A/N- Hey everyone! I'm sorry it took a while to upload this chapter, but I'm just too focused on…other pairings xD I hope you enjoyed reading these chapters!

Colors

(Jr.xMOMO)

Fourteen years later

Jr. sighed as he stared up at the starry sky from his spot in the Park onboard the Durandal. The stars were all twinkling down at him-so very cold and lifeless-but burning brightly nonetheless. He could feel his heart ache as a meteor flashed across the sky, remembering an old rhyme from one of the many antique books he collected. As the meteor was enveloped into darkness, he mouthed the rhyme slowly.

"When you wish upon a star…" he whispered softly as memories of a certain white-haired URTV blinded his vision. "Makes no difference who you are…" His eyes started to sting as he remembered his twin's last resentful words of utter hatred, although his facial expression seemed to belie his harsh words. "Like a diamond in the sky…" He remembered fourteen years ago, when he and his dark half had seen a bird with a broken wing fly with their very own eyes. "Your dreams will shine…"

As he breathed softly, puffs of condensed air spread across the cool pane and he leaned his head against the glass, closing his eyes. This is stupid. Wishing on a star won't bring anyone back. He slowly lifted his right hand and fisted it over his right chest, which no longer held the steady and comforting heartbeat of his darker half.

Albedo…

His cerulean eyes glazed over and his fist tightened, turning his knuckles white as they shook slightly. Why did everyone end up leaving him? First Sakura and then Albedo…Fear clenched his heart as he wondered if he'd go insane if Nigredo were next, or even MOMO. He couldn't imagine living if anyone else left him behind.

An environmental bug floated lazily in front of him, blinking its artificial light. Jr. cupped his hands and the bug gently landed in his palm. He stared at the bug for a moment, blinded by its pure light.

"Sometimes I wish I were something like you. Having purpose, yet so unnoticed and without emotion." The bug flickered, as if signaling that it understood his idle chatter. The variant chuckled bitterly and the fly rose up into the air to continue its job. He watched it join the rest of its peers, trailing it with his watering eyes until it was lost in the sea of blinking lights.

Alone once more, the red-head gazed out at the starry sky and shoved his hands into the pockets of his red trench coat. Albedo…you're high above in the stars…like the so-called immortal god you are. Are you happy now?

The emptiness in the pit of his heart echoed hollowly inside of him, and Jr. had the urge to join his brother, to leave this world and suffer no longer. But…he still had someone to protect…he was still needed…his role in this life was still unfulfilled. Clenching his teeth to prevent himself from the tears that threatened to fall, he inhaled deeply and closed his eyes, trying to blank out his mind.

I wish you were still here. I wonder, even though you're in a higher plane of existence, can you still hear me talking to you?

As the young boy pondered with glazed eyes, the doors hissed open. Jr. jumped as he heard the familiar sound of a puppy yipping. He whirled around, careful to hide his slightly red eyes in the darkness of the room.

"Hey, Jr.!" MOMO appeared, cradling Alby in her arms as the puppy squirmed in her grasp while wagging its tail energetically. She was dressed in her usual wear, her beret tipped to the side and combat boots soundlessly hitting the floor as her sailor outfit moved with her.

"MOMO…what are you doing here? I thought you already left with Dr. Mizrahi to Fifth Jerusalem…" Jr. asked quietly as the Realian set the albino pup on the ground. Alby barked and ran towards Jr., who knelt down and patted him affectionately on the head. Alby leaned into his touch and jumped into his arms, knocking the URTV down to the ground in the process.

MOMO brought her hand up to her face in surprise as Alby started licking Jr.'s face, trying to hide a smile. "Oh, Mommy said that we could spend one last day here! I wanted to surprise you, but you weren't in your room so I thought I'd find you here…He likes you a lot," she added as an afterthought, placing her hands behind her back. The variant slowly sat up with a playfully disgusted look on his face as he cradled Alby.

"Ew…dog cooties!" MOMO giggled at his reply and approached him, kneeling down to his level. "How'd you know to find me at the Park?"

