Page 149 of Dragon 7

Blood sprayed.

Akiro fell forward.

And that was the only moment, I lowered the gun.

My hand was shaking. My whole body felt wrong, light and far away, like I'd given blood I didn't have to give. I was insanely exhausted, but I locked my knees and stayed up somehow.

My face was wet. I couldn't remember crying, yet tears spilled from my eyes.

Please, don’t let this be a dream. Please. I’ll do anything. God. Please.

Kenji's mouth was open.

Reo's hand was on his pistol, half-drawn, frozen at the draw.

"Hiro. . ." Kenji's voice came out thin. "I thought you. . .wanted to kill our father together. . .”

Aki walked over to me. “You killed him.”

“Too fast.” Yuki blinked.

“No reckoning.” Aki shook his head.

Yuki took back his gun. “What about Nura?”

My chest rose and fell fast.

I just stared at them, and tears spilled from my eyes. “I-is this a dream?”

My niece giggled.

I scanned the space and couldn’t find her.

Kenji came over to us. “What do you mean is this a dream?”

“Is it?”

“No.” Kenji turned to Reo. “Tell the plane to head back to the island.”

I watched Reo go off. “I would wake up by now. Right? So. . .maybe this isn’t a dream.”

Kenji’s hand rested on my shoulder. “We’re going back to the island. Okay? You need to rest.”

I looked at him. “But is this a dream?”

Kenji pinched my shoulder hard. “How about this?”

I flinched. “I felt that.”

“You did.” Kenji grinned. “Should I punch you in the face too or are you convinced?”

“But. . .”

The twins watched me with concern on their faces.

More tears left my eyes. “You both are alive.”

They exchanged odd looks, turned back to me, and nodded.