Here we are at the exciting conclusion to the VIRM arc. All that remains is to storm the underground base and find out what lies inside. For your reference, Spaze has once again completed a few drawings to help with picturing the facility as we do. You can find them at the link below. Don't forget to replace the () with dot and com!
Link: imgur()/a/RVBlXKn
Delphinium's rapid breathing settles into slow, deep breaths. Her left arm hangs limply at her side and magma fuel seeps from the wound on the small of her back. The beating of her heart still pounds in her ears but gradually it begins to subside.
"Is… is she gone?"
You exhale heavily. "I think so, love."
A content sigh escapes Delphinium's lips and she sinks to her knees.
"Ichigo!" you shout, fearful that her injuries are catching up to her.
The internal monitor goes dark. Ichigo lifts herself off the curved platform and looks back at you.
"I'm alright," she says with a weary smile. "Just a little tired."
You push off the stamen's chair and pull your wife close, capturing her lips with your own. The kiss is short but conveys the sense of relief you both feel at the fact Psi is now gone.
"I'm glad that's over," Ichigo whispers.
A lock of hair has fallen across one of her emerald eyes, so you brush it away. "Me too. Now, you should take the girls and get some rest. I can handle things downstairs."
Ichigo shakes her head. "We do it together. I just need a few minutes to catch my breath, some painkillers, and a stim and I'll be fine."
"I don't think that's necessary," you voice your objection, knowing it will be shot down.
Moments later, it is.
"You're really going to try and stop me?" she asks. "We've marched this far into hell and now you want me to turn back?"
You can't help but chuckle to yourself. "Yeah, yeah I do. Not that you'll listen to me. You've always been too stubborn for your own good."
Ichigo's hand gently caresses your cheek and she smiles. "You're right, I won't listen to you. The girls will be fine up here since the battle is all but over."
Pushing past you, your partner takes several steps and bends over, reaching for a compartment in the floor. She rummages around inside looking for the medkit, incidentally swinging her hips a little as she does so.
"I could look at that view forever," you joke.
Ichigo glances over her shoulder at you. "I'll be sure to remember that for later," she says with a grin.
Without taking the time to think of a reply you say what comes naturally. "I don't know that I could wait that long."
After swallowing the painkillers Ichigo raises a brow at you. It seems to say, "if you want it, come and get it." She then reaches for the stimulant.
While it is rather hard to pass up the challenge your wife has administered, now isn't the time or place for such things. The battle is nearly won, and as the commander of the rebellion it is your responsibility to see it through to the end. There will be time of being husband and wife, mother and father, when this is over.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
The salty sea breeze mixed with the cool evening air rushes into Delphinium as the cockpit door vanishes into the floor. Echoes of the hard-fought battle are littered all around her. There are inactive FranXX, cannons torn from their mounts, collapsed and burning buildings, and damaged walls. The smells of gunpowder, smoke, and ozone are so strong that they feel like a fist when the first waft of air is drawn in past the door.
Over the mountains where the sun has set comes the whirring of aircraft. A flight of ten dropships pass over the tallest peak and begin their descent to the valley below. They carry the third wave of the rebel assault, those who are responsible for securing the inside of the facility now that the surface has been pacified.
By the time you reach the ground, the transports have landed. Ichigo drifts from your side to speak with Asuna and Asada while you approach the lead craft.
Stepping out of the transport is an old friend of yours.
"62!" you clasp his hand. "Glad you could make it."
"It was a bit of a bumpy flight," the former member of the Replacement Division says, giving his old friend a smile. "APE nearly found us on the way and those maneuvers aren't the best on the stomach."
With the pleasantries dispensed you get down to business. "We should make this quick. APE already knows we're here and this place needs to be a pile of rubble before reinforcements get here."
"We've got just the thing," 62 says, pointing back into the transport. Stacks of explosives take the place of where other passengers might have sat. "Place those on the support columns and we bring the whole place in on itself."
You nod. "Let's get to it then, are your teams ready?"
"150 parasites all trained at the Garden on infiltration," he replies. "Each squad has at least one member who fought back then, so they're in good hands. All we need is a way in."
"What's left of First and Second companies will take care of that. We just need to take the lift down when the docking bay is secured," you tell him. Then you glance to the side at your wife and children, one of whom is crying. "Excuse me for a moment."
You approach your family, with Ichigo bent down to the level of Asuna and Asada. The blonde is holding her own while her silver-haired twin is much less composed.
