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The remains were akin to a car crash—awful, yet you couldn’t help but watch. Though, in this case, there was no movement. No terrified screams. No blood. It lay there, face down, an arm extended as if reaching for safety, torn open torso exposing snapped wires, a bottom half nowhere to be found. Call him pathetic for taking issue with a silvery, near human frame, but it was fairly graphic enough to have his stomach lurch in response, especially given the eerie resemblance to his partner.
Aogami was likely to chime in regardless, calmly providing yet another explanation on top of all the others the young man had to take in.
A Proto-fiend husk. Same model as the one he took the hand of. There were noticeable periods in which he seemed to also be processing what lay in front of them, but aside from that, he talked like this was normal. He did mention being deactivated until his arrival, so perhaps there was the expectation of there being at least a couple around. That’s what V could assume, anyways.
“Judging from the degradation, repairs would be difficult, but we may still be able to salvage some of its remaining power.”
“Alright,” he replied after a bit of hesitation.
There wasn’t an exact location where the essence could be on actual in tact bodies, as a crystallized version of it usually was all that remained of a defeated demon. Those crystals were often cracked or broken, too, so they’d have to exercise some caution with extraction. At first, he kept a couple fingers pressed to the side of their head like talking through an earpiece, kneeling down and using a free hand to try and roll the husk over. While it felt lighter than expected, it barely budged.
So this was a two-handed job. V swallowed roughly.
He shouldn’t be worried. ‘It’ wasn’t even a person.
Yet the quick look he got at what he was dealing with was strangely gruesome.
Half of its chest had been pried off, creating a large crack that stretch downwards towards its crotch, a stream of sand flowing from the gap. Wires entangled with one another along with scarlet stained scrap. Much of it was modeled after a human down to the smallest details, the inner workings held up by an artificial skeletal structure. It gave the appearance of glass (although that likely wasn’t the material), molded into a rib cage, parts of the former chipped. Thick cables spilled into the open like entrails, the slightest movements dislodging more and more. Nothing was as stiff as a machine should be, not even the way in which the husk fell limp. He froze, unable to take his eyes off its lifeless features.
“Young man, are you feeling unwell? Your heart rate has spiked.”
Despite what little time he got to actually see the Proto-fiend so far, he did manage to have his looks cemented in his memory. Couldn’t easily forget someone like him, regardless of when they first met. Were it only once in passing a few years ago, he still wouldn’t be another forgotten face. Knowing that the exact same man was a corpse despite being able to communicate? For V, that was enough to justify forcing them to their hands and knees, gagging. There shouldn’t have been much issue in giving any response. While awkward to hear Aogami’s voice in his head as opposed to talking face-to-face—startling, even—it was relatively reassuring. He could simply manifest sentences via thinking, but whatever racing thoughts he did have ceased.
“If you are uncomfortable with extracting its essence, we can move on.”
The young man fixated on the ground for awhile, how he gripped at the earth and the slightest twitches. Continuing to Tokyo Tower was a much more desirable option, but it hadn’t sit quite right, either.
Two beings are what made the Nahobino, one with his own goals. The least he could do for saving his life was to help a little. If he lost his memory, wouldn’t these things recover some of it? Maybe? Made sense to the human, anyways.
“…It’s fine.”
“Would you like me to do it for you?”
As in, take over their body? Didn’t know how much of that was possible, but he nodded.
For a moment, he lost his sight, yet could still feel lukewarm innards, nausea washing over as soon as he was given back control, glowing crystal in their grasp. Somehow, he managed to keep the contents of his stomach down, assuming there actually was any.
Nothing got easier, regardless of who did what. Whenever they got stronger, so did their opponents. Their longevity hadn’t helped, either. The sight of Magatsuhi and the metallic stench of blood melded together in a way that made his skin crawl. A gradual power creep, yet noticeable, and the walls already made themselves known at the worst moments.
Their system was rather simple. V was the one who often decided where they went, what unfortunate demon who crossed their path’s fate would be, the ragtag team built for such battles, the moves he used. Aogami lent him the power necessary and took care of husks. The amount of times he was consulted was an afterthought.