"Well, since you weren't in your room and the Casino is closed, I knew I'd find you here." Jr. pouted and MOMO grinned, patting Alby on the head. "So…what are you doing here all alone at night?" the 100-series questioned after a moment's pause.

Jr.'s smile faded slightly and he looked to the side, sapphire eye downcast. The Realian detected a change in his mood and her scanners indicated a slight increase in his stress level. Obviously something was wrong, but whether or not the URTV wanted to talk about it was hard to tell.

"Jr….what's wrong?" MOMO ducked her head below his, peering up at him with her bright eyes. Jr.'s eyes widened and he scooted away in surprise. Concerned, MOMO placed a hand on his shoulder, noting the pained look in his eyes despite the friendly smile on his face.

"Nothing's wrong, MOMO. I just…wanted some time by myself is all," Jr. replied quietly, eyes darting upwards towards the swarm of environmental bugs. MOMO's eyes followed his and she smiled angelically, watching the flies float about. The co-director of the Kukai Foundation glanced at her and his heart felt like it had leapt into his throat, painfully suffocating him.

The innocence in her eyes and the light from the bugs gave her face a heavenly glow, making her seem too pure to be of this world. Her smile lit up her face, and her peach-colored hair rested gently on her shoulders, covering her ears. He had seen that smile many times, but on someone else's face. The red-head looked away, feeling idiotic for reminiscing and taking MOMO for someone else. She was her own person, he tried to believe that fiercely when he first met her, and he was slowly but surely making progress in that department…but sometimes, it was just so hard to look at MOMO or hear her laughter without the memory of summer fourteen years ago, when the young URTV had shared a kiss with that special someone on the beach.

MOMO returned her gaze on Jr., and immediately she gasped as she saw faint tears threatening to spill from his eyes, although the red-head seemed to be unaware.

"Jr.?" she whispered softly. The blue-eyed boy inhaled deeply and angrily rubbed his eyes, managing a weak smile.

"It's nothing. You just remind me of your sister sometimes…" He immediately regretted saying that as MOMO's eyes saddened somewhat.

"Oh…I'm sorry…I didn't mean to make you sad."

Sorry…I didn't mean to make you sad… Albedo's voice echoed inside Jr.'s mind as he remembered when his twin had comforted him about Sakura's death what seemed another lifetime ago.

He hated himself, then. Those around him always seemed to care only about his feelings, even when he ended up hurting theirs. Why did they have to care so much about him anyway? MOMO watched as his facial expressions transitioned from anger to anguish to something else.

"Jr. it's ok to be sad, you know? I…I just hope you know that I'm willing to listen…" She nervously played with her hands, wishing she could've worded her statement differently. Jr. looked at her, his sky-blue eyes shaking with an unreadable emotion. After what seemed like ages, the tension on his face lessened somewhat and he offered her a weak smile.

"Thanks, MOMO, but I think this is something I have to get over by myself." The pink-haired Realian nodded once and slowly stood up and Alby squirmed out of Jr.'s grasp to run circles around the girl.

"I understand, Jr." She held her small hand in front her and Jr. looked at it, questioning. "Let's go to the Private Beach! I'm sure it'll cheer you up!" MOMO gave him her most charming smile, and Jr. couldn't help but return it, grabbing her outstretched hand.

"Ok…but how are we supposed to get there? The shuttles are closed at this hour." A sly smile appeared on MOMO's face and Jr. looked at her in wonder, never before seeing such a sneaky look on such an innocent face. She brought a finger up to her face and bit it in childish amusement, like a toddler who had left a little 'surprise' on their parents' wall.

"I pulled a few strings…" she whispered cutely, and Jr. immediately knew she meant she hacked into the system. He stared at the Realian in amazement, never believing someone like MOMO would do something spontaneous. A grin blasted across his face and he laughed.

"Ok, let's go!"

