"Akira...why am I the only one who's speaking?"
A stab of fear, not a new emotion but one amplified by today's events, shot through his heart as Ryo glanced over at his companion. But no, he hadn't died in the time Ryo had set them both down here. He was staring at the horizon, his eyes focused on something beyond it. What it was, Ryo did not know. "Are you listening to me?" Ryo asked.
There was no answer, no indication Akira was even listening. "Fine, be that way, Akira!" he snapped, standing to his feet and taking off in no particular direction.
Immediately, Ryo felt regret, an emotion that he was feeling too much today. But he didn't turn back, not yet. Perhaps Akira needed time alone.
He didn't know how long he walked. The only landmarks were blackened mountains, plains of black and, if he was lucky, the ruins of a city. From above him, the stars sparkled and the halves of the moons shone, both unburdened by the apocalpyic planet below. If nuclear fallout did not ruin the land, the final battle between Satan and Devilman did it.
Every so often, Ryo found himself looking to the sky, waiting for the Heavenly Host to once more descend and end it all. But nothing came and Ryo was equal parts relieved and fearful. Relieved that him and Akira ( but mostly Akira ) was given a chance to keep living but fearful...for delayed punishment. Was his Father in Heaven waiting for him and Akira to grow closer then restart it all? What if Akira would never get better and Satan's newest punishment was a lonely existence with his distant and despondent companion? He chose to believe Akira would get better but...he couldn't know for sure.
By the time he made it back to Akira, Akira was sleeping. His hands were folded on his chest and his chest rose slowly up and down. Ryo quietly sat by him, pushing away the urge to wake him up, and instead settled his wings over him.
"Why?"
Ryo must have dozed off too for that single word roused him from sleep. That single word that somehow held so many more questions than one. Why did you do this to Earth? Why did you do this to me? Why are you still here? Why are we still here?
"I don't know."
Months earlier, his answers would have been so easy, so straightforward. I did this because humans were weak things, weak and deserved to die as is nature's way. I did this to you so I could have a way to do it...but that wasn't quite right was it? He did it because some part of him, no matter how conscious, wanted Akira to live. Even in the final battle, where he had promised Akira death, this wish came forth.
When all his allies were gone, sacrificed themselves to keep their leader battle-ready, Akira forged on, raining blow after blow to Satan. But the same could not be said for Satan, who stopped his battling, letting himself be wounded. Blood on his alabaster skin looked foreign...wrong but blood on Akira's was worse. Finally, when Akira tired, he took him down to earth and laid him down, despite his continued thrashing and screaming. And then, he stilled, his remaining fire gone.
"You...don't know?"
Ryo dared a glance at Akira whose face was twisted, his fangs biting his lip and tears gathering in his eyes. "No, I am sorry. I don't know anymore what I had to gain..." Ryo admitted.
A horrific wail sounded over the sea and if anyone else existed on the Earth, they would have paused to wonder what monster had caused such a sound. Ryo pulled Akira closer, babbling through apologies, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, don't cry, I'll make it better..."
Akira quieted soon and squeezed his eyes shut, shuddering in Ryo's grasp. He said, in a broken pained voice, "I lost everything...but..."
He didn't continue and Ryo didn't push him. Unlike Akira, while he didn't gain anything he really didn't lose anything that he regretted now. The only thing that he felt he would have regretted losing was in his arms. Akira whispered, "This isn't fair."
"I know."
"I tried my best..."
"I know."
"I tried doing my best but I still hurt them, the humans I thought I was a part of! And I still abandoned them for a battle," his voice cracked, "a battle I couldn't even had won!"
He broke down again in sobs, withdrawing into himself. Still, Ryo did not say anything but let him cry. Then, when his sobs turned to whimpers, he whispered back, "No, you were only human. Only human to lash out when everything was taken from you needlessly. Only human for you to lash out at me when I had engineered it all. You're only human but they didn't deserve you."
Akira was quiet. Had he said something wrong, Ryo wondered.
"You're kind of human too. A devil or an angel would have killed me with no remorse. I know you're Satan but I can't call you that, Ryo."
Ryo didn't answer but a single tear, fallen on Akira's shoulder, was answer enough.
