Trundling through the streets of western Dallas, Yugi walked roadside with Theodore in the middle and Kiran on the other end, caging the Human Garde between the two as they tried to delay him from returning to 2019 and in turn eradicate him from the timeline, no matter their opinions on the matter. Yugi knew that Kiran was taking this mission much harder than the others, if only because their target was a Garde—a Human Garde from the School & their House—but Garde nonetheless.
But it had taken them this long to squirrel the youngest Hargreeves out from the protective circle his family offered—first by Reginald Hargreeves, and then later by the others. Of course, he could've been taken out during the first five years he had been in Dallas alone, but those on the Infinite Switchboard had seen a path where Theodore had offed himself. Of course, that hadn't happened and now here they were, walking side-by-side with their target in broad daylight with an ever dwindling window and Mogs on their asses. Yugi just hoped that the Handler was far more interested in the job The Swedes were supposed to be doing, instead of their own.
Currently, Kiran was nattering to Theodore about…something. Honestly, the young teen could talk about anything and nothing at all, a talent which was all his own. If he didn't know any better, he would almost say that it was one of his Legacies, and what a shit one that would be! Talking someone's ear off? If that were him, he'd probably cut out his tongue or something stupid like that…but then again, there was that stupid healing factor that would likely get in the way. Regrowing it would be a pain in the ass…or head.
Tuning back into the conversation for a moment when Kiran addressed him, sparkling eyes staring up at him with such admiration that it made his heart pound. For the past however many years the two had been together, Yugi had looked after the younger boy who had weeded his way beneath his skin and into his heart like a parasite; one that just never left. Although he would never admit it, the ginger often saw the younger boy as something akin to a brother or a younger sibling and would do anything—anything—to protect him. He'd scowl the whole way through it, but he'd do it.
Yugi grunted (whether in agreement or refusal, he didn't know) and that seemed to be enough for Kiran to continue where he left off, disappearing off on another tangent, leaving Yugi to his thoughts once more. By this point, the sun had sunken low across the horizon, painting the sky a molten red and absently reminded him of that warning about shepherd's and rain. Although the one about the number of crows was likely more accurate than one about weather predictions. What was it again? 'One for sorrow…Seven for a secret never to be told…and Ten for a bird you must not miss' Yeah, that was more accurate.
"…As you wind through the streets at the fabled bazaars,
With the cardamom-cluttered stalls,
You can smell every spice, while you haggle the price
Of the silks and satin shawls…"
Kiran sang at the top of his voice and danced wildly in the open air along to the music. The song had been something that he'd remembered one of the older boys singing back at School when the Teachers had been in a good mood—one that he'd often beg to hear. At some point the trio had claimed the grass of a nearby park as their sanctuary for the evening as they (read: Kiran and Theodore) chatted about this and that; slowly dwindling down the hours and hoping that if they kept the Human Garde occupied for long enough then he'd completely forget about the planned meet-up with his family.
"…Loric nights, like Loric days,
More often than not, are hotter than hot
In a lot of good ways!
Loric nights, like Loric dreams,
This mystical land of magic and grandeur
Is more than is seems…"
Lying perpendicular to a wildly dancing Kiran on the wooden park bench, slightly damp from the several mysterious stains left there (besides the several splotches of bird poop), the teen paid no attention to his surroundings. Senses either dulled by the hard drink loosely hanging in his hand or the creeping night or even the hyper-focus he had on their target who currently lay spread-eagled amongst the daises and staring up at the red sky with the look of a stoned hippie—whatever it was, would forever haunt him as the next few moments unfolded.
"…There's a road that may lead you
To good or to greed through the power your wishing commands
Let the darkness unfold or find fortunes untold
Well, your destiny lies in your hands…"
It wouldn't be until later—much, much later—that Yugi would see the irony in the song Kiran sang with such abandon. But it had been nice to see him acting like that—like the child he was, or was supposed to be. He hadn't really had a childhood, but Kiran's was still going on and he deserved to enjoy it. That was why the older boy often took the lead on the more gory missions (which, let's be honest, were most of them), leaving the boy in charge of research, often amping up the importance of the skill than was likely needed. But Kiran was just a kid and he deserved to enjoy that.
"…Only one may enter here, one whose worth lies far within:
A diamond in the rough!
Loric nights, like Loric days
They seem to excite, take off & take flight
To shock and amaze!
