Ok Guys, surprise! I'm sick so Tadaaaa! New unexpected chappy. It's the longest in this whole fic. 9200 woooordddss. Without my comment. I'm going to save everything else i have to say for the end's comment. You'll see the reason soon.
Chapter 26- The thirtieth day
/Ed/
He ripped a portal to the Infernal Furnace again. He wanted to fix his armor and get some sleep. Then he would be ready. Ready to hit the universe with his final strike.
He woke up into his bed in the Infernal Furnace. He grinned. Today was the day. Finally all his suffering would have ended. The pain would have gone away as well as all the imperfections in the whole universe. Everyone would have died and the Light would have created a new universe, perfect for everyone, from the ashes of the previous one. He jumped off of the bed on his feet. He took his armor, which was laying against a wall, and wore it on the black t-shirt and on the black jeans he had on in that moment. The boots first, followed by the greaves and the thigpieces. Then his preciously decorated chestplate and shoulderpieces. He spread his wings and stretched the black feathery limbs. Some of the bones in those crackled, emitting a grim sound. Then came the armpieces and the black gauntlets. He clenched his fists, the sound of the metal joints spinning and rotating echoed in the air through the hollow place. Finally he got his elm. He put it on and his black locks were imprisoned and encased into the cold cage of the black, lifeless metal. He was ready. His weapons materialized around his waist, along with the brown leather waistband. He walked to a nearby mirror and looked at the reflected image of himself. He looked just as scary as he wanted. A black raging warrior, held by no boundaries, willing just to destroy everything. Terrifying. Deadly. Perfect.
He ripped a portal to Kiba's world into the air. 'Kiba' the name echoed painfully into his mind. Only thinking to his former lover caused his body to stiffen, a wave of pain released with a jolt into his body and his mind. He needed this to end as soon as possible. The confining seal had lost part of his strength during these days. But he did not bother himself with rebuilding it. He wouldn't need it anymore anyways so…
He took a step forward and disappeared into the Void once more.
/Kiba/
Kiba sighed, uncertain whether he should have been relieved or worried. He decided that he would decide it the next day as he got under the blankets.
Despite the Supreme Guardian's advice, Kiba couldn't sleep as much as he needed to. He woke up after a mere five hours tormented sleep. Nightmares haunted his dreams the whole time and when he finally opened his eyes he didn't feel rested at all. So he just sat on the couch, waiting for the sun to rise. Waiting for the Supreme Guardian to pick him up. Waiting for Ed to show up. Meanwhile he sunk deep in thoughts, pictures of Ed running through his mind as he challenged himself to remember every detail of Ed's body and personality. It wasn't that much of a challenge: he could easily recall everything Ed said about himself in the time they were together, as well as every defined muscle of the other boy's body.
He missed him. He missed him a lot. The way he smiled, the way he talked, his wild yet delicate scent, that shiny sparkle in his eyes every time that their hands touched, the soft feeling of his lips against his own. He remembered everything perfectly. He needed those things to be happy. He had to gain him back.
*Knock, knock*
Suddenly drawn from his trail of thoughts, Kiba jumped to his feet and opened the door hastily. The Supreme Guardian stood outside and gestured for him to come. As they started to walk, Kiba following the other, the old Guardian asked "Did you have a proper breakfast? It's important to be at your best."
"Do, I didn't" Kiba answered as he was handed a little leather bag. He opened it. Inside there was a little sphere, that looked like a fruit. "Is this a cherry or a blueberry?"
"Nope" the boy was answered by the other one "It's a Guardian nut. Yes, ah ah, very funny. Eat it"
Kiba did as he was told, still giggling under his breath. As he chewed the strange thing, though, he felt his body suddenly throbbing with energy and ready to fight. All the tiredness from the almost restless night was gone. "I feel awesome!" he exclaimed "What is this thing"
"It's a particular type of berry that I cultivate personally. Usually it just tastes good, but I imbued that one with a little part of my energy to pass it to you. I would have liked to give you more, but if Edward notices the energy lack he will be suspicious and the plan will be screwed up."
"Let's go find him!" the brunette exclaimed.
"Yes, I have an idea about where he could open the new portal" the old Guardian said.
In the same instant in which the Guardian stopped speaking, the earth shook with a soft quake, so soft that probably only the animals and Kiba's canine perceptions felt it.
"I think that he just arrived in this world" Kiba stated, worriedly
"You are completely right kid, let's go!"
They started rushing towards the epicenter of the weak earthquake.
/Universal Pov/
When the two guards that were on duty just outside the main gates of Konoha, already oblivious of what happened one month before, saw the air slowly rip apart into a hole right in front of them, their first instinct was to girly scream and run away in complete terror to the Hokage's tower. However they were honorable ninjas, they could not neglect their duties. So they remained right where they were an readied their weapons, ready to jump at the neck of any possible enemy, but, when out of the hole stepped a warrior with black wings, wearing a black armor, all the determination inside them vanished as they turned their back and fled indecorously.
The black warrior, seeing the reaction that only the sight of him caused to the others, grinned. "They run like rabbits. If they are not going to put up a fight, I'm not going to have the fun I expected. That's a pity" he muttered, sighing. He lifted his hand and a green sphere suddenly surrounded the area around the village's walls and even underground. Now the whole village was trapped, for anyone that even tried to touch the barrier would die instantly. No one was now able to escape from his fury. Slowly the warrior entered the village stomping his feet step by step. Making his way towards Konoha square, menacingly glaring at anyone, making his purpose to kill explicit, he hoped that someone would get in his way. But no one did. 'What a bunch of cowards!' he thought 'They can't even stand for their lives against the one that wants to take it'. However he attacked no one. It wasn't the time, yet.
