Ritsu awoke, enveloped in a strong sensation of light. The room that kept him was pale and serene, mimicking the atmosphere of an infirmary. He knew vaguely that he was lying on a bed, but could not feel his own body. And as he opened his eyes, shook the disorientation out, he realized that there was a man hovering nearby with a tray in his hands.
He recognized neither the place or the person and began to panic. "What am I doing here?! What happened… Where is this place?"
Yet his questions fell on deaf ears. The man approached his bedside, set his tray aside and from it, pulled a soft rag and dipped it in a bowl of warm water. Things like the temperature were so dull that he couldn't actually tell if the water were hot or cold; the only indication he had to gauge that sort of thing was the fact that steam was rising from the top. Knowing that he couldn't feel it scared him, gave him the impression that he was just an apparition.
"Is… Is Takano okay?" he knew this person wasn't human. There was something about him that gave him away. Desperate, he reached out to grab the man's clothes and for the first time, noticed the luminescent shackles around his wrists.
The person he grabbed looked quite troubled in spite of his smile, "I'm sorry. I'm not supposed to speak to you… And you shouldn't move around that much, your spiritual body may be unharmed but you'll exhaust yourself if you expel too much energy."
"Wait," he clung to his shirt, "Does this mean I'm dead?! And what about…"
It was fuzzy. The moments before his death were too unclear, he could only recall lying to Takano and heading somewhere else after work with dread and urgency in his head… That man knelt by his bed, smiling pitifully. "I'm truly sorry about what happened to you."
What was that supposed to mean?
Then it all came flooding back to him; tiredly climbing the stairwell to the roof, feeling constant eyes on him. Worrying as he urged Haitani from the edge and sharing his final kiss with the man as a solemn goodbye. Then there was a sharp pain in his stomach unlike anything he'd ever felt before, agonizing but overshadowed by the sinister look in his friend's eyes as he plunged it into his body over and over—
"No!" he shouted and slapped the man's hand away as he tried to apply the rag to his skin. "Where's Takano?! I can't leave him behind like this-!" but the more he tried to get out of bed, the tighter those shackles clung to his wrists, draining him. It was fleeting but he thought that just for a second, his hands had become transparent. It scared him into lying still.
"Masamune is being held elsewhere, along with your 'friend' and that demon." there was another voice, it belonged to a man standing at the door. As he walked in, he was vaguely recognized as the man that had briefly appeared in the library. Someone who was apparently acquainted with Takano, though he couldn't tell to what degree. "Thank you for your service, Mino." he said as he dismissed him.
"Y-You're that guy from the other day! Is Takano alright?! Where am-" the questions came pouring out again, but his body was behaving strangely, phasing in and out as if he were a mirage.
Yokozawa approached his bedside and shoved him down into the pillows. "If you don't rest, you'll disappear. Is that what you want?!"
"No…" he muttered timidly, feeling much like a child.
He applied the rag to his forehead uninterrupted, because frankly he was too scary to swat at. But his hands were gentle despite his stern exterior and he genuinely felt that he wouldn't be hurt, even if he was chained up like a prisoner.
Another man stuck his head in the room and knocked, although he entered regardless of an answer. "How's it going, you two!" he waved.
This person, he could not recognize. There was something about him that seemed awfully carefree, but the air around him was intimidating somehow. He couldn't quite determine the correct way to feel about this man-
"Kirishima," he was chided by the man taking care of him "You have some nerve wandering around here when you know the trial's about to begin."
In any case, it didn't seem to phase him. He waved it off and sat at the edge of his bed, irritating the other man quite a bit. "Just who do you think I am? Like I'd miss out on something this interesting! Actually, I've been meaning to meet you for quite some time now, 'Ritsu'."
Ritsu shifted uncomfortably, and couldn't bring himself to ask the questions that he so desperately wanted the answers to moments ago.
"I've been watching you ever since your case began years ago. Well, it doesn't feel like a very long time from my perspective but it does make a man impatient. After all, it isn't everyday that an anomaly like you shows up!"
He didn't particularly enjoy being called an anomaly, but it wasn't as though he was in a position to deny it.
"We have a lot more in common than you might think." he continued with a smile. "We're both fools for the ones that we love, although I can't imagine what's going through your head, having feelings for an annoying hardass…" he sighed.