Loric nights, 'neath Loric moons
A fool off his guard could fall & fall hard,
Out there on the dunes…"
Yugi hadn't even seen them coming. Hadn't heard a peep, hadn't even scented sweat and the only reason he had likely noticed anything was wrong was when Kiran—sweet, little Kiran—had trailed off, his wild dance coming to a stop as he turned to face his longtime friend. One minute he'd been dancing & singing, and the next he was hunched over and clutching to his bleeding stomach. "Y-Yu?" Kiran stuttered, hands hovering over the weeping wound like that would stop it from furiously bleeding. "I—I don't feel so good"
"KIRAN!" Yugi cried as he shot to his feet, catching the boy just as his knees gave out and he hit the floor. There was no exit wound but the bullet had easily torn through his flesh like it had been nothing, the edges of the entry wound singed from the heat of it. Tears welled up in his eyes as he cradled the younger boy to him, cursing his luck and the stupidity of leaving his chest back at headquarters. "It's—it's okay" He denied even as the blood continued to pool and tears seeped from the corners of Kiran's usually bubbly eyes. "You're okay, you're okay"
Blood rushed through his ringing ears and his heart felt like it had jumped into his throat as his hands clenched tightly to the stupidly embroidered shirt that had brought so many odd and disapproving stares from passerby that afternoon. Had it really been only a couple of hours ago? Had Kiran really only just been dancing like a mad child? Was there really nothing he could do? Nothing that their stupid Temps Commission training was useful for?
Tears blurred Yugi's vision as his breaths came in great big gulping heaves and the world around them became background noise. Absently, he noted that Theodore had shifted at some point; the large docile serpent they had met in the gardens was gone, instead replaced by a hungry beast that devoured the Mogadorians who shot at them with such ferocity that it would have likely made any normal person squirm.
"Y-Yu?" Kiran stammered, his voice sounding weak and frail.
"Y-yeah—I'm here, buddy, I'm here" Yugi sniffed as his own tears fell to mix with Kiran's.
"Y-Yu, I'm scared"
"It's—it's okay, you're okay, you're—you're gonna be okay" Yugi's voice began to crack as he tried to assuage the fears he had. Tightening his grip on the younger boy, he hauled him up far enough so that he could hug him close and bury his face in the top of golden blonde locks.
"P-pinky prom—promise?"
"P-p-pinky prom—promise"
"Y-yu, I'm sooooo tired" Kiran whined, making the ginger smile weakly despite the gurgling that sounded deep in his throat, making the younger Garde cough around the blood gathering there. It wouldn't be long now. "Will…will you st-stay with m-me?"
"Forever a-and ever"
"Y-Yu…?"
"Y-yeah?"
"Will—will you sing a lul—lullaby? I can't…can't sleep without a…l-lullaby"
"…" Part of Yugi wanted to deny him this request, that selfish part of him that hoped if doing so would keep him alive longer.
"P-pretty—hurk!—please?"
"O-okay" Yugi nodded into his hair, arms still locked tight around his chest in a hug that would crush bones if he weren't Loric.
"My love, my love, my fearless love
I will not say goodbye
Sea may rise, sky may fall
My love will never die
Go on, go on, go bravely on
Into the blackest night
Hold my breath 'til your return
My love will never die…"
Yugi no longer cared about the gross fluids that trickled from his body as he wept into his friend's—his brother's—hair with much the same reckless abandon that Kiran had displayed not mere moments before. His grip remained tight on the young boy as he sang, his voice low and raspy, uncaring if he even sounded in tune. This was Kiran's last & final wish and he'd be damned if he didn't see it through, no matter how much it pained him.
"…My heart, my heart, my drowning heart
Oh all the tears I've cried
Oh I may weep forevermore
My love will never die
My love, my love, my fearless love
I will not say goodbye
Sea may rise, sky may fall
My love will never die…"
Yugi could feel Kiran slipping even as the song neared its end and still he tried to hold, tried to prolong his friend's existence even if it meant him hurting that little bit longer. If only so he could hold him that little bit longer. If only so he didn't have to say goodbye. He didn't want to—couldn't say goodbye to the annoying little dorvak that had crawled under his skin like a mite and nestled into his heart like some kind of bubbly parasite that held a penchant for digging through his things and demanding snuggles out of the perpetually scowling teen like he was his own living teddy bear. Yugi missed those times.
"…My love, my love, my fearless love
I will not say goodbye
Sea may rise, sky may fall
My love will never die
Sea may rise, sky may fall
My love will never die
My love will never die"
The last of the lyrics had barely left his lips when Kiran smiled brightly and relaxed into him, weak arms coming up to clutch at the arms holding him in an awkward returning hug. "G'night Y-Yu" Kiran smiled, happily as his eyes slid shut one last final time before his body began to crumble down into the loralite-speckled ash of their homeland.
"K-kiran!" Yugi desperately reached out for the twisting specks of ash as a gentle breeze drifted through the park, picking up the broken bodies of Mogadorian & Loric alike and taking them away to a better place. "Come—come back! Kiran! Please! I need you…"
The night twinkled on, the stars unforgiving in their judgement as the little Loric watched despairingly—tearfully as his only family and friend was taken away from him. Was taken out of his grasp when they were unable to fight back, unable to protect themselves. It wasn't fair! It was just supposed to be a simple mission, they weren't supposed to die—Kiran wasn't supposed to—to die. Where had it all gone so wrong?