As the warrior continued to slowly walk his way, meanwhile Kiba and the Supreme Guardian split apart, making a small change in the plan. They wanted to involve as much ninjas as possible to make it easier to break the gem that sealed Ed's love. So, while the Supreme Guardian went to intercept and fight Ed, trying to hold him back for some time, Kiba went to the Hokage's tower to explain the situation and the plan they had. However he decided to keep almost everything secret. He just told them that a mysterious attacker had come and that he had been told that the only way to stop him was to destroy the golden gem on his chest.
"Well, that explains why two of the most brave guards of this village came here to me, crying like children about some monster that was attacking us." She said pointing to a corner of the room where the two guards were nestling, then she lowered her voice in a way that only the boy could hear her "Is it Ed?"
"Probably" Kiba muttered
"Then you'll have to stay hidden until the very end of this battle" she ordered to the boy.
"What?!" the brunette exclaimed "No way. You don't understand, Tsunade. If he is him, I have to be there!"
"Absolutely not!" the woman shouted, angrily "It's you that cannot understand, Kiba! If he is Ed, he'll aim to you for sure. I don't need you to be a mobile target that we have to look after. I need you to stay hidden and safe"
"But I…"
Tsunade slammed her fist on the desk, breaking it in two halves and roared at the poor boy, scaring him shitless.
But when the fear faded, Kiba just turned around and ran away, planning to watch the fight from not far away to enter it when it was needed.
Meanwhile in Konoha's square, the last two living Guardians were facing each other. However the swords were still in their own sheath as they were fighting a war of glares and willpower.
"Athrag" the black armored man said "I didn't expect you to come here and face me personally, I thought you were smarter than this. I thought you had a plan"
"Maybe I'm just stupid. Maybe I have a plan and you don't know that" the other replied "Or maybe not. The only thing that matters now is that after all the efforts I put in teaching you the good way of being a Guardian, you failed to learn the most important lesson. Never the feelings have to interfere with the work of a Guardian. You let me down" Athrag was trying to mess with the other's emotion, pressing on the fact that, in the short period in which Edward had been his student, the boy apologized a lot for letting him down if he failed at his first attempt at doing something. Messing with Ed's mind was the easiest way to cause the other's feelings to loosen up from the chains the boy built. And so far it was working fairly well. He was getting angry. "After all the love I gave you, Edward, how can you fail like this?" he continued, using an upset voice "I'm truly disappointed at you! Maybe I was wrong. Instead of love I should have given you some good ol' slaps. When push comes to shove, they are always useful. Surely you didn't deserve that love."
"Shut your fucking mouth, you pitiful old fool" The other shouted "You know nothing about me! I'm not even Edward anymore, neither Raiser! My name is Townom, warrior of the Armageddon! And don't you dare talking to me about feelings that should never get in the way. If you are here, talking to me, it's because you care about me so much that, instead of try to banish me like you should, you are trying to talk me out of this. You are trying to persuade me like you always did. And under different circumstances and with a few more time you would have surely succeeded in your purposes. But not now. Not now that I've seen the truth behind all the lies and the illusion that you Guardians created. I dissipated the veil that covered the corruption in the universe. I'm going to cause the end of all this. I'm going to cleanse this universe by burning it into ashes from which the Light will create a new perfect world. Where no one has to suffer. And now prepare to die!"
"Fine Edward" the Supreme Guardian stated, kneeling in front of the other "Take my life and my soul and accomplish your goal. But remember that now you hold the fate of every living being in your hands. It's your decision whether to destroy it or try and make it better. I surrender."
The black armored Guardian blinked in disbelief. 'What the hell?' he thought ' No way he is doing this for real'. "Why are you surrendering without even fighting, Athrag?" he shouted, a glimpse of uncertainty in his voice.
"Because I stand no chance against you and I do not wish my suffering to be any longer. So I'd like to end it painlessly and instantly" the Supreme Guardian answered
The black armored Guardian lifted his hand into the air, with doubt piercing in his mind, but all the worries he had vanished when the soul of the Supreme Guardian floated into the gem on his forehead without any type of resistance. He didn't notice the little crack right in the middle of the golden gem above his chest.
He allowed himself to laugh a little at his dead enemy. Then he put a hand on his throat, amplifying his voice with his energy. When he spoke it echoed in the whole village. "Konoha's ninja" he said "Gather in Konoha's square right now, unless you want me to pulverize the whole village"
A few minutes later the piazza was crowded with almost ten thousand shinobis. Everyone was looking at the black armored warrior both in terror and disbelief. Most of them already forgot everything, just like the guards. However, Tsunade did not. As she walked towards the warrior, that stood in the centre of the square, completely surrounded, she gestured for the crowd not to attack the enemy. When she came face to face with the warrior she got a better look at him and suspicion sneaked into her mind. 'After all' she thought 'A month has passed'. "Who are you?" she asked
The warrior seemed to frown, deeply offended by the question. He, however, answered the woman. "How comes that you can't recognize me, Tsunade? I know that I may look a bit different, but I'm still myself". With that he took off his elm, which instantly vanished in the air. Tsunade and a good half of the ninjas gulped, eyes widened in terror, as they took in the face of their opponent. "After all" he continued, grinning "I told you that I'd be back in a month."
