I cannot tell you how long I have been waiting to write this. I've had all these ideas for Naegiri fics running around in my head for weeks, but I had to wait for Kirigiri to be confirmed alive in order to write them, and after Side: Hope aired I rewrote Something Stolen before finally moving on to this. This will be a series of inter-connected one-shots dealing with Naegi and Kirigiri's life after the events of DR3. The plan for now is 6 chapters (including this one) with the last 3 forming a story arc. We'll see if things go according to plan. I hope you enjoy it, and please leave your reviews. Also, a big thanks to my friend The Apocryphal One for beta-reading this for me. Check out her writing later, it's great. Credit to 8fight from tumblr for the cover art. Check out their blog, it's great.

Chapter 1: Return

Makoto Naegi walked down the hallway of the bottom level of the boat he and his friends were travelling on. Since most of the aerial vehicles were being used to ferry the wounded soldiers from the battle, the 78th class had elected to travel by water. They had also chosen this method of travel because the ship was staffed with a medical crew, which was important since three of them required medical attention, one in particular more than others. This particular person was the reason that Naegi was currently travelling the ship.

He stopped in front of the door to what he identified as the bunk Kirigiri had taken for herself and knocked.

"Come in," answered a voice from inside, sounding far weaker than he would've liked.

Naegi opened the door to see Kirigiri lying on her bed. She smiled upon seeing him and sat up, scooting over to give him a space to sit on her right side. The after-effects of the poison were still present, but receding. Most of her body had regained its normal complexion, only a splotch of skin from the bottom of her face across her jawline and at the top of her throat remained sickly and purple, and only a few veins were still bulging across the discolored part of her skin. Returning her smile, he obliged her, and sat down.

"How are you feeling?" he asked.

"Better," she answered before clearing her throat, then continuing with a clearer voice. "Tired, still a little woozy, and my throat hurts, but at least I can move my left arm again" she experimentally flexed her fingers to demonstrate her point.

Naegi chuckled. "Out of all of us, you have the most reason to be tired today."

"I don't know about that, I wasn't running around as much as the rest of you," she replied lightly.

"Kirigiri, you died," Naegi said, more seriously.

"Well, I didn't really die. If I had, I wouldn't be here right now, would I?" she said jokingly.

Naegi frowned, clearly not appreciating her attempts at humor.

Kirigiri's face dropped. "Sorry."

"You don't need to apologize," he responded, hesitantly reaching out to place his hand atop hers. Kirigiri responded by gripping his hand in her own, smiling at him.

The pair sat in silence for a bit before Naegi spoke up hesitantly. "Why didn't you say anything?"

Kirigiri frowned. "I think we both know the answer to that question…"

Naegi sighed. "But what about the medicine? Why didn't you tell any of us?"

She averted her gaze. "I… wasn't sure if it would work. In the case that the poison really did kill me, I didn't want you to try and fail to save me, because I knew you would blame yourself."

Naegi squeezed her hand. "Of course I'd blame myself; you gave your life for me. How could I not?" he said as he hung his head.

"I'm sorry…" she said, tightening her grip on his hand in response. "But I'm here now. I'm fine." She smiled at him, and he looked up at her to return the gesture.

Naegi hesitated for a moment before speaking again. "You're sure you're going to be okay? If you feel anything wrong, please tell me, o-or the doctors, or anyone, really. B-but I'd like it if you let me know," he stammered nervously, turning bright red.

"Don't worry," she replied, "The doctors have already told me that the poison is no longer life threatening, and the rest of the effects will fade with time. And if not, the Future Foundation has a stockpile of Kimura's medicine to serve as a cure, she was very good at her job." Kirigiri blushed before continuing, "But I promise, if something happens, you'll be the first one I tell."

He let out a sigh of relief, then smiled. "Thank you. I wish I could thank Kimura for what she's done. And I'll have to give Tsumiki a hug the next time I see her." His smile dropped when he saw doubt across her features. "There's something you're not telling me…" he said, furrowing his brow.

Kirigiri sighed, then frowned. "It's nothing serious…" she said. When she saw the look of concern on his face, she continued, shifting her gaze away from him. "Alright. The doctors said that even though it won't affect my health, the remaining veins and discoloration won't fade away," she said as she rubbed the purple spot on her face, running her hand down her jaw and to her neck where the discoloration ended. "I suppose I have another scar for my collection…" she said bitterly.

Kirigiri gasped in surprise as Naegi placed his hand on her facial scar, gently turning her head to face him so she could see him smiling sweetly at her.

"Even with those scars, you're still beautiful," he said tenderly.

She returned his smile, chuckling lightly. Apparently, he was feeling bolder than usual, not that she minded. "Thank you, Makoto."

Makoto's newfound confidence faded at her use of his given name, and he blushed beet-red. "Y-you're welcome Kirigi-"

"You can call me Kyoko."

Makoto Naegi didn't think it was possible for his face to feel any hotter, but as usual the universe loved to prove him wrong. "A-are you sure?"

Kyoko smiled at him, and removed her left glove before placing her hand on top of his own, still holding her face. "Of course. After all we've been through, we're practically family," she said, leaning into his touch.

"Y-yeah… you're right… Kyoko."

With that, the two fell into a comfortable silence as their hands dropped and she rested her head on his shoulder, closing her eyes with a contented sigh. The pair leaned against each other, basking in each other's presence for a few minutes. Eventually, Kyoko felt Makoto fidget and opened her eyes to see him glancing at her with a troubled expression on his face.

"What's troubling you?" she asked.

Makoto swallowed before answering her question. "Can I ask you something, Kyoko?"

