106. No, I can't!

Wrath/Sloth Chapter 3: The final solution.

"NO!" I yelled out loud and released the two girls from my grip. Hazuka didn't move, mostly in fear while Kouki collapsed to the ground ****.

<Come on, you know you want to…> I heard the voice in my mind said again and I felt one arm reach out for Hazuka again.

"I can't do this! I shouted, grabbing at my arm with my other hand and holding it back. "I WON'T!" Then it was laughing in my head, and I ran out of Hazuka's house, not even looking where I was going.

<It's only a matter of time now, Kenji,> the voice said confidently. <Soon I will have full control and you will just be a memory.>

"No!" I yelled aloud as I ran through the town. "I won't let you!"

<You can't stop me,> the voice giggled and then maniacally laughed again. The I felt it shirk, as if in pain.

I'd run up to the edge of the old ruined temple on the top of the hill. "You don't like it here do you?" I asked stepping inside the temple. It didn't answer and instead curled up inside me, like a hermit crab hiding in a conch shell. I took that as a good sign and walked in deeper, catching my breath and relieved to find I was back in my right mind again.

"Kenji? What's wrong?" the monk asked as he appeared from seemingly nowhere.

"I'm losing… control…" I panted as I recovered. "I know what I need to do."

The monk then asked, seemingly worried, "What's that?"

I walked over to the cliff face and looked out at the sea and took one last deep breath of the salty air before looking back at him and said, "Just this." Then I let it all go happily as I leaned back and let the wind take me. The oni screamed in my head, but I was content in knowing that at least I could prevent it from hurting anyone else as the unseen rocks came rushing up to meet me.