Yokozawa swat his shoulder, "Hey! Don't say too much, idiot!"
In retaliation, Kirishima hugged him tight. "See what I mean? Isn't Yokozawa just the greatest!" To be honest, the shock of watching someone with such an intimidating presence be hugged like that… was a bit disturbing. Even for someone like Ritsu.
He looked away, believing that this intimate moment was something that he really shouldn't have been seeing. Kirishima was eventually shoved off, however, and Yokozawa resumed his devices, a reasonable distance away. "Quit fucking around!" then he turned towards Ritsu and peered down at him, placing a hand on his forehead.
It felt weird, and strange, the way his hand began to heat up… "This may hurt. Bear with it."
He initially thought that the sensation would be as dull and bleak as the cloth and water placed on his head. It most certainly was not.
The ache began in his head, gradually permeated throughout the rest of his body as he watched the men hover over him, watching him. The pain set in, rising in temperature until it was scorching, like fire, and he worried that his skin would melt. But his cries of agony were altogether mute and his vision wore away into white spots, until he could no longer see the room, its inhabitants, nor himself.
It felt like he hadn't moved a muscle, but when he opened his eyes his environment was entirely different. Though his shackles were removed he was still very much imprisoned by a narrow, circular cage, apparently made from the same material.
Curiously enough, he was alone in what appeared to be a grand coliseum enclosed by round roof that gave it the appeal of an auditorium. If it weren't for the ornate carvings, stained-glass windows and airy atmosphere, he might have assumed that he were in attendance of a concert. However, he was alone and there was three other cages aligned towards the north, west and southern corners of the room. They were hoisted upon platforms supported by marble columns, the sight was rather comparable to a bird cage.
It was eerie how quiet it was, but soon enough the cage to his left began to glow, enveloped in a white light until Haitani stood dumbly in the middle. His nerves seized up and he turned away.
Never before had he been so reluctant to face Haitani. But in desperation, that voice called out to him, pleading, begging. "Onodera! Please, Onodera…! Turn around. Look at me. You have to believe me, I…"
"Please don't!" he shut his eyes tightly, "I… don't want to see you right now."
He was silent thereafter, dragging himself to his knees in defeat. The third cage began to glow; it sat across from Haitani, and it was illuminated furiously for long moment. When it settled, someone he did not entirely recognize was standing there with his arms folded, his cold gaze lowered towards Haitani.
Unlike the others, he is also shackled. "I see." Ijuuin spread his wrists apart furiously; his restraints snapped. "If they think I'm going to idly await trial with mortal scum, they've got another thing coming."
When his wings expanded, it was easy to see that he was no ordinary angel. They were black as night, beautiful but gloomy when contrasted with such an icy demeanor. He tore through the top of the cage—
—or would have liked to. But the light seized his entire body upon even the most minute contact, rendering his attempts at flight obsolete. His wings faded out as well and the look of hatred on his face was absolutely unnerving. He looked towards Haitani accusingly, "This is your fault! I should have devoured you when I had the chance. You were useless to me."
Part of him wanted to look at Haitani, but he simply couldn't.
The last cage was overcome with that beautiful light again, entrapping its prisoner without a fight. There, just across the way, was Takano who looked positively indifferent one way or another.
He gripped the bars excitedly, making several attempts to call out to him that completely fell on deaf ears. He realized that the tighter he held the bars, the more his body faded out; the less his voice would rise. He released them.
A transient column suddenly appeared in the center, the platform was far more intricate, far more decorative than any of the other rises which beheld the cages. It was to be expected, seeing as this platform bared not a cage, but a throne and a table, and Kirishima seated on top of it. Yokozawa appeared shortly, just to his right side with a stack of papers in hand.
They were no longer alone. In puffs of elegant smoke, angels (for that was the only way in which he could categorize them, with their white wings) filed in one by one. Several circled the cages, hovering with bows pointed at the center. He had a feeling that they weren't keeping their eyes out for Kirishima.
He noticed the man that had tried to nurse him, hovering towards the top of the throne. The uniform he wore matched the clothing of the executioners, with only a few notable exceptions, such as the badges, golden crosses and rankings that adorned him. He also carried a crossbow with an intimidating amount of bolts strapped to his back.