Proto-fiend or not, he had the patience of a saint. Never snapping at his fidgeting or telling him to get over it, no hint of disappointment or resentment when addressing him, nothing about him being some mistake or a failure. Unless he was asked a question solely for him as opposed to their collective self, V always allowed his partner’s input, occasionally reassured that no matter what he chose, Aogami would support him.
In some ways, he hated it, over-preparing for what he deemed inevitable. They’ve only been around each other for… what? A day? Technically two? Yet talking with him was more second nature than anything.
He bit his tongue despite the noticeable look of concern. Disassociating within the Haunt wasn’t the greatest idea, being surrounded by allies and the two humans who tagged along. Both Yoko and Tao’s presences were foreign. Didn’t want to know why they stuck with him. Bringing his knees to his chest, V buried his head. There was too much to mull over, and the brief chance he was given to have his thoughts to himself was welcome.
“It’s about Aogami, isn’t it?”
Yoko’s relatively firm voice didn’t result in any response. The young man simply stayed still. Her sharp gaze focusing on him kept him still, despite how much his muscles begged him to let them breathe.
She sat beside him. He shifted away.
A harsh sigh followed. “I understand. Really, I do.”
“…”
“Don’t take this the wrong way, but… Try not to get too attached.”
Trust him, he didn’t want to. Silhouettes of the surprising number of husks frozen within their last moments only served as reminders, and he knew she saw the way in which his demeanor changed. How he almost always recoiled at the sight. They varied in how graphic they were and the battle scars they earned, managing to deter passerby simply by existing.
The way she said it, the distance present in her words, cut deep into his chest, coiling around his heart.
Best he could do was remain seated as unease took root.
He didn’t expect to walk back to his dorm with someone ever again. Not after what lead to all this. Couldn’t say he didn’t appreciate it.
A brief investigation into tales of fortune tellers and crows were drowned out by salt statues accompanied by news reports. Opportunistic doomsayers were having a field day. Businesses closed and the lack of pedestrians was noticeable. Passing by Jouin High School greeted him with the startling sight of a sea of police cars and paramedics, concrete painted crimson. Parents wept over body bags carried out in droves, some begging for a long dead god to bring their baby back, others harassing teachers who survived the attack. Despite her unsteady resolve—the simple, almost childish promise to save everyone, Tao couldn’t hold back tears, murmuring Sahori’s name over and over. She failed them. She failed her.
All V wanted to do was sleep. Forget about what happened. Drown himself in his pathetically thin blanket and hope he didn’t wake up. Heavy footsteps and the all too familiar presence beside him granted no such wish. Haphazardly, he threw his now beaten bag onto his bed, to which it slid off the end.
Aogami’s focus was absent until he noticed the door was left wide open. “I would first like to apologize for today, young man,” he began. V perked up and tilted his head in confusion. Hand leaving the doorknob, the Proto-fiend’s attention then became on that of his partner, expression as stoic as ever. “I am unsure of how heavily this has impacted your mental state, and I assume you may need time to process this by yourself. However… I should not have left your side. You were put in danger, and had I not arrived in time to assist in fending off the Qadištu…”
Oh. That. Thin lips turned downwards into a frown, eyes closing momentarily. “It’s okay,” V mouthed. It wasn’t his fault he was in maintenance.
“I nearly failed you.”
He repeated the same reply, verbalizing it into something barely above a whisper.
With an aura of uncertainty, Aogami gathered whatever conclusion he had been brought to and asked:
“…I would like to stay with you overnight, in case a similar event occurs.”
The young man flinched, letting his request sink in, then gritted his teeth. Doubted he would take no for an answer, yet with what Yoko said fresh in his mind, bottled emotions threatened to burst free from their prison.
“Why do you care…?”
Aogami stood unmoving, his other half’s nails digging into his palm as his voice wavered, cheeks reddening. “I-I don’t know what you want from me, or your ‘protecting me’ schtick, or any of this Bethel stuff… Am I really that worth it?! Am I really worth dying for?! You don’t even know me!”