"So you are Edward, the Guardian" she stated "You know, threatening our lives is not a good way of being a Guardian. Guarding is different from killing, you know?"
"Shut up! I don't have to explain my reasons to you, old mortal bitch" he replied "This universe is filthy and corrupted. It is a failure. I'll delete it and everything will be created again in a better way. A perfect way. And don't call me Edward anymore. I'm not that boy anymore."
"And why should we let you do this without even trying to stop you?"
"Because you weaklings stand no chance against a powerful being like me. I just came back to have a little… revenge" he snapped his fingers and chains emerged from the ground once more, two for each ninja standing in the square. The chains pinned everyone on their knees, to the ground, just like one month before. Everyone was again kneeling before their enemy.
"Now… where is he?" the warrior asked "I will see him suffer, as you will. Both see him suffering and suffer yourself I mean"
"Where is who?" Tsunade, which was pinned to the ground too, asked, faking a confused expression.
"Sto pretending you don't know who I'm talking about, old hag." Ed snapped, angrily "That bastard dog-boy"
Tsunade's eyes widened in worry. Her assumption was right. "You mean Kiba Inuzuka, right?" she asked.
"You mean Kiba Inuzuka, right?" the warrior repeated in a high-pitched voice, mocking her, then he continued, talking normally "Of course I mean him, whore. I can't sense his chakra trapped in my chains along with everyone else's. Where is he?"
"I'm right here Ed" shouted a voice from behind the black armored warrior, which turned to see Kiba Inuzuka, with a sly smirk on his face, standing on a bench to be more visible. Only by seeing him, the golden gem on Ed's armor shone brightly for a brief instant, so brief that only the brunette's eyes managed to catch a glimpse of that light. The boy's smirk grew wider at the, seeing Ed's reaction.
"So Ed… what have you been doing during this month? Destroying worlds, killing Guardians, lying about your reasons…"
A perplexed look went on the Guardian's face as he wondered what could those words mean.
Kiba used the time that his cryptic sentence gave him, distracting his opponent, and got in a battle stance. He jumped and, shouting "Inuzuka style: fang over fang" he started to spin on himself as he shot forward in the air, just like a projectile, aiming for the little gem that represented his only hope, the only hope he had of gaining Ed's love back.
The armored warrior stood still, not frightened at all by the other boy's attack. 'He thinks that he can hurt me with that? Fool!' he thought 'I'll show him the pain that he caused me and then kill him. Brutally!'. He steadied his legs, ready to absorb the impact as Kiba continued to spin towards him. The attack hit him with all his might, however Ed didn't move even a single step back, unharmed by the weak and worthless attempt of the other boy. The black armored warrior started to laugh uncontrollably and in his voice a glimpse of madness could be clearly heard, resounding.
"You really thought" the warrior said, still chuckling "That a simple spinning attack could have stopped me? That thing was as useless as emotions. They are somewhat similar too. My strength can easily win over them both, weak as they are. He grabbed Kiba's arm with one hand and violently threw him aside, smashing him on the hard ground. Various gasps echoed through the crowd of ninjas all around them.
"Leave him alone, stop it" a feminine voice shouted from somewhere.
'Probably Hinata' the brunette thought. He felt really sore from the smash of the impact with the ground, but he didn't mind at all. All he could think of was that when he hit Ed, he heard a little crack, so soft that probably only his heightened senses had heard it. Lifting his head from the soil he looked at his opponent and he felt like smiling: a small grid of cracks was now covering the golden gem completely and the liquid inside it seemed to be furiously moving. Also he felt the red gem, hidden under his shirt, glow brightly against his chest, almost as it felt the rest of Ed's heart trying to release the sealed love. 'Maybe after all, I still have a chance of winning this fight' he thought hopingly 'Maybe he will forgive me for what I said and will love me again.'
As the brunette was lost in his thoughts, the warrior followed his gaze and saw what Kiba was looking at. A wave of rage hit him. How could he know? No, he couldn't have known, no one knew about this, he never told anything to anyone about his plan. All the Guardians were dead so no one could have told him about the gem. It was impossible that that annoying boy knew. 'No, it can't be. I'm fantasizing. It was just a lucky hit. However, considering that I'll never let him hit me again, I shouldn't be worried' he thought. "Kiba why would you do such a useless thing?" he asked calmly "You could have had a plan"
"Meh" Kiba scoffed " You know, sometimes you just feel the urge to act without thinking, no matter what. Kinda like you are doing now". A raging growl erupted from Ed's throat, evidently meant to scare the brunette. But the boy just laughed, derogatory, at the menace. It only meant that the release of Ed's feelings was nearer.
"Do not even try to understand me, Inuzuka" the warrior hissed angrily, infusing every world with as much disgust, despise and hatred as possible "Your little mortal brain can't even imagine the deepness of my thoughts. You wouldn't understand"
"Maybe you are right" the brunette replied, still trying to stand from the ground "But, even though I can't understand your plan, I can understand that it's all because of this strange and evil behavior of yours if I couldn't develop real feelings towards you. It's all your fault"
A shade of red stained the black color of the warrior's wings, like blood droplets on a thick feathery curtain. The warrior, his eyes flooded with rage and pain, the gem on his chest trembling, screamed loudly, probably breaking a pair or two of eardrums. "Shut up! Liar, liar!" he yelled his voice was somewhat desperate "You just wanted to cause me to suffer, as everyone else always did. But this time I shall make you pay. You shall feel the same pain I felt and suffer. You'll suffer so much that you'll be begging for me to kill you!"