To think that he'd slapped this man's hand… it made him rather uncomfortable.
"Good to see you're all looking well!" said Kirishima, "While the jury arrives, I should explain a few things. First of all, some of you may know this already but these cages are designed specifically to accommodate beings like you. That means any attempts at resistance are futile, so I wouldn't waste your energy."
Ritsu couldn't help but gawk. The man he'd called Yokozawa was standing by his side, silent and apparently reviewing the documents in his hand. Behind them, rows of the colosseum began to fill with prominent looking people. There weren't many, but every single one of them exuded an air of confidence.
He felt like a toy on display. Or better yet, a classroom pet.
Soon it seemed as though the 'guests of honor', the jury he presumed, had arrived and there was no further inclination to await the commencement of this 'trial', of which he knew nothing about. Kirishima began regardless, standing up tall as he addressed the cages. "Congratulations on having this opportunity to participate in one of the most anticipated holy-trials of the decade. You're all here because in some way or another, you've committed a grievous sin against humanity, morality, the spirits or all of the above."
Nobody spoke except for that man, who seemed oddly jovial in spite of his accusations.
"Fear not, the one with the ultimate decision regarding your punishment is me. But you can try to convince my loyal followers as well, since I'll consider their opinions!" he assured as if that were supposed to alleviate the tension. "Some of you have a better chance than others. But I'll cut to the chase… Because I'm sure," he addressed the audience, "that we're all aching for some sweet repentance right about now."
The crowd was silent but a few nodded their heads, others looked wary, some looked anxious. It wasn't hard to determine that nobody was particularly happy with the supposed actions of these people, who were caged in order to be judged.
Yokozawa eventually cleared his throat and stepped forward, holding the neatly stacked documents in his hands. The first cage he approached (it was then that Ritsu realized he seemed to walk on air, and was unintentionally awed) belonged to Haitani.
"Haitani, Arata." he did not look at the prisoner. "You bear the sin of resurrection. You conspired with a demon and concealed your existence from the angels for several years, then participated in the murder of another human being. This is punishable by damnation."
For the first time, he looked at Haitani although it was not his intentions. Some part of him merely wanted to know if it was true, and it was. Of course it was; his memories were far too vivid to be chalked up to a nightmare.
Unfortunately, Haitani took note of his gaze and reached out to him again. The pain in his eyes was enough to have him look away, but he couldn't block out the sound of his voice, "Onodera… I'm so sorry. Please, understand. I was tricked-!"
"Silence!" Yokozawa shot an unforgiving glare in his direction, "You will not speak out of turn in the presence of your jury, understand? Now shut your mouth."
Kirishima leaned comfortably on his arm, slipping a rather amused whistle as he observed this.
Yokozawa disappeared and reappeared by the cage that held the demon who occasionally grumbled with rage. "Ijuuin, Kyo. Your sins are demonification, resurrecting the deceased, corrupting a mortal's soul and moreover you have yet to answer to your previous crimes against us. They will not be overlooked."
The crowd murmured among themselves at this revelation. The tension here was thick and although Ritsu could not recognize Ijuuin, it was easy to see that he was a being with darkness in his heart that far surpassed the rest of them… Moreover, he seemed to have a history with Haitani. One that he knew nothing about.
"Takano, Masamune." he appeared by his cage, though Takano didn't seem bothered enough to lift his head. "Your sin is the unwarranted preservation of human life, abandoning your responsibilities as a reaper and violating the restrictions imposed on you. Additionally you will be charged with exposing the library of Alexandria to a mortal."
Those words stung; guilt overwhelmed him and he wanted to slap Takano across the face for being such an idiot. For jeopardizing his position so foolishly, because of a mortal… Even the scary man rattling off their sins seemed a little troubled by this as he walked away.
Yokozawa was standing by his own cage, then, without sparing so much as a glance in his direction. "Onodera, Ritsu. Your sin is your immunity to death. However, a number of your offences will be overlooked on account of the fact that a majority of this was out of your control." he added solemnly, "But it is unlikely that you will be allowed to return to the human world."