Somehow, V couldn’t yell. His voice continued to crack as he repeated that he didn’t get it, he didn’t want to get it. He was going to die just like his clone thingies, he shouldn’t get attached… And he quickly ran out of breath, blood trickling onto the floor, staining his pants as he sat down on his bed, defeated, throat and lungs tight.
When he looked back, the Proto-fiend’s head had dipped, brows furrowing, a vacant stare in place.
God, he probably hated him.
Bending over slightly, he found himself lost in the floorboards. If he had the energy to cuss, he would’ve.
…
..
.
“You matter to me,” Aogami finally said. His voice was softer than usual. There was that same monotone aspect to it, yet… it was genuine. Strangely obviously so. Enough that it took the form of a comforting hug, wiping tears away. A minute of silence passed before the Proto-fiend turned to leave, only for arms to wrap around his torso, becoming more prominent at the slightest movement. V could’ve stayed there forever, ignoring the sleek armor accommodating only for combat as opposed to displays of affection.
His demands were simple. A mistake, but simple.
The subject was changed soon enough as the question of his health came back into play. There had barely been any chance to rest since their return from Da’at, spending the last hours of daylight running around Tokyo. They’d fulfilled a few requests, some for demons and some for Bethel scientists, got some intel, but this wasn’t accounting for the previous days. Given the shock of learning what happened eighteen years prior, there must’ve been some stress. Perhaps a change in normal habits.
Thinking back, that wasn’t far from the truth, though he wasn’t sure if acting as if nothing was wrong was the best move. He was too groggy to properly function, and the urge to seek refuge in his bed far outweighed that of his other needs. A third assurance that everything’s okay was countered by an embarrassingly loud protest rumbling in his empty belly. Noticeable enough that he was granted a small lecture over the importance of keeping himself satiated, and enough to have a flustered V let go in order to clasp his hands over his midsection.
Guess they were going out to eat.
Despite the normally unbeatable combination of exhaustion and a filling meal, he couldn’t fully drift off. The past couple nights were ones filled with identical dreams. Blurry visions of red splotches and somewhat provocative female forms. They spoke to him, yet their voices became watery, words blending together until incomprehensible. Periodically, he would wake up, readjust, attempt to get rest again, rinse and repeat.
A groan slipped past his lips as he rolled over, turning away from the wall he was pressed against. (Were it not for his budget along with school regulations, he would’ve replaced his mattress with a bigger one. Oh, not without making sure it didn’t squeak whenever he moved. That would be nice, too.)
His attention was quickly grabbed by the elephant in the room. It was a starless night, darkness smothering all within reach, yet the faint crimson glow akin to that of a lava lamp managed to avoid being snuffed out. The chair Aogami was given barely accounted for his height, normally untouched by its temporary owner, threatening to collapse. V wasn’t sure if his partner was capable of sleep, but closed eyes and crossed arms were convincing. However, what noise the young man made got him to stir. A warm, piercing golden gaze returned the same curiosity.
“Is there something on your mind?” Aogami asked, keeping the volume low to the best of his ability. V simply curled back into position, pulling his blanket over his shoulders. He hummed. Was he even aware of what dreams are? Should he even tell him? Moments later, he mustered the energy needed to form something coherent.
“…You’re not going anywhere, right…?”
Stupid question. Fucking stupid. Seeds of doubt argued otherwise.
Those dreams, seemed uncharacteristically realistic, keeping him adrift in invisible waves. Alone. He was used to the lack of another’s presence, days spent reading or studying, rarely leaving the comfort of his so-called home, so this shouldn’t have mattered much. Anxiety at least didn’t dictate whether or not he’d be able to breathe around Aogami.
He shouldn’t get attached.
“As I have informed you before, I plan to offer you company for as long as you want me to. Even if I were absent, I will always watch over you. I promise to always be by your side.”
He shouldn’t get too attached.
But the idea of his absence wasn’t pleasant, either.
