Beyond the branches of life I am forever lost, to return home my soul is the cost, half of myself remembered, half of myself forgotten, upon reaching the end of my journey, I also mark the beginning of my new eternity.
"You…are dead."
Ky: "…What?"
"…PFha! I'm just kidding."
Ky: "…Okay so now I know I'm in hell, better pick a corner to cry in for the rest of eternity."
"Jeez, lighten up, you aren't in hell and you aren't dead."
Ky: "Then where am I? And who are you?"
"Figures you wouldn't recognize me like this."
The being I believed to by my guardian angel descended down next to me as the glow around her faded and I was able to see her clearly. She was a beautiful woman in a white dress about my height, with long brown hair that reached all the way down to her knees, gorgeous blue eyes and her over all appearance vaguely reminded me of Kirino though her expression reminded me of someone else and I felt a strange connection to her.
Ky: "Do I know you?"
Yor: "It's me your grandma~ Surprised right?"
Ky: "Grandma Yoriko?"
Yor: "Yep."
Ky: "What happened to you?"
Yor: "Well when you enter the spirit world, you look as you wish to appear, I want to look young so I make myself look young."
Ky: "Wait the spirit world?"
Yor: "Yep that's where we are right now."
Ky: "So those pills brought me here?"
Yor: "Perception enhancing drugs like those do help in connecting minds to this place."
Ky: "And coming here is part of your plan?"
Yor: "Yeah, next you just have to find Kirino."
Ky: "But I know where Kirino is."
Yor: "Yes but you can't go to her, she told me herself that if you got anywhere near her or Aiko again she'd call the police and accuse you of harassment."
Ky: "…"
Yor: "So we'll reach her through here, in this place you'll be able to connect to her heart and perhaps even delve into her mind to undo what that Ayase girl has done to her, this is the only way to do that."
Ky: "There's no way any of this is real."
Yor: "Really? Even after everything with Aiko you still don't believe?"
Ky: "Aiko was weird but this is just too…fantastical, I mean this heavenly light, green rolling fields, snow capped mountains, perfect temperature, this breeze that feels like angel kisses on my skin, you, it's all just too hard to believe…but I'm desperate so where do we start?"
Yor: "Well first you must cast away your doubt."
Ky: "My doubt?"
Yor: "Doubt…is one of humanities greatest wisdoms and weaknesses, just like any good in this world too much of it can poison you. If you want any change to happen you must allow yourself to believe it can happen no matter how unbelievable it may seem, if not then you'll never be able to find her."
Ky: "So how do I cast away my doubt?"
Yor: "Well first you need to start building a stronger connection to the spirit world, cast away your doubt until it's at its bare minimum, we just have to explore the spirit world, meet other spirits and the denizens of this place, we can do that as we look for Kirino and as for finding, you just have to start walking."
Ky: "Walking?"
Yor: "Yeah, it's how you find anyone in this illogical realm, just think of Kirino and the path to her should open up, the stronger your connection to her the wider, smoother and shorter the path."
Ky: "Okay then, let's try this."
I concentrated, focusing my thoughts on Kirino and as I did the grass in front of me cleared away revealing a two-foot-wide dirt path.
Ky: "Whoa, there it is."
Yor: "That…does not look good."
Ky: "What are you talking about?"
Yor: "Just look at it, it's skinny as hell and full of pebbles and potholes, your connection with her ridiculously weak."
Ky: "Well what do you expect given how she feels about me now? I'm surprised there's a path at all."
Yor: "Yeah you have a point there, so lead the way."
Ky: "Why me? I hardly know my way around here."
Yor: "This path connects you and Kirino, I can't lead you down a path that isn't meant for me, all I can do is follow."
Ky: "…Alright then, here I go."
So I began my journey through this dreamscape, trudging along the narrow path, kicking small stones and pebbles with each step. As I walked, I looked at everything around me, small towns in the distance sitting cozily within the green fields between the mountains, lung dragons snaking their way through the skies and little fairy creatures drinking nectar from the surrounding flowers.
Ky: "Man, this all feels so fake but looks so real, I feel like I'm in an isekai."
Yor: "The hell is an isekai?"
Ky: "A story genre about people travelling to other worlds, usually upon death."
Yor: "Well aside from the dying part, that is what we're basically doing now."
Ky: "Yeah I guess you're right…how long do you think this is going to take? Til I find Kirino."
Yor: "I don't know, with the strength of your connection it can take from hours to years."
Ky: "Years?!"
Yor: "Maybe even decades."
Ky: "Wait I don't have decades to spend asleep looking for her!"
Yor: "Calm your tits sonny, you should realize by now that time in this place flows differently than in the living world."
Ky: "Oh yeah, but by how much."
Yor: "Are you seriously trying to apply logic to this place? There is no set degree on how much time shifts here, it's all about perception."
Ky: "Perception?"
Yor: "Yeah, how much time passes here depends entirely on how much time you FEEL has passed, some people who connect to this place through their dreams can spend entire lifetimes here and once they wake up they lose most of their memories of what happened due to memory space issues and whatever is left gets sown together into a nonsensical mess, I'm sure you've had a dream like that before."
Ky: "Hmm, maybe, but still decades?"
Yor: "Yeah, it's going to be a long journey full adventure and discovery and we'll probably meet some interesting characters along the way."
Ky: "What the hell did I get myself into?"
Yor: "Hey if you're not up for it you can just wake up."
Ky: "No, I can do this, I don't care if it takes me centuries trudging through this damned place, I don't care if I get molested by robot demon clowns, I'm going to get my family back."
Yor: "…Robot…demon…clowns?"
Kirino's POV
Nothing's really changed with Aiko since Kyousuke left, good riddance to that bastard. Everybody came to give me support though I've hardly moved from my spot in the waiting room, they kept telling me at least leave the hospital for little while to get something to eat or take a shower or at least get some sleep, that it's what Aiko would want of me but I didn't have the strength for any of that. All I could do was sit there and watch Aiko on that tablet, watch and hope that the next minute she'd get up and call out for me and we could go home.
Ru: "Kirino?"