"Of course," she answered, sitting back up and lifting her head off his shoulder.

He hesitated for a moment before speaking up, "What you said back then…before the fourth time limit… did you-"

Kyoko interrupted him by taking his face in her hands and turning his head to make sure he was looking at her straight in the eyes. "I said those words knowing I might be about to die. I may not have said it then otherwise, but I promise you, I meant every word."

Naegi's eyes widened slightly, and he smiled at her, putting his hand on her own. "Thank you."

"You know… you're really amazing, Kyoko," he said a moment later, holding her hands in his lap.

"How so?" she asked, smiling.

"Well… I don't think I could've done what you did," he answered with a blush.

Kirigiri giggled. "You don't think you could've died for me?" Somehow, the thought amused her, he'd done it before and she was sure he'd do it again.

Naegi's eyes widened. "W-what?! No! That's not what I meant! I'd give my life for yours in a heartbeat!" he sputtered, blushing.

Kirigiri was a bit taken aback. Even though she knew it already (she wouldn't have hidden her Forbidden Action otherwise), it was odd to actually hear him say out loud that he'd die for her. Odd, and somewhat flattering. She blushed.

"I mean that I couldn't have kept quiet like you did. I probably would've been freaking out the whole time, you would've seen right through me," he muttered, looking away.

"Well, you are a bit of an open book," she said lightly.

Makoto turned to her and smiled. "And what you said before the time limit, I don't think I could've done something like that if I knew I was about to die. I probably would've handled things differently…" he said, trailing off as his blush intensified.

Kyoko raised an eyebrow. "And how exactly would you ha-"

She was cut off when Makoto suddenly pressed his lips to hers. Kyoko's eyes widened in shock, but she soon closed them and leaned forward to deepen the kiss, tightening her grip on his hand.

The two stayed like that for a while, only stopping when their lungs demanded air, which was far too soon as far as either of them were concerned.

"O-oh," Kyoko whispered, breathlessly, before smiling and brushing her hair behind her ear. "Yes I… I suppose that might have worked. I probably should have done that actually…" she trailed off, but her eyes widened in alarm when she saw Makoto's face.

He was staring at her in awe, as if he couldn't believe that she was sitting right in front of him. Slowly, he reached up to place one hand on her cheek, cupping it. Tears started to form in his eyes.

"S-sorry, Kyoko. I just…I just needed to make sure…" he whispered. "I-I just needed to make sure."

"Make sure of what?" she asked curiously, worry written clearly on her face.

"Th-that this isn't just a dream. That this is real," he said, voice cracking as tears began to fall from his eyes. "I-I've been afraid that this was all just a dream, o-or another illusion. I thought I was going to wake up and go back to a world where you died, but…this is real…isn't it?"

Kyoko smiled at him. "Let me prove it to you," she said as she kissed him again. This time, their arms wrapped around each other, pulling them closer together, both of them held onto their lover as if they were clinging to life, desperately trying to bring themselves as close together as they possibly could. When they finally broke apart, Kyoko sighed contentedly as she rested her forehead against his.

"This is real. I'm real. I'm here, Makoto, and like I told you, I will always be by your side."

And the floodgates were opened.

"Kyoko!" he sobbed burying his head in her shoulder and holding onto her for dear life. "Kyoko, Kyoko, Kyoko…" he chanted in between sobs.

Ordinarily, this might have bothered her, but unfortunately, seeing his display of emotion had made her start crying too, so she settled for holding him close and saying his name. After a few minutes of sobbing into each other's arms, and chanting each other's names, the pair ran out of tears, and pulled apart to look at each other. Tears still ran down their faces, but they looked at each other with bright smiles and joyful eyes.

"I made you cry," said Makoto as he reached up to wipe away one of her tears. "Sorry."

"I made you cry, too," she answered as she wiped away his own tears. "We make quite the pair, don't we?"

They shared a laugh. When they had both calmed down, Makoto's mouth formed a determined line.

"Kyoko, I need you to promise me something," he said gravely.

"What is it?" she asked cautiously.

"Please," he pleaded, taking both of her hands in his own and bringing them to his lips. "Don't ever do something like that again. I-if you died because of me, a-again… I don't think I could take it."

She frowned. "I'm sorry, but I can't make that promise."

"Kyoko!" he exclaimed desperately.

"Makoto," she said, pulling away her un-gloved hand to place it on his cheek. "I'm sorry, but the truth of the matter is, I feel the same way as you. If something were to happen to you, and I could have prevented it… no, even if I couldn't have prevented it, I'm not sure I could live with myself." She gazed into his eyes, a determined set to her features, "You are my hope."

Makoto's eyes widened and he opened his mouth to protest, but he closed it before softening his gaze and smiling. "Heh… we really are quite a pair, aren't we?" he chuckled. "But if I can't live without you, and you can't live without me, then I guess neither one of us is allowed to die for the other, right?"

Kyoko sighed. "Yes, I suppose you're right."

"So let's make a new promise then!"

She blinked. "What?"

"Let's promise to live on!" he said, smiling cheerfully as he extended his pinky finger.

She giggled, returning his smile as she wrapped her pinky around his own. "Alright then: we promise to live on," she said as they sealed their vow. "Together," she added in a whisper.

"Together," Makoto mirrored, grinning ear-to-ear.

With a happy sigh, the two of them leaned forward, resting their foreheads together and staring into each other's eyes.

"I love you," they both whispered. It was just a formality at this point; they had both expressed it many times by now through their words and actions. But still, it made their hearts soar to hear those words.

And so, from that moment on, their futures were forever intertwined.