XXI: Round and Round
They chased each other round and round, just like the sun and moon.
"Do they fit alright?"
Teito finished adjusting the collar of his black robes and smiled at Castor, his expression calm. "They do. Thank you."
The priest returned the smile, but there was concern in his eyes. "Teito… what is it you aren't telling us?"
The young man scooped up Mikage and placed the little creature on his shoulder, then walked by Castor, lightly tapping the priest's shoulder on the way by. "Nothing. It's alright."
"Alright….?"
Was it really? He watched the youth head off down the hall worriedly. Those robes, he had requested them that morning. The black robes of mourning, that the first Teito had worn.
Why?
Teito wandered through the church slowly, talking briefly with everyone he met, a small smile on his lips, absentmindedly petting Mikage's head as he went.
As soon as he woke that morning, he had been visited with the feeling that something was about to start. And also, something about to end. Two lives that had been colliding were about to be resolved.
And so, as a tribute to the Other Me.
He came to stand under the magnificent tree from his first day here, and smiled, resting his palm against the smooth trunk. "Hello Bastien," he murmured. Perhaps it was his imagination that the leaves rustled in response.
He felt so peaceful today. Completely at ease. As the faint breeze rustled his hair and the black robes, he pressed his back against the tree and sighed, looking up at the dancing flecks of light that broke through the overlapping branches overhead. Then he closed his eyes.
Have you decided then, my Master?
I have. He smiled softly, no hesitation in his gaze.
Then. The crimson-eyed being held out his hand.
Teito's consciousness took hold of it, and wavered slightly as Mikhail's image faded, replaced with a shimmering crimson orb. The gem that always appeared in his hand, pure and shining. It sank into his 'self' slowly, and a cold rush ran through him.
He opened his eyes slowly. They glinted like gems, side by side, the one pure as emerald, one red as blood.
Everything was about to end again. He knew that with absolute certainty. He needed the power that the Eye of Mikhail gave him, but was not going to give up his body to him again. This was his story. His battle. When Ayanami came back, he was going to be the one to face him, just like before.
So they had merged.
It was an unstable existence, they were not truly one, but neither were they seperate. Coexisting, sharing a soul, and a mind. He could feel knowledge that he had no right or reason to have slipping into his mind even as he stood there.
It made little sense. But it was all he could do. He hadn't had the chance to train and grow stronger as the Teito before him had, all he could do was rely on this power, that had somehow stayed with him despite his new life, new form.
Teito brought his clenched right hand to his chest, lightly touching the back of it. Father…
This time, perhaps, he would be able to finish things properly