Ki: "…"
Ay: "Visiting hours are almost over, we're going to go home."
Ki: "Okay."
Sa: "…Kirino before we go home, can you please promise us you'll get some sleep, we know you're worried about Aiko, more so than we could comprehend but it won't do Aiko any good if you end up hospitalized too. Just a couple of hours, that's all I'm asking and maybe head to the hospital cafeteria for a little food."
Ru: "And definitely a shower, you're starting to smell funny and you look like a mess."
Se: "How about you guys go ahead, I want to talk to Kirino in private."
Sa: "Of course."
Ru: "Alright then."
Everyone else left while Sena sat down and put her arms around me.
Se: "Kirino are you forgetting? Aiko isn't the only child you have to worry about."
Ki: "…"
Se: "If you keep going like this you'll end up hurting it, how do you think Aiko would feel if you ended up harming her younger sibling because of her?"
Ki: "…{sniff} hiih."
In all this turmoil I had completely forgotten about that, it may have only been a day but here I was completely neglecting my duties as a mother and potentially harming my own child.
At that realization I dropped the tablet and broke into tears in Sena's arms.
Ki: "Ihihihihhiiiiihihhhh!"
Se: "It's okay, it'll be fine."
Ki: "Why is this all happening? {sniff} First Kyousuke stabs me in the back, now my Aiko is probably dying."
Se: "I don't know but you have to stay strong for her and the first step in doing that is by taking care of yourself first and by keeping your baby healthy."
Ki: "Yeah {sniff}."
We stayed like that for a little as I cried while doing the best I could to hold back my voice until the last few minutes of visiting hours.
Se: "I have to be going now, will you be alright?"
Ki: "I'll be fine, really, thanks."
So Sena got up and left while I sat there trying to relax and get all my emotions in check after that I grabbed the tote bag mom left me that was full of toiletries and extra clothes and after getting permission, headed down to the hospital showers.
{Hissssssssss!}
Ki: "Haaah~"
This feels good, I still can't help but feel bad that I'm tending to myself while Aiko is in her condition but I know she'd want this of me.
As I stood under the shower head I looked down at my stomach and rubbed it lovingly.
Ki: "Hey there little one, hope you're okay, I wasn't a very good mommy there was I? Don't worry mommy won't forget about you ever again, I promise."
Ayase's POV Hospital bathroom
Ay: "Auuuuugh!...Auuuuugh!"
{Flush!}
When Sena had told me to leave I decided to eavesdrop on them instead, I heard everything they had talked about, Kirino…was pregnant, as soon as I made that realization, I ran to the nearest bathroom to vomit. Once I was done my stomach was still in knots and tears were still running down my face, finding out the truth about Aiko was different than this, just the idea of that man's spawn currently occupying the most sacred part of her body sickened me to no end.
Ay: "That bastard…I'm not going to let this happen again…I'm going to get rid of it."
Kirino's POV
After finishing my shower and grabbing a bite to eat I headed back to my waiting feeling refreshed and relaxed, once I sat down I picked the tablet back up and saw that Aiko's status was the same as before.
Ki: "Hey there baby girl, I hope you're having sweet dreams."
I put the tablet back down to let it cool off some more after running for a full day.
{Ririring}
Ki: "Hello?"
Ay: "Hey Kirino, it's me."
Ki: "Hey did you need something?"
Ay: "Just checking in, you sound like you've gotten better."
Ki: "Yeah that talk with Sena helped snap me out of my funk, my head's all clear now."
Ay: "That's good to hear, oh I forgot to tell you, I left you some homemade sweets."
Ki: "Oh those were from you? I already had a couple, they were really good."
Ay: "Aw thank you…orange Sunday."
Ki: "Hm? What was that?"
Ay: "Nothing just forget it, alright Kirino now I want you to look at the video files in your phone and view the one named "av0001_ 4"."
Ki: "Okay."
Not really in the mood to question her on it I looked through my phone until I found the file in question and began to play it. The video itself was strange, nothing I've ever seen before, the scenes were borderline trippy but I couldn't stop watching it for some reason and as I continued to watch I progressively go sleepier and sleepier until…
Ayase's POV
After commanding Kirino to watch the video I had saved on her phone I waited for a while until I knew she was out. I was worried this wouldn't work since it took me weeks of planning and using Kyousuke as the sacrificial lamb to fully implant my previous suggestion into Kirino but I needed to get this done as soon as possible.
Ay: "Kirino? Are you listening?"
Ki: "Yes."
Ay: "Okay good."
I couldn't help but cringe at what I was about to tell her, I was always against this concept due to my beliefs but in this situation it was acceptable and I knew Japanese law would be on my side in this.
Ay: "Kirino when you wake up…I want you to schedule an appointment with a doctor…to get an abortion."
Ki: "…"
Ay: "And I want you to claim that Kyousuke was the one that forced the pregnancy on you."
Ki: "…"
Ay: "Kirino?"
Ki: "…I…I refuse."
Ay: "What?"
Ki: "I refuse."
Ay: "I see then…orange Sunday."
Ki: "Hm? Hey Ayase what were we just talking about?"
Ay: "Nothing important, anyway I have to go, I'll see you tomorrow."
Ki: "Alright, later."
I anticipated this but I was hoping my previous efforts would make things easier, seems like I'll have to take some time to hammer the idea into her mind before I get her to get rid of that abomination and in the process I might just be able to punish Kyousuke as well for his sins.
Kirino's POV
After hanging up on Ayase I spent the rest of the evening reading and periodically checking on Aiko, eventually I ended up nodding off, I don't know how long I was asleep before I suddenly felt awake again and I observed my surroundings.
Ki: "What the- where am I?"
I was in a grassy clearing in the middle of a forest and I noticed a beach just past some of the trees and the sky was emblazoned by the colors of the setting sun.
Ai: "Mommy?"
The moment I heard that familiar voice I immediately snapped my head around to see Aiko standing several feet away holding a toy ball and looking at me with a surprised expression.
Ki: "Aiko?"
She was okay, seeing her walking around happy and healthy again overwhelmed me and I immediately ran over to embrace her and showered her with kisses causing her to drop her ball.