Or the frequent mentions of protection. What that exactly entailed was a mystery, yet with the danger they were placed in, he could guess. To see the aftermath of those before him gave enough clues. He was too damn nice. Too damn nice. As much as those words brought joy, how he was drawn to hold his partner’s hands, sitting up in order to do so, he wondered how much weight they held.
Next thing he knew, two became one, the comforting sensation of Magatsuhi draped over his frame. If only the bed was bigger. This would have to do. They settled back in, nuzzling into his pillow.
Fingers were brought to the side of his head.
“Aogami?”
“Yes?”
“…If something happens to us… Can we… Can we stay together…?”
A pause. Processing.
“I’ll see what I can do.”
Not the answer he was looking for, but it was something. Didn’t even know what he wanted.
He wished they could stay like that forever, lulled back into slumber simply due to his presence. For the rest of the night, those very dreams that plagued him disappeared.
Sacrifice was a word cropping up within banter for awhile now. While the topic was an uneasy one, filled with uncertainty and fear, they never stopped. Yoko and Tao had no qualms about having philosophical discussions, though when that was all you were surrounded by, guess it wasn’t that hard to bond over it. Demons talked of death at a frequent enough rate that it was normal. Falling on the battlefield in the name of victory, the cycle all beings were trapped in, the inevitable embrace of the afterlife. Repetitive to a fault.
V didn’t take part, mainly because that was their thing. They were at the very least civil, rarely breaking into full on arguments, and the instances where that did occur, it was resolved quickly. Agree to disagree. See both sides. Quiet down for a few minutes. Soon they were talking as if nothing happened.
He also couldn’t exactly choose a side so easily. Seemed to depended on what was being sacrificed.
But then Tao said, “Choosing to sacrifice yourself for someone else, however… There’s something precious about making that decision.”
Both Yoko and V went deathly quiet, her words—while brimming with a cautious hope—sinking in and refusing to let go. The knowing look on their faces, the smallest of grimaces, the silence thickening, lingering as they continued their journey through empty streets buried beneath ash-like sand, only broken by a single apology, never to be acknowledged.
None of them mentioned sacrifices for as long as they could.
“I’m sorry, young man… I swore I would protect you, but I fear I can no longer do so… If you hadn’t joined with me, you wouldn’t have to suffer this fate.”
V couldn’t comprehend what he was being told at first, nor the gentle push given, but his soul—what part of him remained intact—could sense something truly dreadful. Enough so that a choking sensation rose in his throat. Ears ringing, head pounding, each part of his body that hadn’t gone numb burned, with no amount of adrenaline able to mask it. His chest had been ripped open, flaming cracks stretching as far down as they could, his lower half seemingly torn off, what he could only assume to be his innards spilling onto the unknown surface below. All he was left with was those very words that would continue to replay in his mind:
“I don’t know what I have to say except that I’m seriously glad to have met you. Our time together may be coming to an end… but it will never disappear.”
And then he woke up, shrouded in light.
…Something was wrong. It was if a piece of him had been removed from where his heart was, accompanied by a gaping hole. The young man observed his hands, brought one to the alleged gap, and kept it firmly pressed there.
“I wish I could have saved you…”
A new voice. A familiar one. To see Tao standing there, a forced, peaceful smile upon her face in a porcelain void, despite clearly seeing her bleed out before losing consciousness… He wanted to breathe a much needed sigh of relief, yet he couldn’t. He didn’t know where he was, where Yoko had gone, if the Qadištu had fallen, and Aogami…
Aogami.
With uneven breaths, he croaked, “Where… Where’s Aogami…?”
“I…” The Saint hesitated, seemingly unsure. Hopefully unsure. He didn’t want to assume the worst, yet her lack of an answer only served to justify dread.
“Where’s Aogami?”
His fists tightened, knuckles whitening more and more before he quickly approached Tao, gripping her shoulders as hard as he could. She was taken aback by his forcefulness, struggling to get out of his grip or say his name in an attempt to break the news. Small beads forming in the corners of the young man’s eyes as he struggled to get so much as a word out.
“…I’m sorry.”
No. Nonononononono. He’s fine. He needs to be fine. Heavily damaged? Sure. He just needs to be here.