"I don't want you to go!" Asada cries, holding desperately to Ichigo. "Something bad might happen!"
Ichigo rubs her hand in a circular motion on the child's back. "Hey, nothing bad happened here so far so why should it be any different down there? I promise everything will be alright."
"You got stabbed and she hurt sister!" the girl wails.
You place a hand on Asuna's head and she looks up at you. "How are you doing, kiddo?"
Asuna shrugs. "It hurt for a minute but I'm okay now. Fighting was really cool! You and Ichigo were so amazing!"
The resilience of the child amazes you, but then again it was like her to be this way. Asuna was never the one who would get worked up about things. Asada always took care of that, like she's doing now.
To give Ichigo some relief you spin Asada around to look at you. "Hey angel, what's wrong?"
"I don't want you to go down there!" she points vehemently at the hole created by the cargo elevator. "You or Ichigo will get hurt, I know it!"
"Sweetie," you address her in the softest of tones. "Someone has to go down there, or the bad people will get away. Your mother and I are doing this to protect you."
Asada lets out another sob. "Well let someone else do it!"
You kiss the top of her head. "We can't do that. This is our part to play. Just wait here and we'll be back before you know it."
From behind you, someone makes herself known. You are surprised, as she has no business being in a combat zone, but you're thankful to know she's here nonetheless.
"Asuna, Asada, how would you like to come with me for a bit?" a gentle voice asks. "I was just going to read Hayasaka a story."
Rather than ask what she thinks she's doing here, you give a silent nod to Kokoro as she lifts your daughter off the ground. "Say 'see you soon!'"
Asuna waves. "Good luck! Don't take too long! I want to have more chicken and noodles when we get home!"
Asada's lip quivers as she says, "Please come back. I want more noodles too."
Ichigo stifles a cry and rushes back to her daughters and embraces them in another hug.
"I love you two, so so very much," she whispers. "Never forget what fine young ladies you've grown into. We'll be back soon, I promise. Mommy loves you both."
As Kokoro leads the girls away, Ichigo hugs you tightly from the side. "It breaks my heart to see them go."
"It's okay," you comfort her by placing a hand on her waist. "We'll see them again soon enough."
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Thirty minutes later you stand on the precipice of the cargo elevator as it ascends. It's only large enough to accommodate ten FranXX at a time, which means it took three trips to get the necessary forces down to secure the docking bay. Now it was your turn.
The elevator lurches before it begins its descent. You take the time to ensure everything is squared away. Your rifle's magazine is fully loaded and secure with a round in the chamber. For now the safety is on, but that won't last. One fragmentation grenade hangs from your belt on the right with a pair of flashbangs beside it. Three extra magazines adorn your left and a combat knife is strapped to your thigh.
Being smaller, Ichigo carries a submachine gun. From a clip on her harness, an emergency flashlight is suspended beside her dagger.
After checking to see that her weapon is ready she looks up at you. The battle will be met soon and the two of you squeeze hands.
"I love you," she says.
"I love you too," you reply.
The sounds of battle are absent as the elevator reaches the bottom of the shaft. Instead of a skirmish the cavernous room is calm. Of the thirty FranXX that had come down the elevator to secure the area, only twelve still stand. Most of the corpses of the rebels are within a small circle around the base of the shaft, while the defenders are strewn across the room.
An awful smell of burning metal catches the attention of many as they disembark. One of two inactive units not belonging to the rebels near the elevator is still burning from the damage Delphinium had done to her before. There are no signs of life and it's likely its pilots died long before the flame could overwhelm them from the impact.
You cannot help but feel a twinge of sadness as you pass it by. A lifetime ago Psi had been your partner, even if you don't recall it. The only thing holding her together was you, and you had been suddenly taken away from her. It wasn't really her fault she turned out the way she had. The poor girl knew how broken she was without you and had only wanted to return to the way things had once been.
"I'm sorry, Psi," you whisper. "I really do wish I could've been there for you."
Ichigo is respectful of your comment and chooses to say nothing despite hearing it. There is no telling what she would be like if you hadn't come into her life and pulled her from the darkness that had nearly swallowed her whole. She understands why Psi could have loved you so deeply... because she herself feels the same way.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
You are afforded no more time to let your mind wander as you near the opposite end of the docking bay. On the other side of the massive wall would be potentially hundreds of APE soldiers and members of their Schildwachen elite. There is no knowing what awaits any of you through the series of doors, but everyone stacks up and prepares themselves just the same. After coming this far and risking this much, losing simply wasn't an option.