With that the armored warrior's hand was lifted in the air and clenched, only the index remained lifted and it was pointing at the brunette. From that digit a red ray was shot and hit Kiba's head, weaving a red ethereal thread between Ed and Kiba. When the string grew solid enough, the warrior poured a flow of his pain into it, making it go into the brunette's mind. Said boy shrieked, pain spiking every single particle of his being. He held his head, where the pain seemed to be stronger, as he dropped to the ground again and started to roll, screaming and kicking the air. "S-stop!" he managed to stutter in between his cries. The pain he felt… it was a type of pain similar to the one he felt in that fatal night in which Ed lost his love for him. The same pain that during those days tore him soul apart from the inside. The same searing pain that, twelve days earlier, burned through his body, sticking to his soul and turned it into a pile of hot ashes, blown away by the wind. It felt like thousands of spikes were piercing into his heart, shredding it and ravaging it. The epitome of pain. The pain that came from losing someone you love. He begged the torturer to stop his terrible ministrations. In vain. The more he screamed, kicked and begged, the more pain managed to flow into the connection, sliding into his body.
Then, all of a sudden, Kiba felt something throb at the edge of his mind. He had only enough time to wonder what it was, though, before being swallowed back into his own mind, into the deepest recesses of it, where his memories lied.
There were lots of frames and pictures, each of them representing an important memory or one he cherished. He observed his life, literally flowing before his eyes. He, then, focused on a picture in particular, which showed him, talking to Hinata, that day of five years before. Without any warnings the figures in the picture began to move and talk, just like in a movie.
He leaned forward and kissed Hinata. When he got her lips in his' , he checked his body for any type of reaction. Nothing. Their lips parted. Hinata was now angry looking. "Explain. Now." She whispered, unnaturally calm voice "Or I will slap you so hard that I may break your jaw."
Kiba unexpectedly began to shake and hugged Hinata. He began to cry and whimper in her shoulder. "Hinata" he whispered sobbing "Hinata I *sigh* I just got the final proof that *sob* that I *sob* I am *sigh* gay" he lowered his voice while saying the last word as if it was a sin even to pronounce that. "I am gay" he sobbed again in her shoulder. The tears began to flow faster from his eyes. He pressed his forehead into the friend's shoulder deeper, wetting her shirt. His shoulder began to shake harder.
Hinata started to per his friend's hair, trying to speak to him in the meantime. "It's alright Kiba, it's alright." She said "You don't have to cry because you are gay. Got it? You don't have to! Why are you crying? Tell me."Her voice was soft, she was trying to soothe the other's pain.
"I'm afraid. *sob* Afraid that *sigh* that * sigh* that no one will *sob* will accept me for who I am *sob*." He sobbed more and more, trying to drag the fear out of himself. Hinata kept on petting his hairs soothingly.
Eventually she spoke again. "Kiba listen to me" she whispered "I really don't give a buck if you are gay or if you are heterosexual. I wouldn't care even if you were dendrophiliac {note of the author: transliterated from ancient Greek. It means someone who is sexually attracted to trees}. What matters to me is that you are yourself. As long as you are what you feel like to be, I'm ok and happy with that."
"Thanks. Even if mum will never accept it, at least you do" he sobbed louder in her shoulder. Then he whispered again "No one has to know unless I say it. Promise?"
"Promise. Now Kiba cry. Cry until all the pain will be gone away. You need it". Even though she felt the wetness of the tears on her skin by now, she knew that Kiba was in need for help and she couldn't deny it.
He heard a despising laugh coming from behind. When he turned around, he saw Ed, in his black armor, evil grin on his face.
"Pathetic" the Guardian commented looking at the ongoing memory "It shows perfectly how weak and fragile you are in reality.
The brunette took a step back, surprised by the sudden intrusion. "I-I" he stuttered "This is private, Ed!"
"I don't care" the other replied " And I wasn't looking for this anyways. Where did you hide the memories of our time together?"
"I didn't hide anything! They are safe and sound, right here!" Kiba yelled, pointing to his temple
"Calm down, why are you screaming like this? There is no need to be so touchy and screamy. No noise can muffle your words here, it's just you and me". Nostalgia could be heard very well into Ed's voice as it pierced into his brown pupils. The golden gem started to glow on Ed's chest.
'Yes!' Kiba happily screamed into his mind, his mental voice so much like a schoolgirl in love 'He is coming back! We are almost there! Just a bit more. I can win him back again!'
"You know Kiba" Ed said "Originally I was planning on extracting every ounce of shame, pain and fear out of your memories and then, after using them to torture you to the state of mind that I like to call 'nearly madness', I'd have taken a last peek into the depths of your mind, stolen your most treasured secrets and spilled them in front of everyone. Then, after you had your share of pain and shame and embarrass and loathing from your friends, I'd kill you. But today I feel generous, almost merciful I'd say. So, in memory of the good ol' times together, I think I'll just go for the physical pain instead of the mental one before killing you"
"Oh, thank you" Kiba spat out, voice harsh and sarcastic "Now my perspective for the future is much more bright!"
"You are welcome" the other replied, coldly chuckling. Many pictures were floating around them. "Amazing isn't it?" the Guardian stated, looking at the pictures around them "I invented that spell I'm using on you just to see what this place was like. A human brain is amazing, isn't it?"