Ki: "Aiko, oh my baby, I'm so glad you're okay!"
Ai: "Hahaha hi mommy!"
Ki: "But wait how did you get here?"
Ai: "I don't know, I took a nap at school and I woke up here, the beardy man said that that I have to wait here with the other kids until you and daddy come get me."
Ki: "Beardy man?"
"Funny nickname don't you think?"
I looked back to the woods where Aiko came from to see a bearded man in traditional Japanese robes, couldn't tell his age, his hair had all greyed, he had a mildly wrinkled face, but he had a youthful posture and his eyes had a caring look to them and produced a noticeable aura of calming.
Ki: "Who are you?"
"My name is Liberus Onustus."
Ki: "Liberus? Onustus? That doesn't sound Japanese but you're wearing traditional robes."
Li: "Am I now? Heh well that's the funny thing about how people perceive me I guess."
Ki: "So…Mr. Onustus, can you tell us where we are?"
Li: "Haah you Japanese and your formalness, just call me Liberus and in the simplest terms, you are in the spirit world."
Ki: "…"
Li: "…"
Ki: "…"
Li: "…Hello?"
Ki: "Alright Aiko let's just walk away slowly and calmly."
Ai: "Eh?"
Li: "Of course you wouldn't believe me."
Ki: "AH!"
The moment I turned the other way he was standing there like he teleported and it startled me enough to fall backwards on my ass.
Li: "Hahaha is that enough to convince you?"
Ai: "Haha mommy got scared."
Li: "I know you believe it somewhere in your heart, after being mysteriously transported here and seeing your daughter walking around and playing when she was comatose just minutes ago, how can you not?"
Ki: "This is just so crazy, how are we even here? How is this place even real?"
Li: "I couldn't explain that to you in any way you'd be able to understand though given another century or so your species may find the proper terminology to explain the functioning of this world but trust me, this place is just as real as the world you came from just with less laws."
Ki: "…"
Li: "Though before we talk further how about we head to my place for some tea."
So Liberus began walking through a path in the woods parallel to the ocean and, not knowing what else to do, I followed while holding Aiko's hand. After a few minutes came into view of a traditional Japanese building sitting just at the edge of the beach.
Ai: "Look mommy, it's the ocean! See how big it is?!"
Ki: "I see."
I totally forgot that I promised to take her to the beach when Spring came around.
As we got closer I noticed around the building were a bunch of children playing with several adults and as soon as they came into view Aiko dashed off to meet them.
Ai: "Hey I got the ball!"
"Good job Aiko!"
"Alright let's keep the game going!"
So Aiko ran off to play while Liberus and I went inside and sat at a table with already prepared tea.
Ki: "What's with all the children? Are they yours?"
Li: "Nope, not a single one."
Ki: "Then why are they here?"
Li: "These…are children who died with no familial connections, no one for them to link to in the spirit world, to guide them into their own being, who know or remember nothing of the living world. I bring them here to teach them, help them develop into fully independent beings, other spirits volunteer to help in my efforts despite me not needing it. I also give a home to those who are unable to grow out of their juvenile mindset and perpetually remain as children, so I guess this is place is a proverbial Neverland with me as it's caretaker."
Ki: "That's…sad but can't they link to ancestors?"
Li: "That only works if they are familiar with them, like if their parents taught them of their family's history but these children know absolutely nobody that is living or has ever lived aside from the volunteer spirits, if not for my efforts they'd be completely alone."
Ki: "I see, so why is Aiko here?"
Li: "Because…she's not long for this world."
Ki: "…Aiko…is going to die?"
Li: "More than that…if something isn't done soon, Aiko will disappear completely, from both the living world and this one."
Ki: "But why?"
Li: "Aiko, at least in her ethereal form, isn't an independent entity, I'm sure she's told you before about how she's a manifestation of the love between you and Kyousuke."
Ki: "Yeah, when she first appeared I talked to my grandmother about it, she called her an astral child born like how you just said."
Li: "Well the common term is spirit child but same difference, anyway Aiko is still more or less a concept, an idea or desire taken form in this world and physically manifested in the living world, you can't imagine what kind of power it takes to do something like that. But in a sense she still isn't fully developed, like a fetus she relies on you and Kyousuke to sustain her but the "umbilical cord" has been compromised, fortunately the link is still intact just very weak but it seems to be weakening further as time goes on. Her physical body will continue to react negatively, similar to how an electronic device disables certain programming and peripherals when it's battery is low."
Ki: "I see."
Li: "So basically as the love between you and Kyousuke dies, so does she, so I'm sure you know what the obvious solution is."
Ki: "…How does any of this work? Why does it have to be like this?"
Li: "Like I said, the science behind all this is still a mystery to you people and trying to explain wouldn't make it sound any less ridiculous relative to you're understanding of universal functions and quantum mechanics. But just know Aiko is a result of an overlap between our worlds, an instant where the world of will directly linked with the world of logic and created a new space in between them sort of like a venn diagram where it contained aspects of both and neither. Within that space you two performed your soul bond giving birth to Aiko and in those conditions she was allowed to manifest a physical form and it seems you even had the foresight to physically manifest your string of fate and formed it into clothing which itself has rather anomalous properties. Though just like with anything, complications occurred, I'm sure you've noticed that with the gaps in her knowledge and the fact that she was four years old at birth instead of a newborn."
Ki: "That's why she was like that?"
Li: "Yes and along with those came the less noticeable consequence of her incomplete development from concept to full-fledged spirit, if things went even a little worse then I doubt Aiko would be here today. Though unless you are able to reestablish your bond with Kyousuke, she will fade from existence completely, her body and physical evidence of her existence in your world will remain but she will slowly fade from everyone's memory until it becomes as if she never existed."
Ki: "No…no, nonononono, I…I can't do this."
Li: "Those are the choices available to you and if you do not act soon the latter will be the outcome."
I was at a complete loss, I knew it wouldn't just be enough to get back together with Kyousuke but just thinking about even trying to restore my feelings for him made me feel sick, the idea was just impossible to me now.