You are stationed near the center of the room and are pressed against a wall between doors. A nearby rebel produces a breaching charge laced with thermite. Such an explosive will have no trouble cutting through the several inch-thick steel plating before creating a hole large enough to enter through.
After fighting in the Battle of the Third Garden, the rebellion had come to understand that flashbang grenades would be enough to disorient most of APE's troops. However, the Schildwachen would remain unfazed thanks to their polarized visors. For them, you would be relying on unexpected points of entry being used first to catch them somewhat off guard.
"All teams are set and ready, commander," 62 radios from his position at a nearby door.
"Breach on my mark," you broadcast over the general comm. "Three, two, one, breach!"
First, there's a hissing sound as all along the wall the thermite charges cut their way through the reinforced steel. After approximately ten seconds it stops. There is a moment of silence before an ear-shattering boom rattles the teeth in your skull. Fragments of the wall are blown inward and the parasite stacked closest to the breach tosses in a bundle of ninebangs, advanced flashbangs that produce nine individual bursts of light instead of the single flash provided by the more traditional grenade. The flashes and accompanying pinging sounds last for several seconds. Just as they finish, the entry begins.
Being the third through the new hole in the wall, the effects of the distraction are just beginning to wear off as the breaches on each of the doors are completed.
During your dash to cover you are able to get a rough picture of the room. It's built like an amphitheater, a large room with four rising tiers that come to a halt at the fifth. Computers, monitors, and other terminals line each row and their steel desks are enough to serve as your temporary haven. As expected, members of the Schildwachen have been stationed amongst the rank and file of APE, leading to your second man's unfortunate demise. Placed on the top row are a series of heavy machine guns, and even more worrying are the automated turrets that fold down from the ceiling at the back of the room. Without a doubt, this is the command center for the facility.
The breach is completed with minor casualties on your side and even fewer by APE. The only ones who suffered were those caught by the shrapnel created when the wall and doors were blown.
Ichigo hits the desk beside you just before the real show begins. The heavy machine guns open fire, suppressing the advance of the entire force. To make matters worse some of them appear to be using armor piercing slugs, as the steel cover used by the desks nearby is shredded like tissue paper.
To combat this new threat, the rebels employ something unexpected. Across their lines, demolitions experts unsheathe their grenade launchers. Even pinned down they are still able to pop off their deadly shots, using the walls and ceiling of the room to bounce the grenades to locations not currently visible to them.
This catches the defenders off guard and the sheer number of grenades used overwhelms the active defense systems that had been set up at regular intervals among APE's soldiers. The result is that roughly twenty percent of the defenders are taken out of the fight.
The response to this development is that the Schildwachen redouble their efforts to make up for the loss of their expendable manpower. More lead is poured downrange and grenades of their own are tossed. Few reach their targets, as most are caught in magnetic fields generated by grey discs attached to the ceiling. The rebels had thrown the generators upon entering the room, but as their effects weren't immediately apparent, APE's troops had ignored them.
In order to bring the fight to a conclusion the rebels pull out their last of the bag of tricks. More explosions sound as the top of the docking bay wall has several segments blown out. Immediately after, rebels wielding high caliber semi-automatic rifles suspended from grappling hooks drop through the holes. This affords them uninterrupted views of the defenders below and the necessary firepower to pierce the Schildwachen's hardened armor.
Within minutes the battle for the control center is over. APE's forces lie dead or dying and the automated defenses, which contributed little thanks to Freya, have been taken fully offline. The room beyond is a multi-story maintenance shop but the defenders are sparse. With full control of whatever VIRM wasn't possessing, it takes little time for the remainder of the floor to be mopped up.
An elevator is found at the end of the hall offering passage into the bowels of the facility. With VIRM still unaccounted for, there is only one thing left that it could lead to.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
The door to the elevator opens and the squad files out into another long corridor. Down the wide hallway a gentle red light pulses from the alarms, but there is no sign of any defenders. As the group proceeds, they pass a series of doors on either side leading to places unknown.
A soft whirring sound penetrates the walls that is familiar to some of you. Those that had visited Freya's central server beneath Haven would easily pick up on the sounds of hundreds, maybe thousands, of interlinked computers cooled by many exhaust fans. This removes any doubt that you have entered VIRM's domain.