"You invented that spell just for me, Edward?" Kiba asked, shocked
"Yes. You should be honored that I invented a new way to torture you. It allows me to see deep inside someone. And I wanted to see what you were really like before killing you" the Guardian stated.
A new feeling popped up into Kiba's chest, just like a bubble. He didn't recognize it instantly though
"Amazing isn't it, Kiba?" The Guardian said again in awe "Your brain is the most amazing thing I've ever seen. I'm almost sorry that I'll have to kill you"
Suddenly Kiba realized that what he felt was hope. Sweet, white, warm helpful hope. And it came with a great gift too, for the brunette now had a plan. "Edward" he called, trying to sound as mellifluous as possible
"Don't call me that, Kiba. I'm not that boy anymore!" the other replied angrily, turning to face his opponent.
Little did he understand of what happened next. He just found himself trapped and tied into strong metal chains as Kiba was running away, out of his own mind.
The brunette slipped out of that strange place and opened his eyes again to find himself in pain and screaming on the ground once more. But now there was no time to waste. It was a matter of minutes before Ed could break free from his little trick. He focused on the thick red string that latched his mind to Ed's and, helping himself with the red gem on his chest, he slipped inside it, his consciousness flowed reverse through the link deep into Ed's mind. It was dark. Not the usual darkness the night brought with her, though. No. It was almost solid. A solid floor and big walls of pure darkness. That was Ed's mind. Kiba began to wander around, seemingly aimlessly. He soon found himself stepping in water. A lake, it was. A lake of a deep and dark shade of blue. He was somewhere on the shore. But there was something shiny in the centre of the lake, most probably on an island. The brunette didn't hesitate for even a second and threw himself in the water, swimming towards the shine. He soon reached the island in the centre of the lake. In the very centre of it there was a statue. The same golden statue from his dreams. The only difference was that it was chained, now and it was kneeling on the ground. Looking carefully, Kiba saw that the chains were a bit too loose to hold someone completely still. He approached the golden statue and… wait it was breathing and it opened its eyes when Kiba neared. It was not a statue. It was a living being. It was a golden Ed!
"K-Kiba?" he stuttered, shocked at the sight "Is that really you or I'm dreaming again?"
"It's me" the boy answered "But what are you? I remember you from that dream but I didn't understand what you said to me that time"
"I'm Ed's love. Well, the personification of it. Can't you see I'm sealed? I'm a prisoner of my own pain" the statue-Ed spoke slowly
"Yes, I can see that. Listen I have a plan to set you free. Where are your memories of m and you together? Where do you keep them?" the brunette asked
"I treasure and guard them myself. I'll give them to you, so that you can awake them into my brain. But wait… I have to say something important to you. Kiba I wanted to… apologize and…"
"Listen: this is not the moment for this things, ok? We will be able to talk later, ok? Now I need those memories. Hand them, please"
Suddenly a little satchel appeared in Kiba's hand. It was made of a fine, brown leather and was closed by a brown string, wrapped around it.
"Open it and the memories will be unleashed into my mind again" the statue said. "Kiba… I…" the statue tried to add something but it was swallowed into the ground.
The Ed Kiba had trapped into his own mind appeared in front of him, evilly grinning. "Nice trick, little brat!" he shouted "Pity it was your last!". With that he drew his sword and dashed forward, towards the brunette, ready to hit him with a hew.
Kiba unlatched the satchel.
Instantly the space around them became crowded with frames similar to the ones in Kiba's mind. In every one of them there was a picture of every moment the two boys spent together.
The warrior fell to his knees, holding his head and screaming in what seemed like pain. "Make this stop!" he screamed "Send them away! I don't want to remember! I can't stand looking at them!"
Kiba chuckled. Yes, his plan was working very well. He pulled himself out of Ed's mind, going through the same red string he used to get inside it. The connection was now weak and trembling, almost inexistent. It was rapidly collapsing around Kiba's mind. The boy made it to his own brain barely in time to open his eyes and see the red string connecting he and Ed vanish in the air. In that moment the Guardian fell on the ground, just like in his mind, a scream full of sorrow exiting his mouth.
"What have you done Inuzuka?" he yelled "I don't want to remember those things!"
"But you should really do it!" the other replied, husky voice for the time he had spent screeching before "Weren't they good times, Ed? Are you trying to deny that you cherished those moments?"
"I never cherished those memories! I hate them with my entire heart and the whole of my mind! Now make them stop!" he yelled, a shade of begging slipping inside his voice as he spoke.
"Nope" Kiba stated " I don't think I feel like doing so. Instead why don't you stop whining like a girl and complaining and enjoy, watching them as they run through your mind one by one?"
The only answer was a louder cry from the warrior.
Hearing that desperate screech, Kiba had to stop himself from running and kneeling next to Ed to hug him and comfort him. He stood still, a blank expression on his face. The warrior was, meanwhile, trying to get up on his feet. That allowed Kiba to see that the golden gem was now almost shattered. It was approaching the breaking point. He felt joy blossom inside him. Maybe there was a real chance for him. It was time for one final, devastating blow to Ed's fragile mind. Then the love would be free.
"You know, Edward this is kind of funny" Kiba said, talking sluggishly and making every word sink into Ed's ear, making his way to the Guardian's very soul, making said warrior squirm at every sound that came from Kiba's mouth.
"S-stop" the Guardian begged "Don't call me that. I'm not Edward anymore!"
