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Chapter Forty-Seven: Racing Against Death:

Tick tock. Tick tock. Time was burning away. Haruka slowly made her way down the stairs. She felt calm. No more voices in her head. He hadn't said anything else. Fine by her. She'd show him. The old lady would not lose. She placed her hand on the wall. This would be her last attempt. Got to make this last. The old lady smiled to herself. No final words for this body.

Only her final spell.

Her words came without a sound. As she spoke, her words and body became lighter. Her vision started to blur. Her lips curved into a cold little smile. Haruka closed her eyes for the last time.

And then she was gone.

Anna stepped on the grounds. Her eyes shifted left and right.

"There is no one here," she said. Chills ran up her arms. Airi looked around.

"Be on your guard," she said. "She's gotten desperate."

"Yeah," Anna said. She started to walk forward.

"I can smell it," the woman said.

"Smell it?" Airi asked.

"Yeah," the tsukai said. "Can you smell it?" The Mother took a smell for herself.

"Oh…" she said.

"What is it?" Anna asked.

"This isn't good," Airi said. "She's gone to that measure."

"What measure?" the tsukai asked. Airi froze.

"Anna, look out!" she yelled.

"What?" the woman asked, turning her head. Anna jumped out of the way in time. A wave of pressured air shot past her heel, grazing it.

"Ow," she whispered.

"You okay?" Airi asked.

"Yes," Anna said. The kitsune looked at her left heel. A small cluster of red bumps formed on the skin.

"Does it hurt?" Airi asked. "Be honest." Anna shook her head.

"I'm fine," she said.

"Can you stand up?" Airi asked. Anna nodded. She slowly rose to her feet. But then she wobbled over.

"Anna?" the kitsune asked. The tsukai shook her head as she rubbed her forehead.

"I'm fine," she said. "Let's just go." Anna started walking towards the tower. She looked drunk as she moved. Airi didn't look so convinced. But she didn't have time to think about it. The kitsune followed behind.

Tsuzuki looked for the tower from the sky. He couldn't feel anything nearby. He clutched the weapon by his side. How much time was left? He didn't have time to think.

Hold on, Usagi-chan! I'm just about there. /We're going to end this./

Suddenly, Tsuzuki heard a loud wailing noise. He paused and looked around.

"What the hell?" he asked. The sound seemed to surround him. Where was it coming from?

Tsuzuki shook his head.

"Don't get distracted," he told himself. "This has to end." The shinigami picked up the pace. Before he knew it, there was the tower.

"There!" Tsuzuki shouted. He started flying downwards. The howling grew louder. The shinigami clenched his teeth.

No! You will not get me! I /do not have time to do this!/ My wife and I /need to get home! We have a baby at home! This has/ got to stop!

Tsuzuki looked down. The color drained from his face. Anna lay out cold in the middle of the darkness.