Title: The way is not in the sky, the way is in the heart.
Chapter: Prologue
Author: yamanaika LJ (also know as "sky-hunk" at tumblr).
Rating: PG-13 (but will be R-18 later on)
Characters/Pairings: Kotetsu x Keith. One-sided Kotetsu x Barnaby.
Warnings: Death, angst and spoilers I guess.
Words: 3175
Summary: After the loss of his powers, Kotetsu's body starts weakening to the point it's slowly dying. Before dying, Kotetsu tells his last words to Keith leaving him in a shock. After the funeral, Barnaby cannot cope with the loss of his partner (and secret love) so he decides to use his parents' research on robotics to create an android that resembles Kotetsu to keep him forever. But... What if new robotic Kotetsu and Keith meet each other?
Notes: I wasn't going to do this but after consulting my friends from tumblr, they told me to go for it. I swear to God you people are masochists.
Thanks: Annachuu LJ for being the one pushing me to do it along with Kero from tumblr and also Kancchi from Tumblr for helping me with ideas to make this possible. Especially thanks to my precious photobomber wife (unasuvas LJ) for beta-ing and correcting my mistakes.
Beep... Beep...
The higher you fly, the harder you'll fall.
And now the once high and mighty Wild Tiger was bedridden. The one that managed to rise from last place to one of the tops was now stuck in a bed slowly waiting for his time.
It all started a year ago.
It was amazing at first. His powers became much stronger, faster, better. But in return, the time of usage became shorter each day. He didn't realize it at first but it had also meant his life would become shorter with each second he lost from his Hundred Power.
The changes were subtle at first. With the total loss of his powers, he was forced to retire from his hero business. Still, because he couldn't let go of his hero persona, he continued contacting his fellow heroes as much as he could. Keeping in contact with his long-time friend Antonio and former partner Barnaby was easy enough (other than having to meet the latter in private so that Kaede wouldn't know that her long-time hero was actually friends with her father).
Yet, what surprised him the most was how close he got to his former rival: Keith Goodman, Sky High.
A young man in his twenties, he was full of energy and had a bright future ahead. Kotetsu always thought of him as a goofball, as well as an oddball but still hardworking and refreshing. The younger blonde would also visit him from time to time and bring him magazines, food and other things that could only be bought from the big city. The thought of not having the same access to the city like he used to would sadden him occasionally... but he couldn't help but smile when he thought of how much time and effort this guy was making just to make him feel better. He even felt guilty for judging him in the past and treating him a bit rudely just out of jealousy. But now that Kotetsu was an average Joe, he could redeem himself by starting all over again with Keith and be pals, couldn't he? He managed to revive the relationship with his daughter, why not do the same for this guy?
Days passed and Kotetsu started noticing the subtle changes in his body. He started feeling tired constantly, leading him to sleep more hours than usual. Even simple tasks such as going upstairs or walking for a long period of time made him exhausted. As a result, Kaede had to do chores for him. Though she scolded her father at first, as the days flew by, she complained less about it. It was as if she noticed something different in her Dad... and that if anything she should be doing what she could to make his life easier.
He visited the doctor eventually so as to not worry his family. His fatigue was diagnosed as anemia and possible narcolepsy but the doctor had only hypothesized that it stemmed from his body reverting from that of a superpowered NEXT to an ordinary human.
Since Kotetsu couldn't go out because of his tired body, Barnaby had to visit whenever Kaede was at school. He also seemed to have noticed that something was off. Kotetsu wondered what was so different but he knew it had to be something big... especially when Barnaby had offered him a maid to help him around the house. Of course, he refused. He wasn't going to trouble anyone or be a burden.
After Barnaby's visits in the morning, he had Keith over in the afternoon. The blonde actually managed to alarm Kotetsu during one of his visits however. Kotetsu knew this guy was as dense as a block of wood and him noticing changes meant that it had been more noticable than he first suspected. Similar to Barnaby's offer, Keith even offered to move in with him to help out... but of course, Kotetsu refused him as well. Wild Tiger wouldn't be a burden to anyone.