I still have doubts on how real this all was but I have no other tangible options and Liberus seems to know what he's talking about. I want to save Aiko and I'll do anything I have to even go along with all this ridiculousness and give my heart to Kyousuke again but I can't do that.
Ki: "As much as I'd want to do that, I just can't love Kyousuke again, at least not willingly."
Li: "I thought so, which is why I contacted another denizen to help."
After he said that the door slid open and in walked a man wearing traditional priest clothing.
"Greetings, I am your guardian angel."
Kyousuke's POV
Ky: "Here's your order."
"Thank you so much."
It's been about two months since I entered the Spirit World and to strengthen my link to it I've gotten to know some of residents and right now I'm working at a restaurant that serves some of the best looking Japanese food I've ever seen though grandma forbade me from eating any of it. As for her, she just sat at a table sipping away at a bottomless cup of tea, the work itself wasn't tiring at all, I even kind of enjoyed serving the other spirits and I even became somewhat acquainted with a couple and I've become good friends with chef and other employees.
"Hey, Kyousuke, time for your break!"
Ky: "Alright boss."
After imagining away all my work gear I sat down at the table where grandma was and imagined up my own food.
Yor: "Well seems you're really becoming habituated to this place."
Ky: "Yeah, you think maybe it's time to move on?"
Yor: "Yep, say your goodbyes and let's go."
So I bid farewell to everyone and promised to meet them again when I could and we walked to the edge of town.
Ky: "Whoa look at that."
The path to Kirino was now a foot wider and a bit smoother.
Yor: "Hm."
Ky: "Hey do you think-"
Yor: "No, this most likely means that Kirino has entered the spirit world as well."
Ky: "Really, how would she do that?"
Yor: "Maybe through her desire to be with Aiko again."
Ky: "Wait, Aiko is here too?!"
Yor: "Apparently so, try linking a path to her."
Ky: "Okay."
So, again, I focused and this time I created a fully asphalt paved roadway complete with street lights and guard rails. The landscape ahead immediately transformed into an ocean with an island not far off shore and a land bridge which the road ran across towards it.
Yor: "Wow your link with her is very strong."
Ky: "So if Kirino is with Aiko I can use this path to go meet her."
Yor: "Wrong!"
Ky: "Huh?"
Yor: "You could take this path to see Aiko but given how estranged you are to Kirino, even if she was standing right in front of you, you wouldn't be able to see or interact with her despite Aiko being able to."
Ky: "I see."
Yor: "So as tempting as it would be to see your daughter, you need to focus on the task at hand."
Ky: "Yeah."
So I reset the path back to Kirino's and watched as the road disappeared and the path shrank and the landscape transformed back into endless green fields and mountains.
Ky: "Haah, on the road again."
So we continued, passing by and meeting other spirits and denizens along the way, staying and working in several more towns.
Ky: "Jeez how much longer is this going to take?"
Yor: "Don't know."
Ky: "Hard to believe it's still that same night yet several months have passed."
Yor: "That's the magic of this place."
On and on we went, all the way up until we hit the one year mark. Feeling tired, oddly enough, and with it getting dark for the first time since we got here, I decided to stop and conjure a fire.
Yor: "Feeling okay?"
Ky: "I don't know, it's been a year, you sure I'm not dead?"
Yor: "Absolutely, though honestly I didn't think it would take this long."
Ky: "I'm starting to wonder if we're making any progress."
Yor: "Come on, keep your chin up, like you said, even if it takes centuries."
Ky: "Yeah but then you have to think, I could be in here for an eternity and still not get anywhere."
As I sat there my mood continued to descend and I strangely began to get sleepy for the first time.
Yor: "Don't think so negatively hun, you just have to keep going."
Ky: "Sure…just…one foot…in front…of…the other."
My eyelids became too heavy to keep open and before I knew it everything went dark.
Yor: "Kyousuke?...Kyousuke!?"
A second later I woke up but instead of the beautiful landscape of the spirit world, I was surrounded by a moonlit desert.
Ky: "Grandma?! Where'd you go?!"
I looked in every direction but all I saw was blue tinted dunes all the way to the starry horizon.
Ky: "Haah, where the heck am I?"
The air was chilly, enough for my breath to be visible. I tried to make Kirino's path appear but nothing happened, then I tried Aiko's but still nothing, then I tried to link with grandma but again nothing.
Ky: "Dammit."
I then tried to wake myself up but I couldn't, not seeing any other options I chose a random direction and began walking.
Months passed, I tried many times to wake up and link with…anyone but to no avail, nothing but days of walking up and down sand dunes beneath a perpetual night sky. Sometimes I began to think I was walking in circles and as time passed I began to feel weaker, I began to notice that I was getting skinnier like I was starving despite not feeling hungry and my memory was starting to get spotty, I even forgot when my birthday was.
Ky: "What's going on?"
Eventually I became too weak to keep moving so I just gave up and collapsed.
How'd I even get here anyway? Why am I here? Where did I come from? Who…am I even supposed to be?
As I lay there, completely clueless of my own existence, I began to feel sleepy but I also felt at peace, like I was on my way to somewhere better once I drifted off. My vision began to blur and my body began to feel cozy and warm despite the chilly air.
It's not like I can move anymore, might as well go to sleep.
Forsaken and dejected, I prepare to fade in to blackness, eternal dreamless sleep grips me as I become consumed by my own sadness.
Ky: "HAH!"
I wake with a start and I feel vitalized again and my memories were restored.
Ky: "…Whoa."
"You were nearly erased."
Ky: "Huh?"
I looked to my left to see a man dressed head to toe in a surreal, almost creepy looking ritual costume from an unknown culture and in his hands he carried a small drum which he pounded on periodically and in the eyes of his mask were tinted, round, glass goggles that made him look a little like a robot.
Ky: "A robot, demon, clown…so NOW I'm in hell, that certainly explains all this."
"Hell only exists within the mind, this is the Graveyard of Souls, if not for my actions you would have shattered along with the rest."
Ky: "Shattered? Graveyard? Who are you?"
I felt like I should be scared of this guy due to his appearance and my suppressed fear of clowns but he seemed familiar somehow, like I've met him before.
