In the days following, Alex just couldn't get what had happened off his mind.

Even though his fever went away thanks to the help of Rita, just the fact that his father was still alive kept him searching endlessly for answers.

Why was he still alive?

HOW is he still alive?

That last question is the one Alex had been trying to answer for days now.

Sure his father was very tough and durable for an adult male, but Alex SLASHED their backs open DEEPLY with a sword.

No way he should've survived that. And even if he had survived the initial slash, he would've eventually passed out from blood loss as he wasn't an alchemist and had no way of healing.

Eventually though, Alex just gave up on answers knowing he'd get nothing until New Years Eve.

"He wants to see me on New Year's Eve for a death battle. Why wouldn't he want to kill me in the final minutes and seconds of the year? It's typical of him.'

Alex sighed after his thought realizing just how dire the situation has become.

Especially more since he definitely wasn't gonna tell anyone about this. Only people he could honestly tell was his uncle and aunt, Roy and Riza.

He knew he could definitely trust them to keep a sectet as they've known him the longest.

Besides that, another thing that filled Alex's head and thoughts was that fox girl he saw names Yae and what Admin book's words truly meant.

He still felt that he knew Yae as someone wouldn't feel so familiar if you didn't know them from before. It was just like something and blocked and cut off the most important memories before the massacre.

Hell. Alex couldn't even remember his own mom's name and appearance anymore cause of that. All he knew was that he did indeed have a mom he killed.

Well, hopefully he killed as Alex couldn't really trust anything after seeing his dear old dad pop up again after 5 now 6 years.

As if on cue, Alex's eyes noticed a pink flash and he looked up to see pink Sakura Pedals swirl around him as the area and space around him seemingly frozen in time.

Alex stood up and turned around to see Yae once again standing here.

"Well good afternoon Alex."

"Hello to you too Ms. Yae."

"Please. Just Yae." Said the fox girl as she sat on the couch and motioned for Alex to sit with her.

He eventually did as Yae cleared her throat.

"Listen. I won't take up much of your time. I know your mind is heavily clouded with emotions and thoughts."

"How'd, you know?"

"I can tell by your face. Anyways, these current events have shaken you to your core. I'm here to say..."

Yae placed a hand on his shoulder and slowly brought him in to embrace him.

Alex was caught off guard as the fox girl smiled.

"Don't let it easily get to your head. You've matured tremendously over the past few months. Now listen. There's one more thing."

"Hm? What is it?"

"Christmas Eve is tomorrow. After your done with all your activities, go to the lone Sakura Tree at Lastation Central Park just before 12 Midnight."

"I promise I won't forget. I know your "colleague" wants to see me."

"Indeed. My "colleague", as you put it is real excited to finally see you."

Alex nodded as Yae stood up and again placed a hand over his eyes.

And just like last time, he felt the hand move away and he opened as eyes to see the fox girl gone only with a small patch of sakura pedals left as a reminder that she was there.

Right then and there, Rita walked in and noticed the patch and reacted as if she also knew what it meant.

"So, you talked to her too?"

"You know Yae?"

"I know almost every Valkyrja. Yae'a an old one who was presumed dead for hundreds of years until someone has found a purple box and helped release Yae from her seal. At least, that's what I hear from Fu Hua and Theresa."

"Oh. Okay then. You ready for tomorrow?"

"Yep. Me, Kaitlyn, Rita, and Jackie are ready for our early morning mini party."

"Yeah. Sorry it can't be later. Uni legitimately forced me to go the CPU Christmas party."

"Did you not want to go?"

"It's not that I didn't want to. It's just that since we already had a party 2 weeks ago, it felt redundant."

"I understand how you feel. Though it be best to go and support your lover.

"Yeah yeah I know."

"Though..."

The maid suddenly got closed and obviously had her chest real close to Alex's face.

"I hope pretty soon you'll open up to more women~. A harem isn't THAT bad~."

Alex yet again went full CHAD and pussed Rita away by her chest.

"Never. Harems always go south and they're dumb, stupid, and not realistic."

"Alex. That's the point. It's a fanfic. It's not supposed to be realistic."

*sudden change to script style*

Neptune: Hey! Stop doing my job!

Rita: Your job? We're all allowed to do as we please?