He turned away to return to the sidelines of the throne, setting the documents neatly across the table. Ritsu was unable to determine whether Kirishima was supposed to be some sort of king, unsure of whether that sort of hierarchy existed here at all, really. The jury convened quickly and provided a representative to hand Yokozawa several pieces of paper and then return while he transferred the paper, yet again, to Kirishima.
Ritsu eventually decided that the most accurate description of Kirishima would be that of a judge, minus any semblance of tradition.
"Okay, I've reviewed your verdicts. You guys seem pretty keen on mass execution." he decided, skimming through the last few pages. And then amended his statement, "Well, except for you Isaka. But sorry, 'undecided' is just too wishy-washy."
"I know, right?" Isaka the angel was kicked back lavishly, to the dismay of his assistant at his left who quickly urged his feet off the seat.
"Anyway." Kirishima stood and addressed the prisoners. "You'll be happy to know that I've reviewed the overall consensus and have decided that I'm scrapping it."
"Huh?!" outrage erupted from the crowd.
"That's ridiculous."
"You can't just overrule the majority decision like that!"
Those were the general outbursts tossed in his direction, but Kirishima didn't seem too bothered. He smiled, even, turned back to the crowd and offered bluntly, "Well it's just that even my daughter is more creative than that? And here I was, hoping you guys would take this seriously…"
Kirishima, the king, or perhaps the judge, jury and executioner, walked over to Haitani and reached through the bars to grab his head. He seemed frightened; and reasonably so, after hearing such troubling words thrown around casually. Haitani didn't resist, as that would be futile, but couldn't help avoiding his gaze.
"I'm going to borrow your head for a sec, kid." The palm of his head began to glow and as it hovered over Haitani's brain, appeared to cause a similar sensation in Kirishima's eyes. But it was over in no time, and the kid only seemed mildly traumatized.
"Woah!" his eyes snapped open as he stepped back, declaring proudly, "Okay, I think I've got the gist of this now."
The audience was restless and frustrated, silently murmuring curses among themselves as Kirishima pointed at Haitani. "Let's just say this kid has made some questionable decisions. But I'd say the same pretty much goes for the rest of us, so I can't fault him for that. Can't even fault him for resurrection when it comes down to it, because preventing that from happening is the jurisdiction of the reapers. Everything else was more or less a product of someone sticking their wings where they don't belong," a sly smile was thrown towards Ijuuin "which means the sentence I'll give this kid is…"
"To-be-determined!" was his conclusion, leaving Haitani rather dumbfounded and the jury unsatisfied.
"Even if you try to justify it, he murdered another human being!"
"His victim is right there, how can you say that?!"
"If it's the reaper's fault, punish him as well!"
However it didn't take much more than an unsatisfied look from Kirishima to have the room settle down. "Until I decide what should be done with him, he'll stay here and we'll eradicate his existence from the human world. Square?"
Nobody seemed very 'square' about anything. But the prevailing consensus was simply, 'Do not irritate this man', and so there was no dissent.
"Let's see." he appeared by Ijuuin briefly, only to remark "I've already got a punishment in mind for you, no need for further discussion." and leave.
He circled Takano's cage a few times, seemingly at his wit's end, thinking hard and clasping his hands together in frustration. "You've disobeyed us numerous times. A human suffered as a result of your irresponsibility and furthermore you disclosed holy information to a mortal! I'm really sick of dealing with you, you know?! You've been nothing but a thorn in my side since your arrival!"
Takano replied solemnly, "I'll accept it all."
The jury seemed amused by the sudden shift in his demeanor, Isaka whistled.
He turned away from Takano, pointed at Ritsu accusingly and demanded, "He will be in charge of your punishment!"
"...Huh?" Ritsu mumbled, half-convinced that he'd heard him incorrectly. Even if every single voice reverberated off the walls as clear as crystal, this must have been some sort of mistake.
"You heard me." he was in front of Ritsu in the next instant, smiling. "So make it a good one, okay?"
Suddenly there were a million eyes on him at once. The entire jury, the other angels, the executioners, Takano. All of them watching, waiting, listening while immersed in tense silence. He was succumbing to pressure quickly, so he closed his eyes and shut them tight, drowned out the presence of his impatient spectators and thought only of what he truly believed ought to be done with Takano.