"I have no name but if you must use one with me then you may call me Herald."
Ky: "Okay then, Herald, what is this place?"
He: "The Graveyard of Souls, a place where sorrow filled spirits come to die."
Ky: "Die? I thought spirits lived forever."
He: "They can but some spirits can become so broken that they lack the will to continue existing, they shatter completely and before they do, they are brought here to die a peaceful death. Their being broken down into sand, each grain containing a bit of their memories before being cleansed for the creation of new spirits."
Ky: "Reincarnation?"
He: "Yes, from dust you came and to dust you shall return, though some memories manage to survive the cleansing, allowing the new spirits to view them."
Ky: "Memories of past lives, so this is some sort of secondary afterlife?"
He: "No, there is no life here, only death and rebirth."
Ky: "Then…what am I doing here?"
He: "Your will to live became too weak, even among the living, if someone like you has a strong connection to the spirit world, if they wish to die then they can while their body remains comatose until biological death."
Ky: "But I don't want to die."
He: "No soul is ever aware of their true desires, you wish to disappear, to leave behind all the pain of your current existence and you almost did."
Ky: "But you saved me?"
He: "Yes, by collecting all the pieces you've dropped and reintegrated them into your being."
Ky: "But why save me?"
He: "Conflicting desires, you wish to disappear but you also wish to finish your dealings on Earth, such contradiction can disturb the natural cycle of the Graveyard and cause your memories to a contaminate new souls to an unacceptable degree. For that I cannot allow you to move on."
Ky: "So being here causes my soul to fall apart?"
He: "No, it's your desire to die, being transported here is just a consequence of that and so long as those emotions encompass your heart you cannot leave, at least not by normal means."
Ky: "I see…so my subconscious can't figure out whether I want to live or die, given how things are going for me, that doesn't come as a surprise."
He: "Before I can leave your side, you must come to terms with your feelings."
Ky: "Agh, I don't have time for that, you said I can't leave this place by normal means, do you mean there's another way?"
He: "…Yes, though it requires a bit of travel."
Ky: "Great more walking, so what is this way out?"
He: "We must access the Tree of Life."
Ky: "The Tree of Life? That's actually real?!"
He: "Yes, it is what connects all things, its roots run through even you and I."
Ky: "Well if that's true why do we have to travel to it?"
He: "Because the only way to use it to travel between worlds is to lay eyes upon it, for beings like you have too much doubt in yourselves to make use of its power."
Ky: "I always thought that was some kind of allegory for the evolutionary tree but it's an actual tree?"
He: "If you think it is then it will appear as such but in actuality it is a metaphysical device manifested from the desires of the first intelligent beings to wander these plains. It connects all things, links all ethereal beings throughout all of creation and allows them to connect to eachother even from even across infinity, it's what allows you to create paths to others in the spirit world."
Ky: "If that's true can't I just connect to the tree itself?"
He: "No, there is too much doubt in your heart, in order for you to make use of its true power you must lay eyes upon it."
Ky: "How long will we have to travel?"
He: "From here, five months."
Ky: "Five months?"
He: "Yes though I'm sure it would take much longer for you to resolve your internal conflict, so if you wish to leave as soon as possible, it is the only way."
Ky: "I see…wonder what grandma is doing right now."
Kirino's POV
Ki: "My guardian angel?"
"Well to be exact, because of her condition I'm yours and Aiko's, we are usually rather strict on our nondisclosure and noninterference policies when it comes to dealing with the living but in this case my appearance is quite necessary for Aiko's survival."
Ki: "So what will you do?"
"Well first, I will delve into your mind."
Ki: "Delve?"
"Yes, as crazy as it may seem relative to Earth logic, I have the ability to link myself to a soul's mind, view their inner worlds, feel their feelings and accurately diagnose mental conditions. Also depending on how bad their mental state is I can even aid in curing them of their afflictions, now then…"
The angel walked over and sat on his knees behind me and placed the tips of his fingers onto my temples.
"Are you comfortable? If you wish I can contact a female angel?
Ki: "Aren't angels hermaphroditic?"
"Well the true angels yes but I'm simply a human turned angel."
We all sat there quietly, I began to feel a comforting warmth emanate through me. After a couple of minutes, the angel removed his fingers and moved over to an empty side of the table.
"Haah…"
Ki: "So?"
"It seems your will is bound by another."
Ki: "My what?"
"Currently, certain thoughts and emotions of yours are being…manipulated…you've been…hypnotized."
Ki: "…Are you serious?"
"I know it seems pretty ridiculous even by our standards but that's the situation and very serious at that and from what I saw it seems the hypnosis has influenced your feelings towards Kyousuke to perpetually swing towards the negative no matter how positively he presents himself."
Ki: "Really? Are you sure?"
"I am your guardian angel, your physical and mental health are my upmost priority, I have no reason to mislead you nor am I uncertain of what I know."
Ki: "No way, Kyousuke is just terrible person, I know that for a fact."
"Are you sure about that? Look back on all your memories of him, all the times he's shown himself to be a good person."
Ki: "He's never been a good person, it was all just an act."
"Well then try to remember all the times in your youth when Kyousuke made great sacrifices for your well being, even rejecting all the women pining after him in order to be with you despite knowing what lied ahead for the two of you."
Ki: "That…was an act too, he only did that to…"
"You see? Your affliction forces you to think irrationally and I know you aren't the type of person to let her feelings rule over her mind. Now try again, think of any memory where Kyousuke was shown anything close to genuine kindness or love towards you and see how it makes you feel."
Ki: "…"
Genuine kindness or love, I have tons of memories like that but knowing what I do now, all I see is Kyousuke wearing a cheap mask…but was he really?...What are you talking about?...Think about it logically, a lot of Kyousuke's actions don't exactly make sense if he really is that kind of person…of course they do, he needed to make it convincing…maybe but then you have to factor in the evidence presented that would prove his case…it was all just faked…but the look in his eyes, every time, I could feel the love he had for me…it. Was. All. Fake…but Kyousuke's pain was real, looking at him before he left, that's not something that can just be faked…are you really going to lie to yourself like that?…Well if it's to save Aiko why wouldn't I? I'd do anything to save her…n-no Kyousuke is…if it means saving Aiko maybe it's best that I give myself to him even if I don't like it.