“Aogami’s gone, but…”
But what?! What could possibly, possibly be reassuring about all this?!
“At least you made it back. That’s something.”
“Th-tha… That’s something…? That’s… something…?” V parroted the last part a few more times, none of which settled, not even when he was pulled into a hug.
“It’s what he would’ve wanted, I’m sure—”
For a small act of kindness, her reward was being shoved, jumbled sentences and streaming tears, begs for her to never in a million years touch him again. What could she know about what he wanted?! What he promised?! How over the course of three days, they’d been stuck together, having to get used to the sound of each other’s voices, controlling a single body, fighting tooth and nail in order to get here, only for one of them to fail to make it?! How many times he told him that he’d be there, that he’d protect him, how he made sure he was always okay, the first person he could actually be comfortable with! And he trusted him, trusted the lie that everything would work out, that they’d be okay, that he’d die with him. He shouldn’t be standing there without him! She might’ve seen the Nahobino they became, but she didn’t know the first damn thing about who he was—who they were.
Upon being met with widened eyes and a trembling lip, the young man fell to his knees, blinded by tears.
He didn’t know about her, either. Or Yoko. Or Yuzuru. Or Dazai. They were a group of strangers that happened to be at the right place at the right time, yet she also carried that understanding on her shoulders. Too kind for a flawed world that failed her, and one she swore to fix at the cost of her life. Seeing all she loved turn to puddles of blood smothered by rubble, the one she talked to the most being the one to lead her to that demise twice, to lie straight to her face. Yet there was no anger or resentment in the few moments she had left. Even now, she was the same Tao. Someone who cared more than anyone ever could imagine. The young woman she had by her side, who cradled her in her arms, showed vulnerability in her presence, too, was far beyond his understanding. Failed in her own way, used for a single purpose she regretted until the very end, cast out from society for what she couldn’t control. He might’ve seen the role they played as Saints, but he didn’t know the first damn thing about who they were—who they chose to believe in.
The two of them embraced each other, if only for a fleeting moment.
Maybe this was something.
Their form was unstable. Far from useless, yet unstable. The guilt riddled in Koshimizu’s very being had spilled over, and V couldn’t blame him.
Both of them had no choice but to watch their other halves perish, however, they were two separate individuals. One constantly buried in paperwork and methods to keep the demons at bay, putting professionalism above what he likely needed, given how quickly they jumped into this… peculiar arrangement. Even without the ability to fuse, the young man would’ve likely continued to follow him like a lost puppy.
His only other option was to die alone, to which he considered days ago, yet couldn’t bring himself to now.
They might as well be asking for it with how often they unintentionally separated. At best, it would be once every thirty or so minutes. At worst, after every battle. It was always V who stumbled out of the Nahobino state, breaking into cold sweats, gasping for air. There was an occasional grimace on his new partner’s face, likely due to the suddenness, but he steeled himself nicely nor seemed too fazed when it happened. Genetic makeup aside, their bodies simply rejected one another.
V couldn’t say for certain how Koshimizu felt, yet on his end, it was disgusting. The idea of being with somebody else hadn’t crossed his mind for a reason. It wasn’t nearly on the same level as being grabbed by a demon, or Naamah’s nails gently outlining his chin, unable to break away from whatever twisted power glued him to the earth, how her mere presence was sickening. The Qadištu were sickening. Everything was sickening.
Mere mentions of their name made his stomach turn. Flashes of memories relating to them or the resurgence of that unbearable, searing pain made bile rise to his throat.
Unfortunately, he couldn’t avoid it all forever, as much as he wanted to.
Not when he was still being called “young man.”
Of course such a term wasn’t exclusively made for Aogami to say. He knew that. And freaking out about it was stupid. He knew that. However, it kept pointing out the obvious.
This wasn’t the body he’d grown accustomed to, nor were the crescent arm blades close to the singular sword their right hand could once morph into, or the gravelly voice that occasionally cut in. There wasn’t an instance V could recall of talking with Koshimizu, at least not directly. Information he needed to gather was instead given to someone else to illustrate, ‘yes’ or ‘no’ questions were answered with either a nod or no reaction whatsoever. Blind obedience was all he was capable of.