Kiba completely ignored him. "But the funniest part" he continued smiling "Is that for a brief single instant I really felt love for you. But then I saw you for the monster you are. It's your fault if I don't love you. It's just because you are wrong, not me. It's all your fault."
With that last word, the gem on Ed's chest imploded with a sound of shattered glass, crashing onto itself. Trails of a golden gas shot through the air, drawing ribbons of a shiny golden color, enlightening the whole square as they moved, before they converged back on Ed and hit him in the chest, imbuing the Guardian's soul with the power of love again. Their essence slowly began to take over again, making all the other feelings crumble before their overwhelming strength.
Kiba both internally cursed and externally exulted. He cursed because he remembered it would have taken a minute for love to bring some sense back into Ed's head. Yet he was happy because, finally, Ed's love had been released. But it wasn't time to smile yet. The battle was still ongoing. Rain started to pour lightly from the sky.
As the golden ribbons disappeared, Ed started to pant heavily, his gaze to the ground. When he lifted his head, his eyes were ignited with searing rage. He accusingly pointed at the brunette with his index as he yelled "You fool! Do you know what have you done?"
"Yes Ed. I know it perfectly. I just saved both your life and your soul. You are welcome" The brunette answered matter-of-factly
"No, I hate my life and my soul, sore and dirty as it is, would be better off consumed in the Void. I'll tell you what you have done: you condemned me to an eternal torment" He drew his sword while saying this and added "But if you die, I can still be saved".
The warrior jumped forward and dashed towards Kiba once more, mimicking the movements he did into his mind before, but this time it was different for the brunette. Because this time Kiba had no magic satchels full of memories that could stop Ed and the incoming blow was too fast to dodge. No way he could parry a hit from the golden sword of a Guardian. He was dead. He failed. He was so near to victory, yet he lost anyways. He couldn't have had his second chance. He couldn't have had the pleasure of talking to him again. He couldn't have been able to hug him and kiss him anymore. He wasted his chance to hear him say 'I love you' once more. But it was more than right after all. He screwed up, badly. He hurt Ed and forced him to do this. It was his fault, not Ed's. He closed his eyes waiting for the final blow to come and hit him. To slash him in two halves, like he deserved, and finally end his miserable and worthless life once for all.
That hit never came. He opened his eyes and saw that everything was motionless. The sword mere inches away from his body. Ed's muscles that were obviously tensed, yet he was not moving. Even the raindrops stopped midair, without moving in to the ground.
"What's going on?" he asked to himself out loud "Am I dead?". His voice echoed in the still world. That's why he felt surprised when a warm soothing voice informed him that he wasn't dead. Hearing that voice he squirmed. Well.. at least his muscles tried to squirm, but he found that he was unable to move anything but his mouth and his eyes. He was blocked just like the rest of the world. Fear overwhelmed his mind. "What's going on" he asked frantically "Who are you? What are you doing to me?!"
"Calm down, little human" the warm voice answered, soothingly "I won't hurt you. I'm sure you know me from Ed's speeches. I'm the Light, kid. As for what's going on I basically stopped the flow of time. I wanted to talk to you about this situation we are in"
"You have my attention, I'm listening" the brunette stated.
"First of all I'm glad you managed to stop Edward before I had to interfere personally. I surely wouldn't have allowed him to destroy everything. But it's not about the consequences I want to talk. I want to talk about reasons. Now… you know why is he doing such mad actions, right?"
"Yes" Kiba muttered, sadly "I know it very well: it's because I am an idiot and I pushed him away even if I loved, and still love, him. I've been a full and I hurt his feeling deeply. But I'm sorry for that and I want to make it up to him"
"Good. I expected nothing less from someone like you. Try your best and I'll help you. One last thing. I'll now protect you with a shield made of pure magic. He won't be able to break through it with his sword. When he comes back to his senses, though, it will be up to you. You will have to earn his trust and love back by yourself"
Kiba felt that the presence of the Light was fading away. "Wait!" he yelled to the goddess.
"What do you want now, little human?" she patiently asked, her presence strong again.
"Why would you talk to me and protect me? I don't deserve it" he said.
"Because you are the person that Ed treasured the most in his whole life. Besides, I already tried to talk to him but he chose to be deaf to my words" she answered. Then bidding her farewell to the boy, vanished.
In that same instant, the time flux started to flow regularly again. Ed's sword started to move again, but it bounced on a golden sphere that had formed all around the brunette's body. When the sword and the barrier came in contact for a second time, due to a new attempt of Ed to slice Kiba in two, the barrier glowed of a bright flash of golden light and a cracking sound was heard. The blade of Ed's sword fell to the ground, tingling. The rage in Ed's eyes started to slowly fade as he dropped the remainders of the sword to the ground.
As Kiba stood still, safely protected by the shield, the Guardian began to punch the barrier. "Why?!" he screamed desperately "Why Kiba?". As he continued screaming his sadness he kept on hitting the barrier, but, punch by punch, his hits were becoming slower and little cracks started to pierce trhough his gauntlets. Another punch and the whole armor shattered into tiny fragments, that were blown away by the wind. In Ed's eyes there wasn't rage anymore, just a deep sorrow, mixed with pain and sadness. The black haired boy, wearing only a black t-shirt and a pair of black trousers, laid his palm on the barrier. His wings backed into his body as hot tears started to stain his cheeks, mixing with the cold raindrops. A sob escaped his lips. "Why, Kiba? Why?" he muttered one last time before sinking to the ground and curling up into a ball, sobbing and whimpering while he muttered something.