Li: "You know won't work."
Ki: "Eh?"
Li: "I can see it on your face, you think that simply getting back together with Kyousuke will save Aiko, I already told you, nothing short of true reconciliation will do anything."
Ki: "I know but I just can't do it, no matter how hard I force myself, I just can't bring myself to feel that way about Kyousuke again."
"I see, this is much worse than I thought."
Ki: "Isn't there anything you can do?"
"This is beyond my abilities, the living have such frightening power over eachother, power that even God doesn't even have."
Ki: "Wasn't it Kami that allowed this to happen?"
"Typical of the living to blame God for all their problems, God has no control over the decisions of us humans and many of the decisions we make have consequences that affects many around us."
Ki: "…"
"What's affecting you was brought upon you by someone else's decision."
Ki: "Who?"
"I…I can't tell you...as your guardian angel my job is only to discretely guide you…that level of interference is prohibited but know, it is someone very close to you."
Ki: "I see."
"I don't really know how to break this, all I can say is focus on your desire to save Aiko and maybe you can release these binds but, haah, I'm not confident in the likelihood of undoing this."
Ki: "…Aiko."
Kyousuke's POV
Ky: "Whoa."
The two month mark of our travel was when I finally began to notice that what I thought was a giant storm cloud off in the distance was actually the top of a massive tree with its color tinted by atmospheric haze though the rest of it was hidden beneath the horizon. At around the three month mark we exited the desert and continued on an infinite salt flat and I saw more of the trunk and main leaf bushel. Now finally at five and a half months I could see almost all the way to the base hidden just below the horizon and the tree itself seemed to stretch far off into space.
He: "Do you see it?"
Ky: "Yeah, it's huge."
He: "The metaphysical device, The Tree of Life, that which interconnects all things ethereal, allows the beings of the Spirit World to link to each other and, as far as I know, can act as a direct line to God himself."
Ky: "God? Kami?! Y-you mean I could use this to meet Kami?!"
He: "Perhaps though I doubt it is as simple as creating a path to him, I believe one must truly be connected to God within their heart in order to meet him, even the smallest amount of doubt can keep you from him."
Ky: "I see, well I have more pressing matters at the moment so Kami can wait."
Suddenly from the ground in front of me shot up a root which quickly morphed into a tree whose trunk opened up to a wooden pathway.
He: "This is where we part, through there the path will lead to wherever you wish to go."
Ky: "W-wait I thought we needed to actually reach the tree."
He: "No that would have taken close to a year, a doubter such as yourself need only to lay eyes upon it, now if you do not wish to shatter then go, find that which will keep you whole."
Ky: "Yeah."
I stepped past the tree's threshold and continued down the dark wooden path alone though as walked I heard Herald say a few words under his breath.
He: "Though I leave this grave I am still bound by death, brazenly I step into infinity's breadth, searching for the bonds that once kept me whole, not knowing the true fate of my soul."
I continued through the pitch-black corridor for a couple of minutes until I saw a light at the end and exited into…
Ky: "Eh?"
The desert, the very same one where I almost faded away. Thinking I might have made a mistake I went back through the tree but on the other end was once again the desert appeared to me.
Ky: "Hm…ha, hahahahaha."
I collapsed to my hands and knees and looked down at the pure white sand.
Ky: "Of course it wouldn't be so easy, it never is."
Before my tears could begin to flow, I got back up and went through the tree again and again it brought me to the desert. I repeated this again and again and again, each time bringing me back to the desert.
What is wrong with me? The tree only takes you to the place you want to go the most, do I really want to die that bad? Am I really ready to just give it all up?!
After the twenty-sixth time exiting out into the desert, I once again collapsed to my knees in the middle of the tree's dark corridor.
Maybe I am, despite all my efforts I'm not even a single step closer to saving Aiko and Kirino, everything I do is utterly pointless…but it's not like there's anything else I can do.
I strained myself to get back on my feet and once I did I listlessly trudged forward.
Am I just going to be lost like this forever? I can't wake up, I can't go back to The Spirit World, I'm just going to be stuck here.
I exited the tree but instead of the desert, I stepped out into a white void.
Ky: "Huh?"
The place didn't have any noticeable horizon or light source though there was a floor, just think of any cliché white void you'd see on tv.
Ky: "Where am I?"
Thinking something went wrong again I turned around to go back but when I did the tree was gone.
Ky: "What the…"
I tried to concentrate to see if I could manifest the tree again but nothing happened, I tried harder but no matter what I did nothing happened.
Ky: "Hmph, hahahaha, of course…this is my punishment isn't it? For the sin of loving her and bearing children with her."
Despite the infinite expanse surrounding me if felt enclosed within a claustrophobic darkness filled with judgmental eyes peering at me.
"Hmhmhm, another one of God's children gives in to despair."
Ky: "This is my damnation."
Kirino's POV
"Come on Aiko over here!"
Ai: "I'm coming!"
I watch from the porch as the children played.
Ki: "So how much longer does she have?"
Li: "That depends on how strong her will is but I doubt she has much longer."
Ki: "When do I know it's over?"
Li: "She will begin to fade away until there is nothing then over the next year she will fade from your memory as well though if anything that can be seen as a blessing."
Ki: "Yeah, I can consider myself lucky in that aspect, I won't have to painfully mourn over her for the rest of my life, she'll just be gone {sniff}, if only I could do the same with that bastard."
"Remember, you aren't in control of your emotions."
Ki: "I know but that's just how I feel {sniff}, I guess all I can do right now…is make the best of the time I have left with her."
Li: "You can't be giving up now, there's still time, there's still hope-"
"There isn't, I can feel it, Aiko will soon begin to fade away, there is no time left, I suggest you make your peace while you can."
Ki: "Kami really can't do anything to save her?"
"God believes that humanity must take responsibility for the choices we make and face the resulting consequences, it's only in death that the innocent receive salvation, unfortunately for Aiko that won't be the case."
