Hi there to the strong ones who keep on reading this!

This fic is going to be completed in the next chapter, so… yeah, enjoy this one and let me know what you think of it.

Songs that inspired me: "Gravity", by Coldplay.

Note 1 – Please recall the notes made on previous chapters.

Note 2 – Sorry for the typos and small mistakes, English isn't my mother language!

Disclaimer: K Project and the mentioned songs don't belong to me, blablabla… this fic and ideas are mine, blablabla

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UNTIL THE DAY I DIE

You - Part II

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"Baby, it's been a long time coming,

Such a long, long time

And I can't stop running,

Such a long, long time…

Can you hear my heart beating?

Can you hear that sound?

'Cause I can't help thinking

And I won't stop now"

.

At first, he walked slowly. There was no need to rush, he had waited for so long that an hour or so wouldn't really make a difference. He was taking in his surroundings as he walked by the river, choosing to take the longer path instead of the shortcut that trespassed the city's heart.

The sky was incredibly blue on that day and the sun magnificently shined upon everything, including him.

He had his hands in his pockets and his posture was steady. He looked just like the strong and stubborn man he was, but his heart felt different. He could try to describe it as "being alive", but he had always felt emotions boiling up inside him, ready to burst out and incinerate everything, so those words to describe what he was feeling at the moment weren't really accurate. The feeling was quite similar, but it wasn't the same.

He felt… he felt clean.

It seemed as if he was only himself again. Just plain, old, reckless Mikoto, soothed by time and by the knowledge he had gained throughout the years. It was such a pure sensation it made him feel one with the skies above and the grass below. He breathed in the fresh air and closed his eyes for a brief moment. He felt blessed for being alive, for the very first time in his life.

He was finally clean and had been saved from his worst enemy – from the darkest side of himself. Thanks to that, he was going to do what he should have done ages ago.

His pace accelerated. He wanted to do it as soon as possible. His blood rushed at the thought of it. He was about to do some teenage crazy ass shit. And he felt thrilled about it.

The cars and the city movement soon replaced the calm surroundings but Mikoto didn't pay attention to it. He was so deep in his thoughts that he only understood he had arrived at his destination when he was about to enter the building.

He stopped and looked up at the modern and majestic piece of architecture. Strangely, he didn't impulsively throw himself inside as it was his habit. No. This time he had to do it correctly. He had left the hospital a week ago and he was trying to reconstruct his life from the aches. He need to do this right or else anything would matter. His eyebrows came together as he was trying to figuring out the best option. A voice inside him was trying not to laugh at the ridiculousness of the situation. Mikoto Suoh was thinking about his freacking options. Aa, he agreed. Enough of that crap.

Having somewhat sorted out what he would do, he entered the building.

It took no more than three seconds for all the heads inside the building's hall to turn towards him. He stood tall right in the middle of it, looking around, searching for the person he came to see. He didn't give a damn about all the astonished and scared faces looking at him, whispering and gossiping, wondering why the Hell would he come in so casually inside Scepter4's Headquarters. They wanted to immediately throw him out but were too afraid to come close. Eh, cowards.

After four minutes of eye search Mikoto was starting to lose his patience when he saw him on his eye corner. The Captain of Scepter4 left a room on the second floor and was surrounded by some Scepter4's highest ranks, including Fushimi and Awashima. For a second Mikoto tried to discover what did Kusanagi see in the blond expressionless woman but soon he heard Munakata talk and everything else became secondary.

- I agree with the proposed measures. Implement those which don't need the Gold King's consent. Awashima, schedule a meeting with him in order to know what are we going to do regarding the other measures.

He was good at it, Mikoto acknowledged only to himself.

- Yes Captain. – replied the woman – What about the new security cameras?

- We'll discuss that later, now I-

- Munakata!

The ground floor of Scepter4 was immerse on an uncomfortable and unsteady silence ever since Munakata had come into their eyesight, but once Mikoto had called out, the group on the second floor shut their mouths as well. He hadn't shout too loud or aggressively, it was just an usual call as the ones he used to do during Physical Education while they were playing basketball and he wanted Munakata to pass him the ball so that he could score. Nonetheless, everyone was perfectly aware of how powerful was Mikoto's voice and how compelling and demanding were his calls of attention.

Munakata approached the balcony of the second floor and looked down at the redhead. His expression was hard, but cool and composed. He had his full uniform on, including the head piece. Everyone in the building was aware of his power, intelligence and manly elegance, but it never ceased to amaze in times like this.

- Suoh. – he simply said. What was he doing there?