The golden sphere that encircled Kiba's body vanished, as well as the chains that trapped all the ninjas around them. Kiba kneeled to the ground, next to the crying boy. When he heard what he was murmuring, his heart dropped to the ground, joining Ed in his sorrow.
The Guardian was saying "Why would nobody love me? Am I such a monster? Why? Why?". When Kiba touched his shoulder, though, Ed squirmed and flinched away from him and said "Don't hurt me Kiba, please. If you have to kill me do it now but don't hurt me anymore. Please, I'm begging you!"
"No Ed" the other replied, with trembling voice, on the verge of tears himself "I don't want to hurt you, neither I want to kill you."
The boy next to him sighed and then closed his eyes, muttering something like "Fine" as he passed out. In his unconscious sleep it looked finally peaceful.
The brunette cradled the other boy in his arms as he lifted him from the ground. He started to head, slowly walking, towards the Inuzuka estate. The crowd in Konoha square split up in two, opening a corridor for him to pass easier. Not long after, he sensed his mother, walking behind him. He stopped and turned to face her. "Go away" he ordered firmly "I need some time with him. Alone."
"Kiba I think that…" she started.
"I don't care!" Kiba shouted, cutting her off and drawing the attention of a couple of citizens passing by "I listened to you once and look what happened! I rejected him because you imposed, no forced me to do so. And now he came back with the only purpose of killing in his mind. This time I'll do things my way! And you won't interfere this time. Nope, this time you are going to stay the fuck out of this. I love him, ok? And because of you I may have lost him forever. I won't take this risk a second time. Go away, now. I don't want to see you at least until tomorrow". With that the brunette turned again and ran away, Ed still in his firm grip. He didn't want anyone to see the tears falling from his eyes. No one would see him in his weakest moment. No one.
Back in his room, Kiba put Ed down on his bed and sat down on the edge. Thinking better of it, he decided to lay at Ed's side. He turned on his flank to face the Guardian that was laying on his back, sleeping. The brunette started to slowly stroke the black locks on Ed's head. He started to whisper "I'm sorry" repeatedly, trying to break the unconsciousness barrier with his voice. The black haired boy seemed to slightly smile, hearing Kiba's words. A few minutes passed like this, almost completely silent. Then Ed started to groan lightly and, cracking his eyelids open, he blinked a few times. When he recognized the boy next to him, though, he jumped back, flinching, and put some distance between them. Kiba's expression visibly saddened. Ed was now laying on his side, facing the brunette. He sighed.
"H-hi Kiba" he stuttered tentatively.
"Hi Ed" the other replied, softly smiling "Do you… want to talk?"
"I think we need to, that's for sure" Ed nodded sadly "However I want to talk first because I have so much to say. And I promise that after that I'll leave and never bother you again"
"But Ed, I" Kiba tried to protest, but Ed cut him off.
"Don't I get to talk first?" he complained sadly.
"Yes, but I don't want you to leave immediately, ok? I have to talk too" Kiba stated
"Works for me" the Guardian murmured. Then he cuddled his legs to his chest and averted his gaze from the brunette. After a few moment of awkward silence he said "Listen Kiba, I'm sorry, ok?" his voice was unsure, trembling, worried and sad all at once "I shouldn't have reacted like I did when you told me that… when you told me those things one month ago. I knew that , with me being like I am, it could have happened anytime. I should have accepted your opinions and decisions. I should have thinking of you. But I couldn't. Instead I acted like a stupid, stubborn child and tried to hurt anyone. I'm sorry but now I understand. You were right, I am a monster after all. A terrible monster. Nobody could love me. I'm sorry I caused all this mess. I'll fix it and then I promise that no one will hear of me anymore, neither I'll be seen anywhere else. I'll watch after you all from hidden places. I'll vanish and never bother you again. I know you might be longing for revenge against me but, trust me, living an eternal life without you will be enough of a condemnation. So please just…"
Kiba grew more and more bored with the useless apologies of Edward. He already gave the Guardian his forgiveness the very same instant he saw him that morning. He wanted, lots and lots of times during Ed's speech, to interrupt the other and reassure him that he would be loved by Kiba until death and even further. But the black haired boy kept talking and talking, until trigger was pulled into Kiba's brain. The brunette jolted forward, pressing his lips into Ed's in a searing, long desired and soft kiss. His arms soon reached for the other's body, pulling him into a tight embrace that spoke all the words that, during that month, remained unspoken. The kiss didn't deepen for it was not lust that they were seeking, losing themselves into the soft wetness of each other's lips. The just needed to feel close to each other, now. They needed their souls to be near after being separated for so long. They were renewing that bond they pretended to cut off but that they secretly cherished more than their own lives.
The kiss lasted until Kiba realized that Ed was crying. When they broke apart, the black haired boy buried his head in the crook of Kiba's neck, wetting it with all the tears he held back until that moment. The brunette buried his hand into the black locks of the Guardian, stroking them, while his other hand rubbed soothing circles onto Ed's back.
"I thought you didn't love me" Ed whispered, voice muffled by the brunette's skin. Despite he didn't stop crying, in his voice there was a very clear shade of pure happiness.
"I know Ed. I'll explain everything later, I promise. But now I just want to hold you close to me and feel you wrapped in my arms. I missed you. I love you so much. I'd have rather died that seeing you going away from me again. I love you. And now that I managed to fix the gigantic screw up I did, I'll never leave you again. Never. I love you"
Ed's only answer was cuddling closer to the brunette's chest, like he used to do one month before.