Ki: "I see then after this is all over, after my baby grows up, when I have nothing left to live for…I'll just end it all for myself."
"If you cross that line then you will condemn yourself."
Ki: "I don't care, losing Kyousuke and Aiko, it's already too painful, I just want it all to end."
"…"
I got up from the porch and walked over to Aiko.
Ai: "Hi mommy are you done talking with Mr. Onustus?"
Ki: "Yeah, hey I was wondering if maybe I could join you and your friends in your game?"
Ai: "Yeah! Come on!"
These precious moments, even if I am doomed to forget, I'll hold on to them tightly until the very end.
Kyousuke's POV
Ky: "So I take it you're the devil?"
"Oh, did my dark Aura give me away?"
Ky: "Well I've come to the end of my rope, it's pretty obvious you'd come next."
"You've forsaken God in the name of your love and his heart becomes pained because of it but nothing brings me more joy than to watch as his heart breaks as I push his children farther down into the pits of despair until they break."
Ky: "Probably for the best, I have no place anywhere else."
"Breaking a still living soul, like eating cookies fresh from the oven."
As I sat there prepared to be swallowed up, a light suddenly shone through behind me that quickly burned away the darkness into embers and ash.
"Hm?"
Ky: "Eh?"
"Well it seems you've gained a reprieve, oh well, you are but one of many souls and there's always the chance that you fall again and when you do…I'll be waiting."
With that the darkness disappeared, I turned around to see where the light was coming from but it was gone before I could see.
Ky: "What was that?"
100 Years Later
After that encounter with the devil and that light nothing else happened, still stuck in the void all I could do was wander, eventually I lost my mind for about fifty years, regained my sanity for couple of months before losing it again for another fifty years and that's where I am right now.
Ky: "Heheheheh no matter where I go I'm always in the same spot~"
Ky: "God I just want to die; didn't that Gerald guy say I was supposed to shatter or something if my desire to die reached a peak?"
Ky: "Don't be silly, we can't die; we have to complete the mission first~"
Ky: "What mission is that?"
Ky: "…I don't know, something about saving the princess and the queen from a horrible witch."
Ky: "Well whatever the mission is there's no way we'll be able to complete it from here and there's no way to leave, so might as well die."
Ky: "Yeah if only there was a way out or at the very least…a way to help them from here."
{Strummmm}
Ky: "Hm?"
I suddenly heard the strum of a guitar from nearby and looked to see someone sitting on the ground with one in his hands
Ky: "Where'd he come from."
Ky: "I don't know man, I was just playing my guitar here {Strummm} when you two suddenly showed up."
Ky: "Wait, where did you get that guitar?"
Ky: "I don't know…where did I get this guitar?...In fact where did you two even…come…from?"
Once again I found myself alone.
1000 Years Later
"Tomorrow will be rainy with a chance of clearing up later in the afternoon."
Ky: "Hm, this ice cream is delicious, it's a good thing it never runs out {scoop} eh?"
I looked away from the T.V. for the first time in a while to see that my bottomless tub of ice cream…had run out.
Ky: "Huh."
Instead of getting more, I just went back to watching T.V.
10,000 Years Later
Ky: "Change? Any change sir."
"Sure, here."
Ky: "God bless, any change?"
"Jeez get a job loser."
Ky: "Oh yeah, that's so obvious, why didn't I think of that."
"Why you-"
Ki: "Come on Eric leave him alone."
Ky: "Eh?"
Er: "Sorry babe."
Ki: "I go window shopping for a little you're already picking fights with the homeless. Sorry about him sir, he can be a little rowdy."
Er: "Psh."
Ky: "…"
Ki: "Here, but some food with this."
Ky: "…"
Ki: "Well have a good day."
Ky: "…"
100,000 Years Later
Ky: "Beautiful morning with you!~ Beautiful morning with you!~"
As I stood there on stood there on stage singing my heart out while the rest of the band supported me but it was then that I noticed someone in the audience. A girl looked to be about my age, long light brown hair and really pretty but despite that I felt something from her like I was singing my songs just for her even thought I've never met her before in my life.
Ky: "After the memory of our love faded away~ I slept so long with my eyes open, dreaming nothing, yea-a-aaah~"
As we closed our last song for the night the girl had managed to move to the front and as I sang the final bars I reached down causing everyone including her to reach out for my hand and I had managed to grab onto hers and pulled her on stage.
Ky: "Bran new love sooooo-oooong~ Bran new love sooooo-oooong~ Love song~"
After I sang the last of the lyrics the band continued with the end of the song while I looked the girl deep in her eyes and leaned in to give her a kiss which she reciprocated. I've kissed a lot of girls but this is the first time it made my heart…flutter. After the song finally ended and the crowd gave their final cheer, I looked at the girl again.
Ky: "What's your name?"
Ki: "Ki-Kirino."
100,000,000 Years Later
As me and the kids picked apples at our orchard, Kirino came with a full picnic basket, signaling it was time for lunch.
Ki: "Alright come on, time to eat!"
Ai: "Awesome, I'm starving."
Na: "Mommy!? Did you bring my favorite apple sauce?!"
Ki: "Of course Naota."
Ky: "Ugh, it's a hot one today."
Ki: "Here have some ice cold tea."
Ky: "Thanks…darling."
Ki: "Darling? Hmhm you've never called me that before."
Ky: "Really? I swear I have."
Ai: "Come on guys, don't be gross, I'm trying to eat."
Ki: "Yeah, we'll have plenty of time later to act all lovey dovey, so let's eat."
Ky: "…Yeah
1,000,000,000,000 Years Later
Ky: "What am I doing?"
All this time had passed and I was still trapped in this void, no matter much I tried to fool myself into thinking otherwise. No matter how many fake lives I tried to live out in my imagination the cruel reality of my situation always came back to hit me in the face.
Ky: "Hm?"
I looked at my hand and noticed that it looked skinnier than before and bits of sand were popping out of my skin.
Ky: "Sand? What's happening? ...Oh yeah, Herald, the Graveyard of Souls, been so long I barely remember…guess I finally broke, though from here I don't think I'll be able to reincarnate. So this is the end for me…forever. I won't even get to see Kirino again in another life and Aiko, what'll happen to her?"
