Playing a game... blame it for this :/

SPOILERS for that game ahead (if you didnt play it or get to that part yet) and potential sadness

Stay By His Side

"Oi Durbe!"

Yuma patted the pale silverhead's back, frowning. The other teen was always pale - ever since he first saw him - but over the year since the war, he had only grown paler, prone to coughing fits here and there and the strange desire to cook them dinner every night. Or at least it was so whenever he came over to visit Shark. Strangely enough, none of the former Emperors minded his presence but Yuma had expected for Durbe to resent him, as they were both kinda 'competing' for the spot of being Shark's best friend. Some things were funny, including the fact that neither of them really cared. They could both be his friend and that was it.

"Are you alright?"

"Y-Yes..."

When Durbe saw that the other wasn't convinced, he just smiled wryly and nodded as he got up. Yuma watched him leave only for him to come back a moment later with a book in his hands. Curious and uncertain, he looked at him.

"Durbe?"

"This book is for you..." the former knight said. "... well, it's not really a book as much as a journal of my adventures with Nasch. I want you to have it."

"Huh? But why..." Yuma began before the book-like journal was put onto his lap with some surprising for such a weak-looking person force. "... eh?"

"Just... stay by his side, please?"

"We'll both stand by his side!" the younger teen said confidently. His heart sunk when Durbe just smiled sadly. Despite him being him, he understood in that moment. Durbe wouldn't be at Shark's side for much longer...

"Yes."

- line break -

"I heard he got some sickness that was uncureable at the time..."

Yuma let Rio's words wash across his face as he patted a grieving Shark's back, much like how he had done to the dearly deperated knight merely a week ago. No one knew what had killed Durbe, not even Kaito with all of his science and, by some extent, biology and all the family doctors were baffled. Yuma didn't care about that though. Right now, the most important thing was to stay by his best friend's side as he kneeled down in front of the knight's coffin, letting out a sob so horrible that the other parties had to leave the site of the funeral.

"I'll stand by your side, Shark, remember..."

He allowed the other to process the words. It was all he could do by this point.

Thank you for reading! :)