This is a series of Kyouichirou (Sendai Aka no ou/Former Crimson King) & Shihoudou fics. This entire series contains unmarked spoilers for the last ten to twelve volumes. Enjoy.
Disclaimer: Samurai Deeper Kyo belongs to Akimine Kamijyo.
In the last moment, his eyes sought hers. The Red Tower was crumbling around him, brought down by the last vestiges of his strength. Pillars were collapsing, floors were leveling, and his own body was breaking down – the strength that kept the Death Disease that affected every single Battle Doll, including himself, at bay was gone.
And he couldn't bring himself to care. He had eyes and thoughts for only one person. At this moment, the very end of his life, he was no longer the Former Crimson King of the Mibu clan, just Kyouichirou – a man who wanted to bid goodbye to the most important person in his life.
Her soft brown eyes were expressive – desperate horror warred with resigned despair. She was no fool, she knew that this was the end. It didn't mean she had to like it. Shihoudou fought hard against the blacksmith Julian who held her to his chest, preventing her from rushing to his side. Kyouichirou bid the man a silent thank you, glad that someone had the sense to prevent harm from coming to her.
She was shaking and crying in Julian's arms, knees buckling under the strain of her despair. Kyouichirou's mouth forced a soft, loving smile for her – his final farewell.
Beside him, Kyo sighed softly – a sound that was loud to him despite the roar of the crumbling tower. "She really loves you, you know," he commented gruffly.
Kyouichirou smiled at him, arms outstretched at his sides. "And I her," he told him, face turned to the sky. Years spent in the muddled haze of grief and madness had cleared when he returned his heart to his body and for the first time in a long time, he felt the warm caress of the love he felt, not only the romantic love for Shihoudou, but also the familial love he felt for Kyo.
He watched Kyo bid a silent goodbye to Shiina Yuya and smiled sadly at his surrogate son. "You found your path," he informed him, pride tinged with regret in his voice. "I am sorry, Kyo..."
Kyo scoffed and shook his head. "I'll stay with you until the end." He grinned at the elder man. "It's the least I could do."
Kyouichirou laughed once as he felt the rate of which his body dissolved increase. "Thank you, Kyo," he said, eyes flicking to Shihoudou from just beyond the ruins of the Red Tower. He moved his lips, shaping words without sound: "Goodbye, Shihoudou. I am so sorry."
She must have gotten the message because she sobbed, mouthing her reply back: "I love you."
Warmth swarmed within him and he raised his head back to the sky. No more regrets, he thought as he gathered the last bit of his energy and thrust it within Tenrou with a message. "Get Kyo to safety," he told his predecessor. He felt the First Crimson King's affirmation.
Light glowed from Tenrou, covering Kyo's body. Kyo swore, startled, eyes darting to his. The elder man grinned. "Goodbye," he said. An instant later, Kyo was gone, hurled miles and miles away.
And then, Kyouichirou, the Former Crimson King of the Mibu clan, was no more.
I like this pairing, I really do. I think it has so much potential, especially since it boarders into canon. (Come on! It's so obvious she's head over freaking heels and he seems to be there, too.) I really hope that one day I can make a multi-chaptered story centering on their relationship, instead of little oneshots.
I wanna make a little note on the name: According to Hana-Mi's scanlation of volume 38, it's spelled "Kyouichirou" while on Wikipedia, it's "Kyouchirou." However, my limited knowledge of Japanese leads me to believe that the right spelling is "Ichirou" instead of "chirou." So, until I get official confirmation by Tokyopop or something, it's gonna be spelled as "Kyouichirou."I'm gonna go write some more, including add some fics for "Remembering Fireflies." might even work on "Firefly High"! *heart*