Calm tears began to flow from my eyes as my memories disappeared, sand cascaded from my skin and my body grew thinner but I held onto Aiko's and Kirino's memories as much as I could, I wanted them to be the last thing I remembered.
Ky: "I'm sorry your daddy was such a failure, I'm sorry I was a terrible husband, I'm sorry I couldn't come in, save the day and be the hero, I'm sorry…I'm sorry."
Kirino's POV
Ki: "Here's one."
Ai: "Wow it looks so pretty!"
It's been a few hours, as far as I know, since I came to accept that there was nothing I could do to save Aiko. So now we were just exploring the beach and after figuring out how to conjure things in this world I decided to give her a chance to learn about Earth's sea life, as pointless as that sounds.
Ki: "See, octopi and many other tentaclly things like it can change its color like a kaleidoscope, they can use it to hide, scare off other sea animals or even talk to eachother."
Ai: "Wow, hey Mr. Octopus, can you turn pink?"
I commanded the octopus to shift to its natural pale pink.
Ai: "Wow now it's really pretty."
As I looked at her happily shaking hands with the little octopus I noticed Aiko becoming slightly transparent once I saw the barely visible movement of the water behind her.
"Kirino?"
I turned to see my guardian angel standing at the edge of the water looking at us solemnly.
"It's almost time."
Ki: "…Come on, Aiko."
I gestured to her to grab my hand.
Ai: "Okay mommy."
We walked back to the sand as my angel left to give us some privacy, I walked over to a tree, sat against it and pulled Aiko into my lap and we looked at the sunset I conjured together.
Ki: "Hey Aiko, have I ever told you the story of Romeo and Juliet?"
Ai: "No."
I looked down at her face, she was even more faded than before.
At least she's not in any pain.
Ki: "Well the story goes like this…"
I gave her a summarized, child friendly, retelling of the age old story, she seemed to enjoy it, saying how Romeo and Juliet reminded her of me and Kyousuke, don't really know how she made that connection. Her body progressively became more and more faint, making it harder and harder for me to maintain my composure.
Ki: "So {sniff} Romeo and Juliet both ran away to heaven where they lived happily ever after {sniff}."
Ai: "Mommy, why are you crying?"
She was so faded now I could barely see her face anymore. I embraced her, too scared to watch as she disappeared.
Ki: "We'll have to leave soon and I don't want to leave yet, I was just starting to have fun."
Ai: "But we can come back again some other time."
Ki: "Yeah but I just don't want to leave, next time we're going to do a lot more."
Ai: "Like what?"
Ki: "We'll have tea parties with the fairies, go ride on some whales with the mermaids."
Ai: "Can we bring daddy next time?"
Her voice sounded tired.
Ki: "Yeah, we'll have so much fun together {sniff}."
She adjusted herself in my arms so I was cradling her like a baby.
Ai: "{Yaaaawn} I'm sleepy."
Ki: "Then get some sleep, when it's time to go I'll wake you up."
Ai: "Okay."
She relaxed and closed her eyes as she continued to fade away until she was gone completely and I let my tears flow freely.
Ki: "Aiko."
Ky: "Kirino."
Ki: "Eh?"
Kyousuke's POV
"Grandpa?"
Ky: "Huh? Who's there?"
"Grandpa get up."
Just before I finally shattered I heard a young girl's voice that for some reason I kind of recognized it though I didn't know who's it was, she sounded about nine or ten.
Ky: "I…I can't."
"Grandpa get up."
The person talking was a complete mystery to me but hearing her voice, I felt like she was someone I cherished like family, someone precious to me that I'd do anything for.
"Grandpa you have to get up."
I gritted my teeth and lifted my skeleton-like body up but instead of seeing the white void I was in a black one but I was still able to see everything around me and the floor was covered with a few inches of water.
Ky: "What the…"
I looked around me looking for the girl but as I did I noticed someone sitting several meters away.
Ky: "Ki…Kirino?"
There she was though she didn't seem to acknowledge me, in fact she seemed completely unaware of her surroundings. I lifted myself to my feet and walked over to her, I then noticed that her hands, feet and neck were bound by chains.
Ky: "Kirino?"
She didn't move, I stumbled over and collapsed onto her back though she still didn't notice.
Ky: "Kirino."
When I tried to look at her face I saw that despite being stone faced she was crying, a lot, so on instinct I hugged her close.
Ky: "Kirino, it's okay, I'm here…I'm here."
As I hugged her tighter a strange feeling suddenly enveloped before my mind was then flooded with…all of Kirino's memories, all the feelings she felt, the emotions she expressed, I felt them all as if they were my own. How she felt when she first gained her feelings for me, when I broke her heart and she started to hate me, when her feelings for me were reignited, the moment she accepted Saori and Ayase as her best friends, the day her book was turned into an anime, when she graduated high school. But then more memories appeared, not Kirino's but Aiko's, I saw all her memories, felt everything she felt and then…I saw it, Kirino holding her, how weak she felt, how light her body was, like she was disappearing.
Ky: "Aiko."
Kirino's POV
Just as Aiko disappeared, I suddenly felt a warmth emanating through me and I heard…
Ky: "Kirino."
Kyousuke's voice and for the first time since our breakup, it felt comforting, then felt something, a weight on my back and like I was being hugged.
Ky: "Kirino, it's okay, I'm here."
Then all of a sudden I felt my mind getting flooded with memories, Kyousuke's memories and I could feel everything he felt during them. I saw the day Kyousuke had lost his resolve and turned to a life of simplicity, the day when we finally started talking again after our cold war, the day he decided to propose to me, then I saw…Maria but dressed as me then…
Ayase?
Throughout Kyousuke's whole ordeal I felt all the pain and misery he went through, saw all the truths and lies he tried to show me, it made me want to cry even more than I already was and I became frustrated with myself for not seeing it. Then just like that, my mind felt clear and what felt like chains were released from my body and my heart felt warm again, the comforting weight disappeared but I felt free and then…
Ai: "Mommy?"
I opened my eyes and there standing in front of me…was Aiko.