…

The duo arrived at the Kukai Private Beach half an hour later, Alby trailing behind them obediently. It was dark since the settings hadn't been adjusted to the usual daylight. The stars above twinkled down upon them, the moon offering poor lighting as they walked across the glowing sand. The wind tickled their noses with its cool breath and MOMO sighed, twirling around blissfully, the albino pup running around her.

"You like the beach, MOMO?" Jr. asked, watching her. The peach-haired girl stopped jumping around and smiled at Jr., nodding her head once.

"Yeah! Even though it's not really a real beach, I'm still happy whenever I go here. We should go to a real one sometime!" Jr.'s smile saddened somewhat. Why was it everything MOMO was saying reminded him of Albedo?

"Yeah, we should," the link master replied after a pregnant pause, shoving the thought to the side. MOMO grabbed his hand and led him over to the dock. Alby yipped angrily at being left behind, and he raced over to the two, barking to be acknowledged. They climbed the wooden stairs, and Jr. looked down at their intertwined hands, illuminated by the dim lighting. He felt reassured by the warmth that flowed from her fingertips, and he squeezed her hand as they continued walking quietly, the stress lessening somewhat when she shyly returned the gesture.

When they arrived at the edge of the dock, MOMO sat down, letting her slender legs dangle over the edge and Alby cradled in her arms once more. Jr. joined her on her left, placing his hands on the ground and mimicking MOMO's gaze as she stared up at the shimmering blue heavens. It always seemed as if the stars were holding a deep secret, as if that secret was dangled an inch out of your grasp, taunting you. Watching them reminded the red-head of Albedo, of watching his twin being carried into a celestial light by Kirschwassers while he could do nothing but stare with watering eyes, his other half out of his reach.

"Do you…Do you think he's happy?" Jr. whispered. He could see MOMO turn her head to look at him from the corner of his eye and Alby settle down next to her, but he couldn't tell the expression on her face. He knew that although Albedo had been his brother, she couldn't forgive him for what he'd done, and the only reason that she didn't avoid the subject was because she empathized with Jr. For a moment it was quiet, and the variant thought she wouldn't reply until she spoke up softly.

"I'm sure he's waiting for you."

"What do you mean?"

"Jr. …the bond you and Albedo have is something no one could possibly understand except you two. I wish that I could've gotten to know your brother the way you knew him, but I'm still so scared of that memory…I…I'm sorry he's gone." MOMO hugged her knees to her chest, topaz eyes watching the ocean now. She sighed and offered a bright smile. "I probably don't make sense, huh? Forget it…But just so you know…I'm sure he's happier wherever he is."

Jr. nodded so she knew he heard her. His respect for her had increased greatly in that moment. He had expected her to say that she hated Albedo for what he'd done to her, was glad he was dead, anything like that. But quite to the contrary she had voiced herself wisely, and he was surprised she had acknowledged the bond the two brothers had shared. His head cleared up, and he felt at peace.

"Thanks, MOMO. Coming from you that…means a lot."

Suddenly, fireworks filled the serene night, strange patterns and colors surrounding the pair. As the night sky lit up and the ethereal colors painted warmth onto their faces, the world seemed to be at peace for just this one moment in time. MOMO gasped in delight, golden eyes shimmering as the colors reflected in her eyes as Jr. grinned at the show. Alby barked up at the sky, growling and going into a ready stance, his small tail wagging energetically. The two laughed at the pup, their spirits merry.

"I guess I forgot what today was," Jr. stated, sheepishly scratching his head. MOMO giggled and hugged Jr. who awkwardly returned the embrace, patting her on the head.

"Happy New Year, Rubedo." Jr. froze, but the moment passed and he smiled, tightening his hold around her.

At that moment, there was no one else he'd rather spend this New Year with.

A/N- I had such a hard time writing this one because MOMO's new VA made her seem less adorable and more annoying. I loved MOMO in the first episode, but in this one it was just like ugh for me xD I still enjoyed writing this, though. Unfortunately this is the last chapter, so I'll see you guys next time!

-Moshi Moshi Mai