i found great pleasure and joy in writing this! \ o / i hope all of you would enjoy reading it too (DESPITE ITS ANGST)

The world seemed diluted, if Akai was being honest with himself.

All around him stood tall blocks of marble that he understood were gravestones. Markings for where they buried the dead. Much smaller than the ones they used for the pharaohs, that's for sure.

With his hands in his pockets, he walked and walked down unfamiliar territory. A few lefts and a right later, he found himself stopping in front of a fresh marking, a new gravestone. One name was carved into it. He realized years ago that it was a name he had grown fond of.

Joker.

In retrospect, he saw this coming. Humans have such a short lifespan, after all. And usually, Akai never cared about it. One person dies, there's another person to be entertained by. He just had to make an effort to search for them.

This time however, he wished he had just a little bit more time.

To do what? He wasn't entirely sure. It just sounded like a great idea, to have a little bit more time to play with Joker.

A hand reached out and held onto the gravestone. His fingers traced the carvings, following the lines and curves of the letters that made up Joker's name. The stone was cold.

Joker never did believe him when Akai told him that he was an immortal being, and that he could not, would not age. He always took it as a joke, laugh it off, call him out for his lies, and say that he saw a wrinkle or two on Akai's face.

Akai went along. He laughed too, because Joker always made him laugh; always kept him amused with his antics. Never failed to make his days brighter. Always something exciting around the corner.

It continued like this for years. Akai never found a reason to push it. Never actually cared or thought deeply about it. Just enjoyed his time together with Joker; indulged in the days that never seemed to stop coming.

Of course it never lasted.

Joker knew this too, when he's aged way beyond his years, and realized that Akai was a picture perfect copy of the Akai from ten, twenty, thirty years ago. He had smiled cheekily, his blue eyes still as bright as they could ever be, and said, "So it wasn't a trick, huh? You really can't grow old? Why is that?"

Akai answered back with a riddle, just like always.

"Why can't I grow old? Number one," he raised a finger. "I'm a vampire. Number two," he raised another finger. "I'm a mummy. And number three…" he grinned as he raised his third finger. "I'm a phoenix."

Joker had laughed then. "Alright, fire boy. I have a riddle for you too. What is the Phoenix going to do after I'm gone?"

Akai had felt a surge of surprise, but Joker left him no opening to react.

"Number one, he mourns my loss. Number two, he finds someone else to follow for the rest of their life just because they're 'interesting'. And number three…" Joker slid out the Crystal Skull Key from inside his coat and threw it at Akai, who had caught it and blinked confusedly at Joker.

He said nothing more after that. There was just a smirk on Joker's face as he looked at Akai, eyes portraying a kind of emotion the redhead had no idea what to make of. That is, not until now.

Akai found himself chuckling at the memory.

Taking his other hand out of his pocket, he stared at the Crystal Skull Key. It was still as sparkly and shiny as it has always been, especially under the sun. Not a single crack or chip, not a stain—the same key that Joker held onto ever since they first met.

Flipping the key into the air and catching it, Akai whispered to himself with a bitter smile.

"I guess it's time to go home."