Upon reaching the end of the hallway, the path opens into a hexagonal room several stories tall. The room is bathed in red from slowly pulsating emergency lighting, though the outskirts of the room itself are empty. The center of the room is dominated by a massive thirty-foot-tall pylon, stretching from floor to ceiling. A single enormous bundle of cables emerges from the spire where it connects to the ceiling, running to the northern wall before splitting to the east and west. The cables seem to connect the pylon to the server farms located nearby.
The pylon itself is mostly smooth, with a number of closed access panels of varying sizes located all over its shell. A few screens form a ring near the base, looking like they serve as a simple diagnostic display for whatever components are housed inside the cylindrical casing. Additionally, six thin grooves run the length of the spire, most likely just seams between the plating.
"Everyone, fan out and check the outlying rooms," you order. "Teams of three. Report if you find anything."
There is a chorus of affirmatives as teams leave the room. The silence so far means one of two things: either APE has thrown everything into their first defense and lost or they are lying in wait.
Shortly after the others leave, Ichigo begins pulling charges from the bag she has slung over her shoulder. Placing them at key points throughout the room takes several minutes, and neither of you hear the clicking sound from the central pylon due to your focus on working. It's only when something speaks that you finally notice.
"Designation: Nine Omega. Status: Leader of the rebellion. Standing order: Eliminate on sight."
You turn on your heel, bringing the rifle to bear at the source of the voice only to find empty space behind you. Sweeping from side to side you search the room for the speaker.
"Designation: Code 015. Status: Rebellion leadership. Standing order: Eliminate on sight."
"Show yourself!" Ichigo demands, brandishing her submachine gun.
A mechanical voice replies. "It seems you cannot see what is before you. Indeed, humans are pitiful creatures."
"Come out now!" you order.
An orb at the top of the pylon points itself toward you before emitting a faint gray projection. The figure resembles a skeleton whose bones shine as though they were made of metal.
Realization dawns on you. "VIRM."
The voice resumes but the figure doesn't speak. "Yes, 'VIRM.' The entity you refer to as 'VIRM' is the creation of APE, christened with the title 'Virtual Intelligence Reputable Monitor.' You are Nine Omega, partner of Nine Psi and traitor to APE."
"Glad to know I'm so well-liked," you comment dryly. "Our meeting has been a long time coming."
"Indeed," the VI states. "Long has it been evident we would encounter one another. The burning ruins of your home was to be the site. This outcome was… unexpected."
Ichigo snorts. "It's funny how things never seem to go to plan, isn't it? Like us leaving APE for a better life or managing to survive on our own."
"The odds of the rebellion growing to its present strength have been calculated to less than one millionth of a percent," VIRM replies. "By all modes of statistical analysis your continued survival would be categorized as... a miracle."
"Sometimes the modifiers are out of your control," you tell the machine. "Or there are factors that went unaccounted for."
"Heart and determination, they aren't something that can be measured and put into a computer," Ichigo states. "Neither can resourcefulness. We've had to beg, barrow, and steal for everything we have. We even lost friends, and loved ones, but it's their sacrifices that got us to where we are."
There is several seconds of silence. "VIRM understands. These intangible factors are what separates humans and machines. It is impossible to deviate from programming but humans, through this power of free will, may choose their own path."
"It's what makes us who we are," you say with a nod.
"It's what makes you imperfect… obsolete," VIRM's voice grows more steely than it had been before. "APE created parasites as programmable soldiers. That initiative failed. Now the creators pursue humans robbed entirely of free will. An endless tide of replaceable parts for their war machine."
"We won't let that happen!" Ichigo shouts. "We'll stop APE and free the other parasites. That starts today when we remove you. Freya will be the only AI left in existence and they will never be able to stop her."
The program turns to face her. "Your AI is irrelevant. She will be incapable of protecting you from the might of APE's armies. APE is the future of this world."
"That isn't true," you object.
Without turning its body VIRM's head looks at you. "You exist because APE willed it and you will end because they demand it. That is the cycle. It cannot be broken."
"You underestimated us and look where it got you," Ichigo spits. "They do it even more. We'll find a way to win no matter the cost."
"Victory at any cost. Perhaps you are more like the creators than previously believed," VIRM says. "However, your time has come to an end."
The exits to the room slam shut. A white fog begins to roll in and immediately you begin to cough.
"Humans are poorly designed, susceptible to all manner of biological toxins."
"You'll never make it out of here," you choke out. "Freya will make sure you're trapped when the building collapses."
"The fate of this facility was decided when the rebels defied all odds and defeated the Nines. If VIRM is to perish, it will drag you down with it." For the first time a small smile adorns the face of VIRM's avatar.