They were not expecting him to legitimately sentence him, he realized. This was a test.
His honest feelings were simply, "...I want Takano to have a second chance."
"Overruled!" cried several audience members, followed by outbursts of "That's ludicrous!" and,
"It was stupid to entrust this decision to a human."
Things that should have been hurtful did not spite him one bit, because regardless of how effective it was in terms of punishment, it was how he felt.
Briefly feeling Kirishima's eyes scrutinizing him, he grew increasingly nervous.
"Okay, interesting." he nodded "Elaborate."
"E-Elaborate?" he looked up at the man and then immediately turned his head away. It was too hard to meet his gaze, so he merely watched the floor several feet beneath them and explained, "Well… It's just that… Takano is the type of person who's dedicated and capable. I know he's made many mistakes recently, but they were all because of me! And I strongly believe that if we had met while we were alive, things would have been different."
He realized that part of him was echoing Takano, and he couldn't help but entertain a small, timid smile as he continued, "Takano said that he commit suicide after the death of his closest friend… Don't you think that kind of person sounds more hurt than ungrateful?!"
Parts of the jury gasped, others were genuinely listening. Isaka, too, sat forward with his elbows supporting his chin as he became all the more interested.
"It's true, killing himself was the stupidest thing he could have done, but everything that happened here is because he was forced into that position! Because of the way that Takano is, I strongly believe that forcing him to live his life earnestly would be the most effective punishment. R...Regardless of whether I'm there or not."
"There's no way in hell!" the one that interrupted was Takano, gripping the bars and generating an immense amount of friction as a result. Yokozawa stepped near the cage, instinctively moving to silence him but was yanked back by Kirishima.
"T-Takano?" Ritsu had nearly forgotten he was there, felt immediately embarrassed for running his mouth and stepped back as far as the cage would allow him. "I…"
"You aren't throwing your life away for me, idiot! Are you trying to make your family cry?! What about that girl, An. Damnit! Get your head out of your ass; do you understand how valuable your life is?"
This time he retorted in utter frustration, "Your life is important, too! Besides, you've said it yourself: don't get too attached to this world. How do you think I felt while I was dying over and over again, Takano?! I haven't belonged in the human world in years!"
"That's my own fault. Quit trying to martyr yourself for someone that doesn't want to be saved. Get it through your thick head…" he took a deep breath in order to shout, loudly. "There's no point in living if you aren't there! So just keep living, get hitched and give yourself a family someday. Don't throw it all away for someone like me!"
"Y-You…!" he was struggling to bite back his frustration, the only thing preventing him from entering a fully fledged screaming match was the looming presence of the 'higher-ups', who were possibly irritated.
"Okay, I've heard enough." decided Kirishima "I know what to do with you now… Takano." he turned towards him, reduced the distance between himself and the cage until he was practically face to face with the bars. "It's as he said, as a reaper, you're no good. You've caused nothing but trouble for me since you arrived and as a result, things in the human world are falling apart left and right! Geez…"
"Kirishima." Takano was already pissed, therefore slightly less inclined to hear his bitching "You can't be fucking serious!"
"Looks like you're heading back to the human world, Takano." he crossed his arms. He smiled, still, but the look in his eyes practically dared him to refute him.
He wanted to, very much wanted to. If his existence were the only one on the line, he very much would have, but such was not the case and he wanted to strangle Onodera. All he could manage was an outraged "Hah?!"
"Isaka himself told me that you were one of his most efficient workers, back when you were sentenced to guarding the library. It would be a shame if the human world were to miss out on such a worker… Besides, between you and me." he leaned in and lowered his voice "Yokozawa's been upset ever since then, because you threw away the vision he had for you. So why don't we good-for-nothings try to make him happy, for once."
The jury was wailing, arguing among themselves and whining like brats. It seemed that nobody was truly satisfied with this decision; couldn't understand it as anything more than another one of Kirishima's impulsive decisions.
"This will come back to haunt you!" insisted one.
"He can't be trusted."
"He must be eliminated, he is the cause of all this!"
"On the contrary," Kirishima drew closer to Ijuuin's cage, "your culprit is this guy. If anyone's to be blamed for the murder, it's him. In fact, I'd go as far to say that none of this would have happened in the first place if not for his interference, right?"