"What the!? The fuck are you two doing!? Stop fucking up the writing style! And Neptune, GET OUT!" shouted the child.

Neptune: Heck no! I'm staying!

"Alright that's it! Get the fuck over here!"

Neptune: H-Hey wait stop! Your gonna break th-! *gets interrupted as the scene cuts out*

We'll be back to our scheduled story shortly...

[The Next Day: Christmas Eve]

'11:47 P.M.' Thought Alex in his head seeing it was getting very close until he was supposed to met Yae's acquaintance.

Right now he was enjoying the tail end of the CPUs Christmas Party.

The morning went well his he, Kaitlyn, Rita, Jackie, and eventually Roy and Riza all had a nice time at Alex's apartment eating food, sharing stories and eventually gifts except for Roy and Riza as they declined to have any gifts as well as Alex.

Afterwards once it was the afternoon, Alex walked over to the Lastation Basilicom for the CPU party.

They did the same exact things except more louder and less organized due to Noire being the only one who actually tried to get the party back in order.

Aside from mainly talking to Uni and constantly avoiding and dodging Vert's advances and dealing with Plutia being, well Plutia, he was having a nice time.

Right now, Noire was passes out drunk from root beer of all things, Nepgear was playing with Rom and Ram, and Vert and Neptune were both playing games as Blanc watched and read.

Suddenly, Alex had his eyes covered as he chuckled and removed them.

"Pleasure to see you in the afterparty Ms. Black Sister." Alex jokingly said in a formal tone.

Uni chuckled and also spoke in a fornsl tone. "Well it is indeed splending to see you too Mr. Alex Mustang."

The both shared a laugh then a hug as Uni smiled and looked at him.

"I didn't give you my present yet~."

"You know I don't accept gifts."

"But mine's special~."

"Then what is it? I know for damn sure it ain't sex."

"Course not you twink. That's for marriage." Jokingly said Uni as she gave Alex her "special" gift.

The couple got close and shared a nice, loving and passionate kiss as they embraced one another for a while before finally separating for a breather.

"How was the gift~?"

"Gotta say. It was good."

Uni chuckled and got off it.

"Well, seems like this afterparty is stale. You can go now. Thanks for coming."

She gave Alex a quick kiss on the cheek as she walked over to the other CPU Candidates.

Alex smiled and walked to leave as he checked the time.

'11:53'

Once Alex reached the bottom floor, he began to walk to the Sakura Tree at the park.

'11:55'

As he was halfway there, he started to get visions again, but, not of Yae or his father. Instead, it was of his mother, her face and appearance blurred out.

'11:58'

Alex eventually made it to the lone hill that the Sakura Tree was located.

It was a tall hill RIGHT in the middle of the park so everyone could see the special Sakura Tree.

As Alex made it, this time, he saw another girl with pink hair, but no fox ears this time.

"So. The time's finally come. Hasn't it Alex?"

"Yae told you my name right?"

The girl giggled a little.

"Course not silly. Yae didn't need to. Because I already knew your name."

"You, already knew? How?"

'11:59'

Alex's head was slowly overloading. He got more and more visions of the same bluered woman with his mother's voice, except, the blurs were slowly going away.

"How did I know? Come on Alex. You should already know."

"W-Who are you ma'am?"

"Aww you don't remember? It's Akari. Akari Satsuki."

Just like with Yae, the moment Alex heard the name Akari, more visions came up, the appearance and face blurring less and less.

As that happen, Akari smiled.

"It's time."

'12:00 A.M.'

Akari turned around and faced Alex

"Happy Christmas Day, Alex."

At that moment, the blurs were gone.

Alex's eyes widened.

Shaky breathe, and a solid minute of silence before he finally spoke.

"M-Mom?"

Akari already had tears in her eyes as she held her arms out.

"Yes Alex." She smiled as the tears trickled down her face. "L-Let it all out."

Background Music: P4G Nevermore ~Welcome Home~

Alex had tears steaming down in face as he immediately ran up to and embraced his mother as he clinged to her with his life, wailing and sobbing loudly as Akari smiled and softly stroke his hair, letting her child let out all of his emotions.

"I'm back home, Alex."

Chapter 25: End