"You know Ed" Kiba said, out of the blue "I thought that you stopped loving me for real, that night in which you sealed your love. I was really scared. I thought I'd be alone for the rest of my life"
"I could never stop loving someone as awesome as you, Kiba" Ed replied, some tears still running down his cheeks. The hug became tighter and warmer "So you really love me Kiba?" Ed asked, uncertain.
"Yes, of course!" The brunette exclaimed "How can I prove it to you?"
"I may think of a few ways…" Ed said, smirking deviously.
Kiba sighed as he said "We just met again after a month long break-up that almost caused the end of the whole universe and you are already thinking about sex? You are so pervert! I don't think it's time to get so physical". Ed pouted as Kiba added "But I might have another way. Look!"
The brunette took the necklace Ed gave him and pulled it out of his shirt. The gem was glowing softly of its red, pulsating light. Somehow it was reassuring for Kiba to hold it in his hands.
"You still have that!" An expression of pure joy, satisfaction and, last but not least, surprise grew on Ed's face "I thought you threw it away after, you know, what happened between us"
"I'd never throw this necklace away Ed" Kiba replied, softly smiling "I love it almost as much as I love you. And now that I know all the perks of this gem, like the mind speaking/reading and the feeling exchange, I treasure it even more. Plus I…"
A kiss silenced him. This was a deep, lustful one. "You were wrong, Kiba!" Ed stated, after pulling back. "Totally wrong"
"About what?" Kiba asked, still dazed by the sudden kiss.
"It's about fucking time we get physical. I missed you for a month. Let's start over from where we were interrupted last month, shall we?"
The brunette didn't have enough time to reply as he was pulled on top of the black haired boy, in between his deliciously spread legs, and his shirt was torn apart and thrown away, somewhere. Fingers began to caress his naked, muscular chest so delicately that he wanted to moan.
"I believe" Ed continued, lust filled voice, whispering into Kiba's ear "That I said something like 'Make love to me, nice and rough. Now'. And you still haven't obliged"
Finally surrendering to the waves of lust his brain sent him, Kiba bent down, letting his action talk, instead of his tongue, that was completely focused on other tasks. He used his chakra to sharpen his nails and cut the front of Ed's black shirt, exposing the well toned chest of the Guardian.
Both of their pants, soon enough, felt too tight for their own tastes and they hastily got rid of them. Not long after the underwears of the two boys were thrown away and Kiba's throbbing manhood was pushing lightly at Ed's tight hole.
"Are you ready?" Kiba asked "Shouldn't I stretch you first?"
"Nope" Ed answered, grinning impatiently "For one I thought I said 'rough' and for two I can't fucking wait anymore."
"But… won't you feel pain?" Kiba was now worried "I don't want to hurt you!"
"You are hurting me by making me wait! Just fuck me already!" Ed exclaimed.
Without any further hesitation, Kiba pushed in. Ed screamed, both in pleasure and pain, as screamed Kiba, only in pleasure.
To the brunette Ed never felt so tight, good and hot. He realized how much he had missed it. How much he loved it. He started to ram inside Ed as hard and fast as he could, making the black haired boy moan like a wanton bitch.
"More" Ed practically screamed "More, Kiba. I need more of you!"
The brunette tried to oblige, claiming his finally found again lover's body as well as his lips and mouth for himself.
Moans and whimpers filled the air as the two lovers found each other one more time, after they had been separated for so long.
Feeling his release closer by the second, Kiba grabbed Ed's shaft, lightly squeezing it, and started to stroke it swiftly. With that Ed's moans became screams of pure pleasure as a warm sensation spread all over his body.
They came together, Kiba, drawing ribbons of sticky white inside Ed, and Ed creating arabesques all over their chests with his pearly thick essence.
Kiba pulled out, wrapping his arms around Ed's naked body and pulling him in the tightest hug ever. Both of them sighed happily in the embrace, enjoying the afterglow of the orgasm. The brunette laid a soft kiss on Ed's forehead. "Good night, my winged love" he said.
"Good night, my sweet puppy" Ed replied as he laid his head on Kiba's chest and closed his eyes.
Silence fell between the two lovers for a while.
"Kiba?" Ed suddenly called "So you really love me?"
"Yes Ed" The other answered, smiling softly "I love you"
"Good" the black haired boy commented, satisfied by the answer of his lover "But you still owe me an explanation tomorrow"
"Yes Ed. First thing after the shower tomorrow"
"Ok. Good night… Dogbreath"
Kiba chuckled lightly. "Good night to you too, sweetie"
A few minutes later the two boys fell asleep, cuddling to each other. For the first time in a month both of them had a sincere smile on their faces. For the first time in a month the nightmares didn't torment them.
Now my comment. So... this morning i felt like crap. I had temperature! So notepads out and pen in hands. I wrote as if there was no tomorrow and guess what? I finished this story. The next one is going to be the last chapter. I'm kinda sad. But anyway... this moring i risked to drown into an avalanche of fluff, angst and sex! Epic! I liked writing this chapter very much, so i hope that you like it too. As usual i want to thank PepsiCakers for her support and her reviews! Probably the last chappy will be out this same evening, because i want to write a bit more. So wait for it. Probably the 70k words will be passed with this chapter so yay for me!
Good bye, see you later!