After Misah shouted, she was met with silence.  No one moved and no one answered her taunt.

"Come out!  Come out and I'll let everyone leave safely." Misah shouted into the silent bookstore.  "Come out and let me see you!"

From Dean's left, a shadow moved out and away from the bookshelf.  As he turned his head, his heart dropped knowing that Akari came out from her hidden spot to save the innocent men. 

"I'm here."  Akari said as she gathered her magic into her hands.  "Now let the others go."

Akari's appearance was hidden away from by the darkness of the room so Misah couldn't get a good look at her. 

"So... you're the one who took my love away from me."  Misah said as she growled at Akari. "If it wasn't for you, my love would still be thinking about me."  

"Don't flatter yourself.  You were nothing but a nuisance to him.  You were a lousy a student. A annoying girl trying to convince a man to love you.  A subpar partner, a desperate lover and a conniving woman. You are nothing but an inconvenience to his life.  An absolute mistake." Akari told Misah.

Each word Akari said made Misah's heart feel as if it was being ripped open.  All her insecurities were said out loud, in front of others and it made her angry because she had to confront them.  She couldn't face her own ill thoughts about herself and her relationship with Teacher Koya.

"Shut up!  He'll throw you away, just like he did to me."  Misah threatened. "In the end, the only person who he loves, is himself. You'll never have a part of his heart.  He'll..."

"I married her."  Dean corrected Misah.  He wanted Misah to know exactly where he stood.  And his place was by his wife. "I made her my wife and I claim her proudly."

"Ahhhh!"  Misah screamed as her heart shattered. 

Misah threw a thunderbolt towards Akari, however the thunderbolt landed on a water shield, dissipating the attack. Akari manipulated the water shield into several water whips and attacked Misah back.  Five water whips snapped at Misah back to back, not letting her counterattack or escape. Every time the water whip landed, instead of the sound of a crack from the whip, it was the sound of a boom. Akari had absorbed the thunderbolt into her water and infused both elements together. 

Misah used water shields on her arms to block the attacks, however she wasn't fast enough to block all of them.  Every time she got hit by a water whip, she not only felt the sting of the whip, but her whole body felt as if it was being lit on fire.  With both elements attacking her body, she could feel the elements attacking her magic core, which stored all of her cultivated magic.

Misah was too distracted by Akari's elemental attacks that she did not see Akari rush up to her and attack her physically.  Akari drew out her hidden daggers with a flick of her arms. With daggers in hand she attacked Misah's weak points.

Misah's felt a quick burn on her thighs as Akari slit Misah's flesh.  With quick movements, Akari then cut and stabbed at Misah's arms and body.  Misah fell back and as she blocked the whips, she started chanting a spell.

From the ground up, water started to flood the room at a fast pace. 

"Get them out of here."  Akari yelled at Dean.

Dean looked proudly at Akari.  He knew the moment that they fought that Akari would win.  Akari was a disciplined woman who worked and trained everyday, she was not one who slacks off to chase after anyone.  Her skills alone trumped Misah and could handle the situation.

Dean quickly ushered the prisoners out of the room as Akari blocked Misah's attacks and attempts at stopping Dean and the others.  The flood had reached Akari's waist and it kept on rising.

"Gahhhh!"  Misah cried out in frustration as she couldn't break through Akari's defense.  As well as the fact that she couldn't even land an attack on Akari as well. "Die. Die.  Die."

The large wave of water rose over Akari, covering half the room.  From the corner of her eyes, she saw Dean blast a hole at the front door and the group filed out in two's and three's.  The water emptied out into the street as Misah's attack landed on Akari, burying her under the water wave.

Dean turned around to create more holes in the bookstore, letting all the water out.  The buildings around the bookstore shook with each hit, waking up everyone from their sleep. 

Akari swam through the attack and towards Misah.  If she was going down, she was going to bring Misah along with her.  Finding her footing on the ground again, Akari looked in front of her and could not find her nemesis. 

It was as if Misah had disappeared right in front of her.  Akari took her time in ankle high water to look all around the bookstore to see if there was a chance Misah was hiding.  However she couldn't find anything. Misah had gotten away and Akari didn't know how Misah did it.

Akari stepped out of the ruined bookstore and was immediately engulfed in Dean's warm embrace. 

"Are you okay?  Did you get hurt?"  Dean said as he pulled back to look at Akari's body to see if anything was hurt.  Seeing that she was completely soaked from head to toe, he quickly took off his coat and covered her in it. 

By the time Dean turned around, all the neighbors as well as the city guards have come to look at all of the commotion.  Akari leaned her head on Dean's shoulder and knew that she was in for a long night.

Akari and Dean finally exited the constable office when it was nearing early morning.  Her parents, along with Duke Obara and Duchess Riho were waiting for them. They brought along a whole team of lawyers for Akari and Dean while they were giving their statements and being questioned. 

"Darling."  Emi said as she saw Akari's haggard appearance.  Emi quickly wrapped Akari in a blanket that she brought and hugged her tightly.  "Are you okay?"

"Fine.  I'm fine, Mother."  Akari reassured Emi as Jona hugged the both of them as well. 

"Thank you, Mage Koya for safeguarding Akari through it all."  Jona said as he shook Dean's hand.

"Do not mention it. Our training did not go to waste, Duke Jona." 

"Thank you Mage Dean and Akari for rescuing Rin."  Duke Obara said as he held Riho in his arms. Riho's eyes were red rimmed after crying and rubbing her eyes. 

"Thank you."  Riho said as well as she came to hug Akari.  "I knew you that only you could find Rin. Your fate and Rin's fate were tied since you were children.  I just knew you were the one who could save him."

Hearing Riho's words made Obara frown.  They did intend for Akari and Rin to get married when they grew up a long time ago, but Akrai and Rin's fate did not match each other and found someone else.  If not for the help of Mage Koya, who knows what would have happened to not only Rin, but to Akari as well. So instead he pulled Riho away from Akari and gave an apologetic look towards Mage Koya. 

"Now that we know that Akari and Mage Koya are fine, let's go back to our son."  Obara softly said to Riho. He then looked to Mage Koya and Akari and smiled softly to them.  "Thank you, again. We'll speak again when both of you have rested."

As everyone left the constable office, they all split up into three carriages.  Finally when Dean and Akari were alone and with Akari in Dean's arms, did he finally speak to her about Misah. 

"Are you sure you're not hurt anywhere?"  Dean asked as he squeezed her tightly to his body before letting her go. 

"I'm fine."  Akari said as she sighed. 

Silence once again covered their thoughts as they didn't want to ruin the calm atmosphere. 

"About Misah..."  Dean began to say.  "I really didn't know that she..." 

"I know."  Akari said as she lifted her head to look up to him.  "I heard everything that was said between the two of you." 

"I love you, Akari.  And nothing. Absolutely nothing can change that."  Dean told her as he kissed her forehead.

"I know." 

"Are you disappointed in me?"  Dean asked Akari as he felt as if he should of done more during their fight and confrontation.  If he did, maybe Misah wouldn't of gotten away.

"No.  Why should I be?" 

"Because I didn't come help you fight Misah."  Dean said softly.

"You had your hands full."  Akari reassured Dean as she smiled brightly at him.  "Besides, for once, I wanted to be the hero while you were the damsel in distress." 

"Rescuing me from my derange ex-girlfriend." Dean softly laughed. 

"Exactly."  Akari smiled as she leaned up to kiss his chin.  "Someone has to protect the beauty."