Either the fourth or the fourteenth utterance was finally enough to provoke a response.
He vomited.
Shame washed over him as he keeled over, dry heaving, prompting some attempt at comforting him on his partner’s end, only for the young man to slink away, repeating the same thing until he couldn’t speak.
“Don’t call me that.”
Slicing through foes was the only thing he bothered with, enough to keep him preoccupied despite the lack of satisfaction. No more errands, no more excuses. The wonder of investigating Da’at faded. Interacting with its unique inhabitants was an afterthought. All he could do was keep moving.
Fainting made him stop. Thankfully, he wasn’t down for the count for too long. Hadn’t registered it upon regaining consciousness until the prime minister barked at Hayataro, the sole survivor of Yuzuru’s team who just barely cheated death, to bring him to safety as swiftly as possible. His thick mane almost suffocated V, but the gesture was appreciated. Sore muscles, untreated wounds, unintended fasting, general fatigue… Quite a dangerous cocktail of neglect, all of which he hadn’t brought attention to, let alone noticed to begin with.
…Huh. Forgot the Haunts existed. Demons certainly didn’t, with his team eager to return to at least one. They got their wish, albeit in a rather unexpected fashion.
“You need to take better care of yourself,” Koshimizu bluntly stated, as emotionless as ever. Ironic that the robotic being taking on an identical appearance sounded more human than the being made of flesh and blood. “You owe him that much.”
V took another shaky sip out of a cup of water gifted to him by Amabie (oh how nice she was for keeping her manager hydrated in times of need, she exclaimed, which got him to almost crack a small smile). Talking about his old partner was rare. Didn’t need to say a word for his brother to realize what had happened, didn’t let his name slip unless on accident, and to that, V was grateful.
Aogami was right—their time together would never disappear—and that, too, was something he could be equally as grateful for.
In some ways, the young man wish it did.
The memory of him bleeding out in front of the man who saved his life twice haunted him.
He wished they never crossed paths. As much as the Proto-fiend blamed himself, he was ultimately innocent. Had the young man done what he was told or decided to go home alone like one of his classmates, maybe his other half wouldn’t have died. Maybe he wouldn’t be here, awkward silence and all.
They wouldn’t have broken an unknown taboo, wouldn’t have inspired Yuzuru and Dazai to seek the same power, wouldn’t have Yoko quietly beg for Tao to be okay, apologizing over and over about what she’d done and how she shouldn’t have done this to her or any of them, Koshimizu would still have his Knowledge…
Maybe he wouldn’t have gotten his hopes up.
Suddenly, his clothes were wet, trembling hands having lost their grip. Given a glance of concern and contemplation, the older man sat next to him on the wooden bench.
“I know I can’t speak for him, but he wanted you to live, I’m sure.”
“I…” wish he didn’t, the voice in his head concluded, having noticed V’s chest tie itself into knots, heart skipping beats.
“…He was fortunate to have met you. He really was.”
They didn’t make any attempt at eye contact. Didn’t even face each other. Koshimizu leaned back, still keeping perfect posture. “Whatever you plan on doing going forwards, I will support you to the best of my ability. Whatever you plan on doing afterwards…” He bowed his head. “…If that means cutting off all ties, I understand. I’ll hear you out regardless.”
V collected himself, opened his mouth, cut himself off before getting a word out, then continued to blankly stare at his lap.
…
..
.
“…Yuzuru cared about you, too…” he mumbled.
“Atsuta?”
“Mhm… He said he was excited to work with you.”
“I… I see.” A long sigh.
And then a pause.
And another.
And then they continued to speak.
For a brief while, they talked, though it was more questions regarding who Yuzuru was. Some kid who brought his sister over for help on more than one occasion, unaware that the medical center had any supernatural ties. Sure, the rumors surrounding alleged human experimentation were so widespread that even children knew about it, but he seemed to be able to push past that. Basically lived there. Could’ve gone so far as to mistaken him for Koshimizu’s son. Only upon learning the truth did he ask to be a devil summoner, fully aware of what this meant for him. He didn’t take ‘no’ for an answer.