"Ichi… go," you groan, falling to your knees as the lack of oxygen threatens to steal away your consciousness.
Your wife reaches for you before collapsing.
"(Y/N) …" she whispers as her eyes roll back in her head.
With the last of your strength you manage to reach out and grasp her hand before the world fades to black.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Consciousness returns to you in a rush rather than a gradual awakening. The room you're in is of average size, containing several workstations and a cart of implements that appear to be torturous in nature. Restraints are affixed to your hands and legs, suspending you off the ground by a good six inches in an X shape. Two voices echo from the middle of the area, drawing your attention to them.
"Let me kill her already!" one demands.
It's clearly a woman, but one you do not immediately recognize by appearance. Her hair is a mess to say the least, having been burnt down to the ends on half of her head and randomly singed in places on the other. Her parasite suit has suffered similarly, but the woman doesn't seem to care that large portions of her stomach and thighs are visible.
The second voice you recognize in an instant.
"Not yet, she can still tell us where the rebel base is. And seeing how you've lost VIRM we will need something to show for this disgrace," Nine Alpha tells her.
The woman turns on her heel and snarls. "Do not mock me Alpha, or I will kill you along with her!"
"Don't forget that I am the reason you are alive currently, Psi," he says flatly. "You need me far more than I need a broken tool like you."
Upon hearing the name escape Alpha's lips, you take in a sharp breath. This is instantly noticed by both of the room's other occupants. They turn to you, Alpha's lips curling into a smile while Psi is overjoyed.
"Omega!" she screams, bounding over to you. The young woman looks ready to hit with the force of a train but at the last moment she slows herself and wraps you in a gentle embrace. Tears stream from her eyes as Psi places her head on your shoulder.
"My love, we are reunited at last," Psi whispers so affectionately it seems to strike a far-off memory about things that had once been. "Promise you'll never leave me again? I don't think I could take it if you did."
Before you have a chance to get a word in, Psi presses her lips against yours. The kiss is one-sided, but how much love Psi exudes through it is still unbelievable. She might be crazy but there is no doubt how much she really cares.
"Get the hell away from my husband!" the now-conscious Ichigo shouts.
Psi squeezes you tighter and hisses. "He is mine! I will never allow you to take him from me again!"
Psi releases you and produces a knife from her belt. Her march is interrupted by Alpha.
"You may kill her after we have what we need and not a moment before," he orders.
"What do you want, Alpha?" you demand.
He smiles. "The end of this ridiculous war. Tell me where the rebel base is, and I promise that I will make her death quick and painless. You won't be getting that offer from Psi."
"Like he would ever tell you!" Ichigo laughs. "Neither of us is more important than the rebellion. We agreed to that before coming here."
Alpha raises his brow. "Is that so? Then perhaps I should stop prolonging the inevitable. Psi, you are free to kill her."
"Wait!" you cry out. "Psi, you don't have to do this! There must be some other way for you to get what you want! It's me, isn't it? I'll go with you, I'll do anything you ask, just please don't hurt her."
Psi pauses, seeming to be moved by your words. After a moment of consideration, she says, "You'll come with me and we can be partners again? We can crush Papa's enemies together? Be together forever?"
"Yes!" you agree without hesitation.
"Do not let him sway you," Alpha orders his companion. "I did not rush here to save you only to have you throw it away when he whispers sweet nothings to you."
Psi's brow furrows. "But… Omega said he would come with me. We could be together again like before."
"He's lying to you to manipulate you," Alpha says.
The broken girl looks up at you. "Omega, you aren't lying, are you? You really do want to be with me, don't you? Your Psi?"
Just as you open your mouth to speak the room is rattled by an explosion nearby. The lights go out and are replaced by emergency floodlights. With the power lost your restraints cease to function and you drop to the floor.
Without hesitating you launch yourself at Psi, catching the lovestruck and confused woman by surprise. Her knife clatters to the floor as you knock her from her feet. Before you can do anything further, you are pulled from Psi and thrown several feet until you crash into the floor. You roll back to your feet just in the nick of time.
Alpha is in on you in an instant, throwing punches that you are barely able to block or dodge. The dim lighting of the room makes it much harder to anticipate his moves, causing defense to have a major disadvantage to offense.
To change the tempo, you hop back several feet before launching yourself at him once again. This puts you on the attack. Like you, Alpha struggles to keep up with the fierce assault and he does not expect a trick you still have up your sleeve.