He turned towards Ijuuin, everyone did. The angel had been generally silent up til now, showing no interest whatsoever in the punishments attributed to his pawn, his victim, the reaper. For a long moment, he wore an impartial expression.
Until he relented with a sigh, "You're correct. I was the cause of all this."
Some of them seemed surprised, othered shifted immediately into blame. Kirishima urged him to continue. "And why don't you elaborate on that, Ijuuin."
"I'm the one that cursed the human with the ability to see the reaper."
"Right!" he stepped away proudly, "There you have it. Takano, the super-capable worker, would not have saved just any human's life. Ijuuin knew from the beginning that they were bound to one another and orchestrated the whole situation. Go on, tell us what happened next!"
He wasn't keen on the mockery, but could do little else but comply. "I resurrected Arata, used him as not only a tool but a fool to manipulate and feed off of. His vulnerabilities sustained me, in return I convinced him to murder his friend… I wanted all of them to suffer."
"Your honesty is truly admirable," he walked away from the cage "Well, that's fine though. Like I said, I know how to punish you… There you have it, Ritsu." he knelt by him, "Now you know who caused all of this. So, are you angry?"
Anger wasn't the right word for it. He was more relieved than anything, to find out that Takano wasn't to blame for his hell on earth, but to know that he'd gone a decade of his life without so much as suspecting that his friend was suffering… made him nauseous
"I… just want to apologize to Haitani-"
"As for your punishment," Kirishima cut him off "You will never be able to return to the human world… Sorry."
His throat seized up. He'd known that would be the case, but even so. To know that he was dead for good… it certainly didn't feel as great as he thought it would. A weight should have been lifted off his shoulder. He should be appeared, knowing Takano would stay among the living and live his life happily, and yet-
"That's right. As punishment for knowing too much, you'll be forced to retain all of your memories, everything you've accumulated 'til now, while attempting to live your life normally."
The jury was positively bursting with indignation.
"You'll have us all exposed!"
"Execute him now!"
"He's a mortal. To know of our existence is a sin, treat it as such!"
As he turned around, they fell silent. "Believe me when I say that this punishment may very well be the most unforgiving, far exceeding execution… After all," he returned to Ritsu "I'm not sure that you're completely aware of what that entails."
Ritsu looked puzzled, shook his head and stayed quiet.
"Yes, you'll have all of your memories. The accident, every moment afterwards and every single encounter you've had with your loved one. However… Mino," he called out to the man, who flew to his side, bow in hand. "A demonstration, if you don't mind."
"Not at all, sir…" He poised his bow and fired its golden arrow at an unoccupied pillar; it erupted into glistening rubble in moments, writhing in the aftershock of the light's unforgiving pierce. He explained, "This type of bow is a standard distributed to all of my subordinates… They are used for execution. Those who are eliminated with this arrow are not supposed to return to the human world; it's unprecedented." his smile was soft, and somewhat sad.
Kirishima elaborated, "He's trying to say that he executed your lover boy. There's no telling what kind of man he'll become once we've fitted him with artificial life, do you understand that? Are you strong enough to coexist in a universe where the love of your life may not even know your name?"
Ritsu considered it but it was hard to imagine. But whether he did or didn't, was not his priority.
"If Takano will be given a second chance, then… That's enough."
"You idiot-" Takano was livid, but defeated.
"Looks like that's the end, everybody!" he turned towards the crowd, who seemed to be experiencing multiple stages of shock. Though he did receive a standing ovation from Isaka.
"That was awfully lenient of you." said Yokozawa, now that he and Kirishima were the only two who remained in that court room, which seemed significantly emptier given the lack of spectators and prisoners. "It's unlike you."
"Lenient?" he laughed, stretching and yawning offhandedly. "No… Everyday I find myself growing closer and closer to becoming a demon."
"That isn't something to joke about." he snapped as he organized the papers.
"Aw, did I make you mad?" he wrapped his arms around him, but was quickly swatted away. Though he laughed, the look in his eyes was unreadable. "Ha… Try to imagine a reality in which you're this close to the one you love, but you're strangers. You've retained every single cherished memory, and yet…" he walked away "Because they aren't the same person, they can turn their back on you like this. That kind of reality is going to be far harder to grasp than our existence."