- I've been discharged from the Hospital a week ago. We need to talk. – Mikoto replied as he looked straight into Munakata's eyes, without taking his hands out of his pockets. He looked relaxed and despite the fact that he wore casual clothes and had his head raised, he looked just as strong and colossal as Munakata.

Well, it was pretty obvious they had to talk, thank you Suoh for stating the obvious. They had to, but it wasn't going to happen there. Munakata tried to avoid that conversation for a week and when he was starting to believe that the other man had understood that he needed some time, there he was, all high and mighty, in the middle of Scepter'4's hall.

- I am busy at the moment.

- I have a very private matter to discuss with you. I can do it in your office or I can do it right here and give something juicy for ya minions to chop on. – he talked slowly in order for the words to sink in – Up to you. – he finished with defiance.

Munakata's eyes carefully evaluated Suoh's resolution. What was his plan? Whatever that might be he felt in his bones the danger of it. Either way, his good sense was telling him he should accept the request but he just didn't want to let it go so easily. No one gave him instructions.

- Are you giving me an ultimatum in my own house, Suoh?

- I know where that is, and it's not here. – Mikoto answered feigning seriousness – It's much more comfortable.

The Captain kept his jaw closed with an unnecessary amount of force, trying to hide his expressive disbelief. What was this?

Everyone was suddenly exciting and waiting for more. This was unbelievable! The Red King came all the way down here to mock their Captain! But was he really mocking? He looked dead serious and the Blue King's reaction was suspiciously… quiet. What was next? They wanted to see. They were eager to know.

Munakata didn't need to see the bomb drop in Headquarters, which he believed was about to happen if he didn't manage to do damage control. Mikoto could have resigned but he still had a King's soul, he wasn't going to let anyone stain or shame his name.

- My office. – he ended up giving the order – Now.

Mikoto's prideful smirk washed his face as Munakata turned his back at him. He walked to the stairs submersed in grand thoughts and in no time he had entered the Captain's office. It was exactly as he remembered it. Everything was in its place and extremely neat. The only difference he could spot was the growing amount of framed puzzles on one wall, depicturing numerous battle scenes of famous paintings throughout History.

Munakata went inside first and didn't bother to welcome him in. He positioned himself behind his desk and took off his head piece, trying to distract himself with usual habits. The great window behind him was welcoming in the sun which bathed the room and turned everything brighter, including Munakata's dark hair. It looked even more gorgeous with that bluish tone.

Mikoto waited on the other side of the desk for an invitation to seat which didn't come. Munakata just looked at him straight in the eye, full of determination and strength. That man was outrageously hypnotizing.

- So?

Mikoto was silent for a few seconds and then his expression change for a thoughtful one. Munakata's expression was blank but he was curious and slightly surprised. What was going on inside that unorganized head?

- I… well, I've been thinking a lot lately.

Munakata killed a threatening spiteful scorn which was trying to surface. Suoh had been thinking. Imagine that.

- Listen, what happened at the Hospital…

- Shut it. I know you meant it.

- I did. – Munakata confessed but his expression kept unchanged – but we have too many things in our lives preventing us from going back.

- I'm no longer a King.

- And I won't stop being one – the other man replied with no room for discussion. He wasn't going to give up on something he excelled. At first he was full of doubts, that was true, but Kusanagi gave him the first push and after a while he started walking by himself. He started saving people as he made his journey. Despite that, he had been ready to give up on Kingship twice: before even accepting it and when he didn't know if Mikoto was going to live or to die. If he died, he wouldn't be able to maintain the required amount of sanity to do his job. However, that didn't happen and even if he was willing to correct some past errors, he still wanted to move onwards. He still wanted to be the Captain.

- I know – Mikoto reassured, his golden eyes appearing to be even more gold because of the light – I'd never ask you to do it. It's just that so many fucked up things have happened since we became Kings… My almost death made me realize that that was not how I really wanted to go. I didn't want to go knowing you… - he hesitated, not wanting to sound weak but if he was going to pull this through and until the end there was no room for being a prideful ass – hated me, knowing you'd never forgive me for obliging you to… – he could not say it, but never turned his head away from Munakata's gaze.

- You know I can't forgive you.

- Aa – Mikoto agreed in that unique way which always mixed up Munakata's feelings. – I'm aware of that. – he passed a hand through his messy hair, a gesture he had acquire to show he was troubled or uncertain – I came here for another thing.

- And what might that be?

- I'm starting over. I won't abandon HOMRA, but things will be as different as I can make them.

Munakata shifted. That was sounding like a weird goodbye. Was Mikoto about to leave the country?