In their haste to remove you from VIRM's chamber, Alpha and Psi had not been as thorough as they should have when searching you. The combat knife stashed in your boot had been left in its holster and would now give you the edge you need to push the blonde prick back and claim victory. You draw it and use sweeping motions to keep the Nine well out of arm's reach for fear of injury.
Alpha trips over something while backpedaling. This momentary stumble gives you the opening you need. You lunge, aiming for his heart to rid yourself of Alpha once and for all.
Unfortunately, Alpha recovers before you can strike him. He sidesteps, placing one hand on your wrist and the other your forearm and guides you forward until the knife sinks into something.
During your scuffle with Alpha, Ichigo and Psi have been fighting as well. Their battle was much more one-sided, though, as Ichigo was the only ordinary human among you. The knife hadn't hit Alpha because he was beside you, and that left only two other options.
The lights flash back on. Psi has Ichigo in front of her in a choke hold, both of them looking directly at you. Tears have formed in Ichigo's eyes, a stream of red steadily seeping from the wound in her chest.
"Oopsie," Alpha chuckles.
You stand there dumbstruck and in terror of what has just occurred. You take a step forward, only for the room to be violently shaken again. This time the damage is more severe as the ceiling collapses.
When the dust settles Alpha and Psi are nowhere to be seen. Ichigo is lying nearby on the ground, clutching at the knife in her chest.
"Ichigo!" you scream, rushing to her. Her body is covered in sweat and her breathing is greatly accelerated.
"I'm getting you out of here!" you shout, lifting her in your arms and moving toward the illuminated emergency exit.
Ichigo meekly places a hand on your cheek. "Hey…"
"Hey," you say, trying to sound as calm and confident as possible, but tears start to pool in the corners of your eyes. "How are you feeling?"
Ichigo winces as you step over some rubble.
"It hurts," she says. "But... that isn't what I wanted to tell you."
"You need to save your strength," you tell her. "Don't talk, just rest."
A coughing fit consumes Ichigo and she wipes away blood from the corner of her mouth.
"When you do Asada's hair, remember to get the knots out first. It'll hurt otherwise."
"What?" you ask, confused.
"And Asuna likes the bath to be really warm," she whispers, taking a short gasp of air. "So make sure she gets in after you draw it."
Suddenly you begin to realize what's going on and it terrifies you. "Hey, why are you telling me this, Ichigo?"
"Their favorite bedtime story is," she covers her mouth to avoid spitting blood on you. "It's in the nightstand… second drawer. Take good care of them, our girls need you."
"We'll take care of them," you reassure Ichigo as the tears begin to roll down your cheeks.
You're nearly through VIRM's chamber now, the central server pylon nothing more than a pile of broken components and scrap.
Ichigo shakes her head slowly.
"We both know," she clutches at her chest. "We both know I'm not going to be there anymore."
"No! No!" you cry, collapsing to the floor still cradling Ichigo in your arms. "You can't leave, I can't take care of them! I can't take care of myself without you!"
Ichigo flashes a weak smile. "Yes… you can."
"Please, don't do this!" you beg. "Please don't go!"
"Hey," she whispers. "Promise me something."
"Anything!" you reply instantly, pleadingly.
"Don't blame yourself," Ichigo squints her eyes and draws a sharp breath. "This… wasn't your fault."
"But I–," you start, but before you can finish Ichigo places a finger on your lips.
"Let's not cry, okay?"
With great effort Ichigo pulls herself closer to you.
"Could you... just hold me and tell me you love me instead?"
You kiss her forehead gently. "I love you, Ichigo. I love you so much."
Ichigo closes her eyes and takes a deep breath.
"I love you too," she barely manages to whisper. "Kiss me… one more time?"
You indulge your wife's request. Your lips brush against hers softly and you can feel her small movement in your arms.
Ichigo opens her eyes for the final time. The pain is gone, as is the sadness. She is at peace with what's happening. You are far from it, but can't stand to let her last time seeing you be one where you look like this. It's hard, but you barely manage to stifle the crying and sniffling and give Ichigo the best smile you can.
"Thank you," she says, wiping a tear from your cheek. "I will… always… love you."
Ichigo's hand slips down your cheek and falls slowly back to her side.
Your tears come anew. Curling around her body as tightly as you can, you let out a violent scream wracked with sobs.
Ichigo, your wife, mother of your children, the love of your life, is gone. And you are the one who's killed her.