Yokozawa considered it, and things clicked. "I see… In any case, we can't be sure that he'll forget Onodera forever."
"Well, we can't be sure that he won't." he shrugged "You can try to hide it, but you've been looking happier since the trial. Wonder what made you so happy."
"Don't be sly," he chided. In starch contradiction to his tone, he hugged Kirishima close and kissed him.
As they pulled away from one another, he reveled in smug satisfaction, "What was that for?"
"...You know I can't thank you enough for giving Masamune a second chance."
He groaned, "Well, if you'll smile again, then bending the rules a little is worth it… Even for a guy like that."
Ritsu sat up tiredly, realizing first that his shackles were gone, and secondly that he was alone. He wondered if the others had been set free as well… Though, he suspected that roaming around wouldn't do him much good.
The door burst open and he was tackled to the bed. He was scared, at first, until that familiar warmth permeated throughout his body and he was unmistakably drawn to Takano's everything. "T-Takano," he wanted to apologize. But the words wouldn't get out.
Perhaps because he wasn't truly sorry.
"Don't let go." he commanded and they held each other tightly. Takano was threading his fingers through his hair, stroking his skin, kissing his neck as if it would keep them there forever.
Ritsu had to marvel at how he struggled to feel hot water, in this spiritualistic body, yet he felt Takano. His texture, his temperature, his body heat. It made him feel alive, and he wondered when, just how quickly he'd be able to feel that again.
He squirmed once a hand slid up his shirt "W-We can't do this here!" feeling his face brighten up in embarrassment.
"I want to savor it while I still can," he argued "Not sure what's going to happen to me down there."
Ritsu wasn't sure, either. And it was scary to think about. He tightened his hold around his neck and clung to him, wishing shamelessly he'd like Takano to hold him again soon.
"Ritsu." he traced his thumb across his cheek and looked him in the eye, "No matter what I become or who I am… Even the broken parts of me will never stop loving you."
They shared a kiss, Takano deepened it just a bit while he pulled him into his lap. Then added assuredly, "All you have to do is wait for me. And once I return, we can share a meal again… As proper lovers."
The anticipation nearly brought tears to his eyes, but he refrained; determined to focus solely on the happiness that the current Takano brought him. Still, he buried his head in his neck and allowed this moment of vulnerability for his sake. Just to be honest with him for once, for the last time before everything changed. "...I love you."
"It's time to go." Yokozawa informed them as he entered the room, followed shortly by Kirishima.
The two separated, Takano helped him off his lap and they rose to their feet. He approached Yokozawa and took his hand in order to formally shake it, while part of him distressed over whether he had the right to do so in the first place.
Yokozawa was having none of it, however. He grabbed Takano and pulled him into a tight hug, which they shared for a good moment before he was released.
He looked up at his old friend and stated confidently "...This time I'll make you proud, so take good care of Kirishima while I'm gone."
"I hope I don't have to see your face again for a very long time." he chided, clasping a hand over his shoulder proudly.
Kirishima added, holding onto Yokozawa, "That's right. Go and get out of my hair for a while!
He nodded, then turned back to Ritsu in order to kiss him one last time. They didn't separate much. Their foreheads were pressed together slightly and Takano cupped his face, whispering another "I love you", as his body began to deteriorate into brilliant, golden light.
This was the essence of his resurrection, supposed Ritsu. It was the beginning of his second chance and as proud as he was, he couldn't stop the tears from falling. "I love you too."
"Don't cry." he brushed a tear away from his eye with a soft smile, "I'll see you on the other side."
"...I know." he smiled back,
watched Takano fade away until he was gone
and then crumpled to his knees. His body was being overcome by the light as well, and he knew it was only a matter of time, thought to himself that he couldn't wait to see the kind of person that Takano would become.
"I think he'd make amazing books." Kirishima decided, "Don't you, Yokozawa?"
He had nothing to say as he too was biting back his own tears of relief.
Kirishima waved him off as the light had nearly enveloped his entire body by now, bidding farewell with a promise. "We'll definitely be looking out for you. You'll see!"
As he disappeared, he couldn't help but agree with Kirishima. Takano would definitely be the type to produce great books.
