silently happy that No.7 had reassigned him the 4pm bookstacks not even two days ago.
Making a dash to gather the last of the books he needs, Tsuchigomori takes them to a room he never thought he would need.
Just as the room comes into view someone steps out of the shadows to block him from entering.
Standing before him in her human form is Yako, coming to a full on stop only five feet from the angry kitsune Tsuchigomori preparing to tell her to move goes silent upon seeing her expression.
Yako’s usual disdain and disinterest was replaced with a look of worry and sorrow.
Her look was pleading enough but when she voices her thoughts it shocks him, “You don’t have to do this. You said it yourself, this is their fate, it’s out of your hands. So please Tsuchigomori, don’t do this.”
Yako is one of the oldest school mysteries so she knows full well what will happen to Tsuchigomori if he enters that room. She knows that if he goes into that room there is a chance that he may not come out.
Over the many years that they both have been mysteries they have gotten close, one may even say that the two were friends. Tsuchigomori is one of the few that can tolerate her attitude and strong personality, and the same can be said in reverse.
The guilt Tsuchigomori feels at possibly leaving her alone is strong, but the guilt of not doing anything to save them is far worse.
Reaching out with one of his hands that wasn’t holding onto a book he pressed his palm into her cheek, in an attempt to soothe her.
Tsuchigomori whispers, “I’m sorry, Yako; but this is something that I have to do.”
Yako gives him one last pleading gaze, drops her head in defeat, knowing there was one way of changing his mind. Stepping aside to allow Tsuchigomori space to enter the room, she feels a single tear roll down her cheek in mourning.
Just as Tsuchigomori is about to enter the room he voices his thanks to Yako, not just for allowing him to pass but for being a friend to him for all of these years.
The kitsune didn’t say anything in response but he noticed a nod of her head, this told him she had indeed heard him.
Just as the door begins to close behind Tsuchigomori he hears, “Goodbye, stupid gloomy spider.”
A small smile graces Tsuchigomori’s lips upon hearing that for possibly the last time.
With the book press laying in front of him with what seemed like a lifetime of dust.
Setting all three books down he gets to work.
After what seemed like days, Tsuchigomori stops, rage coursing through him. No matter what he tries he couldn’t change anything, every time he thought it would work it didn’t.
Something was missing, but he couldn’t figure what.
Glancing at his watch he knew that he was running out of time, panic began to set in knowing that if he didn’t solve this problem soon it would have all been for nothing.
Just as he was about to lose all hope movement in the corner of his eye grabbed his attention. Turning fully to inspect what it was, Tsuchigomori was shocked to see red threads streaming from the books on the table and flowing out the door.
In that very moment he realized that is what he was missing, it wasn’t just these three books that were tied together; there were more.
That was why the changes weren’t working, he didn’t have the full story.
Racing from the room Tsuchigomori follows the red threads to one of the shelfs, he was shocked to see the two names on the spines of the books.
A knowing smile tugs at his lips knowing that this was how it should be, that these five all deserve this.
Dashing back toward the press Tsuchigomori throws the books down in a hurry and begins to work on their new stories.
Just as he begins he pauses, he takes a moment to think of how he should do this, if it isn’t right the outcome will be the same.
Glancing at the red thread tying all five of these books together, Tsuchigomori knew exactly what he needed to do.
Remembering the details from their time in No.4’s realm, Tsuchigomori used some of that as inspiration. Knowing that even with his power he couldn’t bring three of them back from the dead he decided to start at the beginning.
Opening the two oldest books Tsuchigomori sets up to change the twins' fate, giving them both a longer life and a sister named Hanako.
In the end the two twins would still die but at an older age, their sister lives to have a family of her own, her eldest having a set of twins.
She names them after her uncles that she loved dearly.
The new Amane and Tsukasa were both enrolled into Kamome, so their new white books appeared next to the red ones. Just as he was about to alter the other books something strange happened.
The books all altered on their own, Mitsuba Sousuke’s book went from red to white, Yashiro Nene’s grew, and Minamoto Kou’s had a few extra pages.
Tsuchigomori had done it.
He had saved all of them, just by saving the twins.
Relief rushed through him knowing that they will all now have a future. Just as Tsuchigomori begins to relax a chill spreads through him, glancing down he sees his legs vanishing.
This truly was the end for him, he had done what he swore never to do. But he wasn’t upset at his decision, he felt so much pride and warmth knowing that he had saved them.
His curiosity peaked, reaching forward he grabs Yashiro Nene’s book and flips to the final page. After reading the last page a smile overtakes his features at the outcome, she gets her wish.
Yashiro Nene will now live a long and healthy life, with her very own ‘prince’, one that she always insists is not her type.
Knowing that the five will not remember him is sad, but Tsuchigomori is still happy to know that they will all be happy now. Hearing a noise behind him Tsuchigomori turns to see Yako standing in the door-frame, tears streaming down her face.
Reaching out he grasps her small hand in his spidery fingers, giving her a smile with so much warmth and joy hoping she will forgive him for leaving.
With a sorrow filled voice Yako sobs, “Looks like the gloomy spider isn’t so gloomy anymore.”
Tsuchigomori feels a laugh bubble through him as he replies, “I guess so.”
The two share one last smile as the rest of Tsuchigomori vanishes, all traces of him now gone. All but one thing of him remains, his glasses cluttering to the floor in front of Yako.
She tentatively reaches down to cradle them in her hands, a fond smile dusting over her lips.
Yako may not have been happy about losing him but she was happy that he finally was able to save the ones dearest to him.