In a Tokyo that wasn’t an illusion, adoption could’ve been an option.
Depending on if it was a world worth going back to—if it still stood there, if it was worth saving—maybe Miyazu would’ve gotten the father she never had.
It was the last time they properly conversed before pressing onwards.
The very least V could do as thanks for his assistance was to keep Koshimizu alive. He had to.
Nothing seemed real.
The Aogami he remembered was supposedly gone. Darkness swallowed him whole right before the young man. While his mannerisms seemed the same, for all he knew, his mind was tricking him.
Beside Tiamat’s slowly fading remains, they split, and a second glance combined with the sensation that followed was all he needed for confirmation.
Their form was as comfortable as he remembered. The equivalent of a security blanket, calming warmth and all. His skin yearned to be bound for longer. To be whole. His chest didn’t ache like it did. There were no more cracks, and his legs had feeling! He could find the strength to speak, knowing he was able to keep his arms tightly wrapped around Aogami’s torso, bawling hysterically into his chest without shame, holding onto him for dear life. For once, he could smile. He could breathe. Reciprocating the gesture was strange, stiff and full of uncertainty, careful as to not crush V’s battered, exhausted frame.
He had every right to be over the moon.
Yet something still seemed off.
Koshimizu. Tsukuyomi. Whatever name he went by. Where did he…?
The answer was made obvious all thanks to the stirring of a young woman meant to be dead, leaving a sour taste in his mouth.
Perhaps he shouldn’t have wept over a man he’d only seen for a short period and had known for even less. One that brought him more sorrow than he could comprehend, purposefully or not. Maybe he, too, must’ve known that, despite lending power never meant to be his, made for a boy who had his future robbed in an instant by an outcast with nothing left to lose. There was someone who continued to wait for both the boy and the man who swore to take care of him, forever unaware of their fate. She would have to move on faster than expected.
Promises were broken yet again, but he owed him a thank you. V should’ve given that to him a long time ago, and he doubted there was a way he could do that now. Of course there were the worlds Tao and Yoko wanted. In one, the two would be alive and well, able to navigate an uncertain future in peace. The other, they could have a chance to be reborn, free from the shackles their sacrifices placed upon them, offering a shred of happiness.
Neither of them could be the same as the ones who didn’t make it, assuming they would forget. Faint memories could likely have a chance to be reborn with them, and maybe then he could apologize. He owed them that much.
Gods would always be reunited with their Knowledge in some form. If only they didn’t have to wait.
For now, their victory rang hollow.
Branches that scraped a never ending sky was a sight V became instantly accustomed to, along with waking up in the arms of his other half, yet speaking wasn’t.
In fairness, it hadn’t been long since Lucifer’s defeat. All he wanted to do was continue laying there, Aogami—or rather Susano-o—continuing to play the role of a pillow, granting them both a long awaited rest.
Actually, he still debated on what name to use. The universe no longer needed a Proto-fiend, but Aogami was what he defaulted to, plus he assured him that either was fine. That wasn’t exactly helpful. He didn’t need to follow orders, let alone be the tool he was branded as by an organization that no longer existed.
But the first actual substantial conversation they had was one V wanted to avoid. Too bad it would continue to eat away at him until he spit it out.
“You lied to me.”
The god blinked. “Pardon?”
“You said you weren’t going anywhere, remember? That you’d always stay by my side?”
Ah. So that’s what this was about. Aogami nodded. “Was that not the case?”
“I needed you, and you weren’t there.”
Yet V wasn’t crying. Wasn’t emoting. He kept his face buried in his chest like always.
“Your safety is what matters most to me. You matter to me. You always will.”
“And you matter to me. I-I just didn’t want to leave you, too. I still don’t.” Slowly, he looked up. “You shouldn’t have to be alone. So… please promise me something?”
“Yes?”
“When the time comes… let me die by your side.”
Aogami pulled him closer. “I promise.”
And he meant it. He really meant it.
With that, their eternal pact was sealed.