The other man moved from his standing position and went over to the Captain's side. He came too close, but didn't take out his hands from his pockets, maybe for precaution and to prevent him from doing something stupid, but not at all regretful.

- I just wanted to tell ya that… - he trailed off, without finishing the sentence. Munakata was feeling uneasy.

- Speak – he demanded, surprising both men in the room. He wanted it over, if Mikoto was running away then he wanted it to be over as soon as possible. He didn't want to see any longer his troubled expression or hear nothing further. He could try to understand how important it might be for him to get away and start anew for a while but something inside him was feeling betrayed and very much irritated. He didn't want him to insist on what happened in the Hospital but he didn't want to hear his saying he was going to leave. What a difficult man to please…

- Kusanagi is going to leave HOMRA in my hands. – he said, pausing and them proceeding fast – I want you to be part of my new beginning. I want us to start over. I know we can do it.

Munakata blinked.

- What? – his eyebrows furrowed. He failed to keep up with the twist in their conversation.

- I'll wait for you.

- Suoh…

The redhead finally took his hands out of his pockets, giving in to temptation, and placed them on each side of Munakata's neck, holding him still and looking deep into his icy eyes. He needed to understand this. He needed to understand that nothing compared to him and that Mikoto was willing to do whatever it takes to have the future he wanted.

- I love you. – he said.

.

And then I looked up at the sun

And I could see

Oh the way that gravity pulls on you and me

And then I looked up at the sky

And saw the sun

And the way that gravity pushes on everyone…

On everyone.

.

As soon as Munakata felt their closeness and looked deep into Mikoto's golden eyes he understood. They could never get rid of each other. Even if they were no longer together or even if they never saw each other's face again, their essence ran deep beneath their skin. He was never going to be able to wash Mikoto off of his skin and off of his being. It was like the Universe had linked them to one another despite all the things it had thrown against them in order to separate them.

As soon as Mikoto saw his own reflection inside those pale blue eyes, he knew he'd never be able to let go. It was true that Reisi was the first one to turn his back and go, leaving him without any kind of explanation until the very moment he learnt he was going to become a King as well, but even then he wanted to reach out and bring him back. There was nothing that ranked higher for him than the other man and it destroyed him to see that the same was not true for Reisi. If what they had was that unimportant, then nothing else was either. Maybe that's the reason he became even more reckless and ruthless at times. He didn't become fully the man he wanted to be, though he had never failed to his comrades. He never became the man he wanted to be because something equally as important as his comrades was missing. Without Reisi he was an incontrollable fire, capable of burning it all down, until not even ashes were left behind. He knew that no longer being a King wasn't enough to tame him if we wished to burst out.

It was what it was.

He wanted a fresh beginning, a peaceful life, but he'd never turn his back to a cause worth fighting for – that was part of his nature, so it wasn't a part of the equation. However, he was willing to be more cautious. He wanted to actually live as well.

And for that, he needed Reisi.

The other man raised his hands and placed them on Mikoto's wrists, his eyes having a gentler vibration. He wasn't ready and he wasn't able to forget it… yet. He was bruised and anger filled him every time he thought about their past wrong doings but… he wasn't going to surpass it and get stronger by himself. He had already tried that and despite the fact that it indeed made him tougher, it made him feel hollow as well. He had become the man he wanted to be but there was always something lacking… his surroundings, his days, his feelings felt cooler, somehow less coloured. He lacked the sun.

His sun.

- I love you – Mikoto repeated, reassuringly – I guess I always will, 'til the very end.

The corner of Reisi's mouth curled slightly in a tiny and contained smile. And then, he unconsciously leaned in and their lips touched.

Sparkles exploded in his stomach. He held Mikoto's wrists tighter, as if that would bring them closer to each other. It did the trick because after the first two seconds their kiss got deeper and rougher. The passion between them was palpable and they were now holding each other as if their lives depended on it, which was somewhat true. None of them cared anymore. Fuck logical considerations, past mistakes and painful memories of each other being as cruel as possible because they were deeply bruised. Fuck what they had said to hurt each other and their countless fights. Fuck their lies, who they were, their duties, their surroundings, their regrets. Fuck everything.

Because as the kiss gave place to another one and another one, Reisi found himself realizing that what they felt for each other was colossal. Stronger than anything else, even when they were apart. It was similar to concrete… no, it was similar to Gravity. Perhaps even stronger than Gravity, since he'd certainly still have feelings for Mikoto in Space. He would have feelings for him until the very end.

- I love you. – he interrupted the kiss, feeling the urgency of saying it out loud to confirm this was not a dream – I love you… - and Mikoto shut him up with another heated demonstration of love.

-w-