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A lone figure in a dark trench coat strolled through Babylon’s upper streets, moving with a grace that belied the foreboding aura around him. Akabane Kuroudo’s heels clicked softly against the worn pavement as he climbed the winding stairs up the tower’s levels. His eyes drifted over his surroundings with a hint of nostalgic amusement. Seven years had passed, yet nothing here seemed to change—the same crumbling structures, the same abandoned atmosphere, the same gloom. Vines crept through cracks in the brick, as if grasping for a light that would never reach them here.
The sky grew heavier as clouds gathered, promising rain. Akabane tilted his head, a slight smile tugging at his lips. Ah, what a fitting omen , he thought, quickening his pace. He wasn’t here for idle reminiscence.
He passed through the shadowed streets, navigating with ease toward a medical supply shop—small, unremarkable, but holding something precious. The life he had known was gone, stolen by accusations and betrayals after the war. It had left a bitter taste in his mouth, one that only the sharpness of his blade could satisfy. He let his hand graze his coat, feeling the faint weight of his scalpels hidden within. To some, he might seem a monster, but he never argued; after all, monsters have a certain… freedom.
Ahead, a familiar storefront came into view. Peeling paint and cracks marred its façade, showing its age. He approached the door and knocked once, but the silence inside told him all he needed to know. Smiling faintly, he made his way around the back to the worn-down apartment complex. Knocking again, he waited as he heard faint shuffling from within. The door creaked open, and a woman appeared, her hair disheveled and her gaze weary.
“May I help you?” she asked, the fatigue in her voice apparent.
“Forgive me, Hydie, for keeping you waiting,” he murmured.
Her eyes widened, recognition dawning. “Akabane Kuroudo! Is it… really you?”
He inclined his head, the smile never leaving his face. “Jackal, if you please.”
Hydie’s face softened, and she stepped back, motioning him inside. He swept in, letting his eyes adjust to the dim light. “You know why I’m here, don’t you?” he asked, his voice as soft as a whisper.
Hydie nodded, turning to lead him down a hall. He noted her slumped shoulders, the tiredness in her step. She looked as worn as the building itself, as though time had worn her down to nothing but determination and scraps of pride. Seven years , he mused, watching her ragged appearance. Babylon had not been kind to her.
They made their way up creaking stairs to the top floor, where she moved to a dusty corner and knelt down, carefully lifting several loose floorboards to reveal a hidden compartment. She drew out several parcels and laid them on a table, her movements more energetic than before.
Akabane’s eyes gleamed. “You’ve kept them,” he observed.
Hydie scoffed, crossing her arms. “I could’ve sold them, made a decent amount, but I knew you’d be back.”
“Such loyalty,” he replied, and her cheeks flushed faintly. He undid the strings of a small roll, letting it unfold to reveal a line of scalpels gleaming under the faint light. He ran his fingers over them with reverence. “My friends…”
He picked one up, turning it in his hand. The blade glinted, catching Hydie’s gaze in its reflection. He chuckled lightly, almost to himself, and set the blade down before lifting another, admiring it in silence. “Look at how they glisten… beautiful, aren’t they?”
Hydie watched him, her expression unreadable. Then she turned, gesturing toward the largest parcel on the table. “I kept this, too. It’s… something I thought you’d like back.”
Unwrapping the bundle, Akabane’s hand stilled as a crimson sword emerged from the wrappings. His long fingers wrapped around its handle, and he drew it free, his voice lowering to a murmur. “You feel warm in my hands… Ah, it’s been so long.”
Hydie touched his shoulder, her voice soft. “Dr. J, you could stay here. We could… make it like old times, maybe even better.”
Akabane turned to her, tilting his head as he studied her face. She held his gaze with her own steady one, but he felt the desperation in her touch, her words, and the way she leaned into him as if he were her last lifeline. With a slight hum, he brought her close. “Come… let me hold you,” he whispered, his voice gentle. “Soon, you’ll know splendors beyond your dreams.”
A small, sly smile appeared on Hydie’s lips as she leaned into him, whispering, “I’ll be more to you than she ever was, Akabane.”
He twirled her around, the faintest hint of laughter escaping him as he watched her spin. Then, releasing her hands, he turned back to the table, where his scalpels gleamed in the faint light. Slowly, he called them back into his body, feeling the familiar sensation of each blade settling within him.
“Hydie,” he asked, not turning, “what happened to my family?”
She shifted, her eyes clouding. “After you left… they came for her. She tried to fight, but she… well, she was too far gone.” Her voice trailed off, a shadow crossing her face.
Akabane felt his mind waver. He’d known they were gone, yet hearing it still struck him in a way he’d never admit aloud. “Why did I wait so long?” he murmured, his voice barely audible. The weight of the past lay heavy on him, pressing down like a stone.
Hydie reached out, resting a hand on his shoulder, her voice a whisper. “Is there… anything I can do?”
He stilled, his mind focused on the memories he couldn’t shake. There’s nothing left for me here , he thought. Only memories of a life that can never return .
Then he looked down at the scalpels, his expression hardening as he took a deep breath. “My friends… soon, you’ll drip precious rubies.”
Hydie blinked, startled, taking a step back. “Dr. J… what are you saying?”
He turned, a strange gleam in his eyes. “Hydie… you understand how it is here. Up in Babylon… all things end the same.” His tone was light, even, but it carried a weight that sent a shiver down her spine.
Hydie’s face twisted with sudden anger. “Do you think it was ever about her? It was you they wanted, Dr. J!”
A swift motion, and a thin red line traced her neck. Her eyes widened, lips parting as her last breath escaped in a faint gasp, a ghost of a smile lingering on her face as she crumpled. Akabane held his hand up, watching the ruby droplets glisten along the scalpels. “At last, my arm is complete again.”
He stepped over her still form and made his way to the door, retrieving his wide-brimmed hat from the rack as he exited into the rain. Standing beneath the misting sky, he gazed upward. “There’s a hole in this world, like a great black pit… and it’s filled with people who poison everything they touch.” A smile played on his lips. “But they won’t be here for much longer.”
A rumble of thunder rolled overhead, and he set off down the street, the promise of vengeance propelling him forward. He would become the monster they accused him of being, with his friends as sharp reminders of that purpose.
Eventually, he reached a parked truck where a violet-haired woman waited inside, her lips curving in a sly smile. “Did you find what you were looking for, Jackal?”
“Indeed,” he replied, a soft smile gracing his face. “And it’s time to say goodbye to this place. We have work to do in the morning.”
With a grunt, the driver started the engine, and they pulled away, leaving the tower a distant shadow in the rearview mirror. Akabane tipped his hat down, blocking the rising sun from his eyes as he settled into his seat. I think… I miss you less and less each day , he mused as he closed his eyes. So this is finally goodbye .