"Keith, don't worry. You don't have to do this. What about your job as a hero? What about your family?"
"Mister Kaburagi... I don't have a family..."
Well, that explained a lot. How could he find the time to patrol at night if he had a family? Kotetsu couldn't help but to pat the younger man's head and smile.
"You can't move in but you can come visit any time," he laughed, "I hope this useless old man isn't boring you!"
After that, Kotetsu had grown used to the new daily routine. Just Barnaby, Keith and Kaede every day. Occasionally he would also get visits from the other heroes and even old friends but otherwise, everything was monotonous.
Everything was fine really.
And then one day Kotetsu woke up... and immediately felt something different. Something wrong. He felt something was lost and it was then that he realized that he had lost the sensation in his legs.
Without meaning to, he ended up leaving Barnaby stood up. The same would've happened with Keith is he hadn't visited and found Kotetsu himself passed out and sprawled on the floor.
When he finally opened his eyes, he was in a hospital bed. Keith was by his side peeling an apple It wouldn't have been such an alarming sight if he didn't spot the puffy bags beneath the younger blonde's eyes.
"Keith... What happened...?"
The blonde man quickly looked at him then smiled weakly. He left the apple and the knife at the stand next to him hugged the older man.
"You've been sleeping for the past three days, Mister Kaburagi... How are you feeling?"
Three days...? He wondered if Barnaby knew what had happened but knowing Keith, he probably told anyone who happened to be in HeroTV building. Still, judging from the state the younger man was in, he knew that something was happening to him... and it wasn't good.
A nurse eventually came in to perform some trivial check-ups and it was only after Keith had left, that the doctor finally came in to inform Kotetsu of what was happening.
There was no way to prepare him for what was coming.
It was a long lecture full of complicated words but in the end, Kotetsu realized the basic result of it all. Not only was he losing movement and sensation in his extremities but eventually the bodily paralysis would extend to his vitals and brain. All as a result of the former Wild Tiger losing his powers. Now he was also losing his vital energy. He knew what the ultimate result would be.
"Why..."
Even if he was an adult –or rather, an old man-, he couldn't stop tears from flowing. It wasn't since Tomoe's death that he had felt such despair. He didn't want to leave Kaede alone. He just couldn't! He had promised to be on the front row of her graduation, to help her hold her trophy when she won the International Ice Skating Tournament, to walk her down the aisle when she was to be married...
He wanted to live long enough to see all of that but it was too late. There was nothing that could be done.
The next day, he broke the news to his mother. It was heartbreaking to see her at the floor trying to get a grip of herself after hearing the news.
Barnaby's reaction was similar, devastation accompanied by a string of curses because of the situation. He promised Kotetsu that he would provide Kaede with all the economic help needed for her future. The other heroes had arrived as well as soon as they heard the news.
Karina promised him that she would become Kaede's friend and help her become a fine woman for Kotetsu's sake. Kotetsu couldn't help but to smile.
Nathan promised him that he would use his status as the president of Helios to sponsor Kaede as well so she would go to a fine university. Kotetsu felt relief.
Paolin and Ivan promised Kotetsu that they would room with Kaede after she moved to Sternbild for schooling. They would protect her and make sure she was alone. Kotetsu thanked God for letting him keep the movement in his arms to pet the heads of both of them for being such good kids.
Antonio was truly devastated to know that his long time friend was going to be gone but he needed to stay strong for him as well. After one last fistbump, he promised Kotetsu that he take his place in Kaede's life so someone would be there for her graduation, her rises and falls and on her wedding.
And last but not least, there was Keith.
It was evident that the blonde already knew what was happening. And yet Kotetsu tried to force a smile just to see that bright and refreshing man own smile once more.
Before he could say anything, the blonde hugged the old weak man and started crying. Among the sobs and cries, Keith would mumble little nothings to Kotetsu. That he was going to do anything for him, even defy God and try to pull off a miracle. Before the older man could tell Keith the said truth, the blonde opened the window and looked at him.
"I'm going to fly high and higher and reach heaven to ask God to give you a second chance... You just wait..."
Before Kotetsu could yell out to stop him, Keith had already flown out of the window, high to the sky. Kotetsu feared the worst, if someone tried to fly that high they would eventually die from the pressure. Still, Keith tried to fly as high he could. He could feel his head and ears hurting, his nose starting to bleed but he tried to ignore that for Kotetsu's sake.
And yet before long, his vision of the bright sun had turned black. He had fallen unconscious from great pressure and dropped temperature from his body from trying to reach Mach 5. Sky High was now plummeting to the ground. Minutes later, the dot in the sky that Kotetsu had spotted was growing ever-larger at a frightful speed. He knew it was Keith. Kotetsu cried at the blonde's pertinacity and wished for a miracle. He couldn't just sit back and watch. He had to do something... He used to be a hero.
He was a hero.
He wanted to save Keith's life.
In a heartbeat, with a sudden burst of energy, he could see his body glowing with power and could feel the sensation in his legs returning. He didn't know how much time this would last so he had to hurry. Without thinking twice, he jumped from the window and reached for Keith as he called out his name. With some effort, he managed to take the body of the younger man into his arms. Despite the bleeding nose and pale blue tint to the man's lips, he felt a sense of relief to see that he was still breathing. He landed safely back on to the hospital grounds, hoping that this last burst of power would last long enough to get them both back to safety.
"... Mister Kaburagi... I did it... You got your powers back..."
Keith woke up for a moment, shivering from the cold as he spoke. Kotetsu didn't want to break his illusion. He smiled at him and nodded.
"Of course Keith... You did great! So now... Just rest."
Keith smiled and closed his eyes to rest from all the effort he gave on trying to pull off that non-existent miracle. In that moment, as Kotetsu held the younger blonde's unconscious body, he had a sudden realization as he felt warm tears slowly stream down his face.
"Shit Keith... Why... Why did you have to come so late into my life?... Why did I have to realize this so late?"
Kotetsu kissed the lips of the sleeping young man. It was a short kiss. It felt cold and tasted metallic from the blood running from his nose. But it was still enough. When Kotetsu pulled back, he could feel himself losing strength and blacking out once again.
When he woke up again, he was numb. Kotetsu panicked, tried to not scream but started to cry instead. He moved his head to the side and saw Keith, his head bandaged, holding Kotetsu's hand. The older man couldn't help but cry more. Not only were the efforts of the younger man in vain, but now he couldn't even feel the warmth of Keith's hand anymore. Keith's sky blue eyes were now red and wet with tears and it was clear how much pain there was within them. After spending a few minutes together in silence, Keith had to leave for his own recovery.
It was later that Kotetsu had found out the worst of the worst. The sudden awakening of his powers accelerated the process of the paralysis.
Even so, he didn't regret using them. He could never regret saving Keith.
The next months were painful. He was secluded to his hospital bed, looking at the ceiling. At first it wasn't so much of a problem until he lost sensitivity in his neck, then his face, to the point where he couldn't even speak anymore. Only a few days later, he lost his sight.
Now all he could do was listen.
Listen to the beeps of the machines, listen the doctors talking about how much time left he had left, listen to his loved ones crying.
But amongst the dark abyss, there was Keith's voice. Unlike his usual bright and boisterous tone, it was now weak and faint. In this state of numbness, what really pained Kotetsu was that he couldn't do anything now. He couldn't comfort sorrowful, tired Keith. He couldn't even tell him to please forget about this dying old man and try to move on.
And yet, he had noticed in the young hero's voice, there was still hope. False hope, mostly delusion and denial. It was sad to listen to him that way... but Kotetsu still tried to wish as well. He begged and pleaded any God in heaven to give him another chance. Not for his own selfish wishes to be alive... But to stay alive to grant the wish of the younger hero. The hero who still had his whole life ahead of him. The hero that quit on his night patrolling just to be with this old man.
Of course, the sad reality is that when you're an adult... There is no God for you no matter how much you pray.
The end came closer than ever.
Even if he couldn't here it in the voices of the nurses and doctors around him, Kotetsu could feel it in his heart. The end would come within the week.
He could hear Kaede scolding him for not telling her earlier about his life as a hero, but he could also hear her thoughts of how he would be reunited with her mother in Heaven.
That's right. He was going to meet Tomoe again... That thought wasn't so bad after all. Still, he bet that Tomoe was never going to forgive him for leaving their daughter alone so early.
After Kaede, each one of his fellow heroes came to visit him to give their final farewells. When it time for Barnaby's turn, he could immediately feel the anguish in his voice. The man he had worked with for more than a year was breaking down next to him and he couldn't do anything. Among his cries, he could hear apologies and words of gratitude... and a confession that Kotetsu truly didn't expect.
"You know Kotetsu... I never saw you as a partner or a father figure. I loved you more than that. Like a lover... I wish I could have told you sooner... I wish I realized sooner."
Bunny loving him? That was a surprise, especially considering the way Barnaby had treated him all that time. Always looking down at him, questioning his actions and his way of doing things.
It was then that Kotetsu realized how much of an hypocrite he was. After all, wasn't he doing the same to Keith? Didn't he treat him the same way out of jealousy for the longest time? And now that he got to know the young blonde better only after losing his powers... he fell for him.
Now it was Kotetsu who felt the pain inside, he was going to die without telling that guy how he felt. He cursed himself for everything. For being a father when it was too late, for not being able to answer Barnaby's feelings and for not being able to restart with Keith like he wanted.
Without even realizing it, Barnaby left and it was Keith's turn. The blonde didn't say much, he just spoke normally to him. It was clear that the poor guy was still in denial about everything. Still, this time it was different, Kotetsu was suffering and dying to tell him how he felt. He begged God to please give him a bit of strength, five minutes would be enough like the time he saved Keith from the fall.
He begged, he prayed.
Just five minutes.
He would accept dying afterward.
But just...
Five minutes.
As if God Himself was listening, he could feel it. The sudden warm energy embraced his body and he could feel his body again after months of being enveloped by darkness. His sight returned and he felt his throat again. Still, he knew what that meant. He remembered Jackson's words about a flame that shone brightly before extinguishing. Those were going to be his final minutes and he was going to use them wisely.
He quickly sat down and embraced Keith. He didn't care that his body was stiff from being isolated in the bed, his heart was in even more in pain anyway. Keith couldn't believe what was happening. Surely it was a miracle-
"Keith... This is no miracle... God have given me five minutes to tell you goodbye..."
The blonde's eyes filled with tears again.
"Keith... Listen to me carefully... I am sorry for the way I've treated you since we've known each other... I wish I realized the kind of person you were sooner... I..."
Kotetsu then leaned to whisper something to Keith's ear, leaving the blonde in shock and with his cheeks as red as his eyes from all the crying.
"Mister Kaburagi..."
"Please... Call me Kotetsu..."
"Kotetsu... I..."
Keith looked down in embarrassment and whispered his answer. Kotetsu couldn't help but to smile and join hands with him, giving him something in the process.
"This is my last gift..."
Keith then looked at his hand to see what it was and his eyes widened.
"But...!"
"No buts, Keith..."
Kotetsu then started leaning as he felt his energy running out.
"Goodbye... Keith..."
The older man used his last seconds to kiss the blonde. Keith didn't refuse but closed his eyes to feel nothing but the warmth of Kotetsu's lips. After a few seconds, he opened his eyes when he felt that Kotetsu had pulled back... Or so he thought. He could only hear a loud noise of something falling to the floor, followed by a piercing noise that made him realize the cold reality.
It's incredible that I wrote this in the end. I guess I will write the next chapter soon, I just hope you all enjoyed it!
~Aniki
