Summary: A cycle is broken, but the world keeps spinning. Everyone deals with the fallout in their own ways, and things look different on the other side of the mirror.

Notes: This took way too long given the length of it but with this chapter, it's DONE. Another 70k distracting me from my one true love, Incandescence. Except I've been working on the next Abdi side and it's like 30 pages in with another 30 to go so I'll probly finish that next XD

Also! I'm going to be taking this fic and reworking it into my first published novel :D With luck I'll have it all ready before the end of the year! I'm really excited to have something official after all the fics. Especially after getting physical copies printed of BRS and TLN. They look so fancy on my shelf, but they're not something I can actually publish so this'll be extra special.

I'll be making announcements as I get closer to publishing on all my various socials so be on the lookout~ The links to them are on my carrd!

I hope you guys enjoyed this one :D

Song of the Chapter: Fragile With Me by Davey Muise

—

The beep of a monitor woke him up, but it took several long attempts before he realized it wasn't coming from his dreams.

It took several more beeps before Rin could open his eyes, a white ceiling facing him he blinked at, trying to place where he was and failing.

Another softer sound had him frowning, wincing as pain hit him next and sending him groaning behind his teeth.

He pressed his head to the pillow, cursing under his breath and wondering if he even had the strength to call for anyone who might be around.

When he opened his eyes again, Rin forgot some of the pain radiating through him, because there, laying with his head on the bedside and glasses set to the side, was Yukio.

"Yukio," he rasped. His fingers twitched trying to reach the steadily breathing figure, half expecting him to vanish if he blinked.

A chill drew over his spine and Rin shivered. It had felt nice against the pain, the heat there throbbing in uncomfortable waves that only became more apparent the longer he was awake.

Why did he feel like he was half-dead and well on his way to dying?

Memory flashed through Rin and he froze. A localized blizzard, the cold metal of a gun, so much rage in his veins about the injustice in the bullshit spewing from that bastard who'd tormented so many people, two vengeful wraiths enacting that justice, and Yukio.

"Yukio, hey," he tried again.

Yukio hadn't been hurt, he was just sleeping. Both logical things Rin knew now that he was more awake because they were definitely in a hospital, judging by the monitor that had woken him originally.

That didn't change that Rin couldn't relax until he knew for sure.

"Come on, wake up." He forced his hand to shift until he nudged the top of Yukio's head just as the doorknob turned.

It opened and the sound jerked Yukio up. His eyes blinked in a rapid flutter, owlish and confused before they narrowed on Rin. Behind him, a troupe filled the room, the silence broken as Rin cracked a wide grin.

Then he winced, registering who, exactly, had just entered and what their presence meant.

"Hey, uh, mom, dad…" He tailed off, wondering what kind of hole he was about to find himself in.

They were back. Either because the hospital had alerted them that their son had been admitted or because they'd finished the case and come home to another disaster.

Maybe the news that things had turned out ok and the guy behind years of horror was gone would keep Rin from the worst of their yelling?

The frozen expression on Shiro's face kept Rin from speaking, a swallow making him realize just how dehydrated he was.

"Oh, Rin." Yuri's arms were around his shoulders in the next moment, jolting Rin in place before his rose on automatic to grip her back.

"I'm glad you guys are home, mom," he said, voice breaking as he burrowed into her neck and inhaled. She smelled like home and building tears he felt wetting his shirt.

Shifting at his side came and he felt a hand brush through his hair. Shiro sat and enveloped both of them into his embrace without a sound. When Rin cracked an eye, he saw his teeth grit together, Shiro's eyes squeezed shut. He felt the trembling in his touch and didn't press, releasing a breath that shivered out as he finally relaxed into the knowledge that it was over.

It was over.

His hand left Yuri to search until Rin found what he looked for, grasping at Yukio's like a lifeline and just existing in the timeless moment.

Polite coughing came from the door, taking Rin from where he'd bowed his head to see Mephisto leaning in the entry way, wry smile on his face.

"I expected more shouting but perhaps you got it all out on me earlier, Shiro," he said, then waved the phone he held.

"Ambrosius is getting better at using this every day."

"Whuh?" Came Rin's eloquent reply, trying to figure out what Ambrosius could have to do with Mephisto's phone and coming up blank.

"I'll chew your ass up more if you can't mind your business," Shiro growled. He stood, arms crossed and glaring. "Stop reminding me who got them into this situation in the first place and I won't be forced to arrest you."

Snickering was his answer. Mephisto let his grin widen as he scuffed his nails to his suit. "Yes, that would make the papers. I can only imagine what the case would do to my pristine reputation."

"Ass," Shiro grumbled, looking like he would love nothing more than to dirty his now number one least favorite person's reputation

"Er," at risk of ending up back in the fire, Rin spoke, "no it's ok, dad, really. We probably wouldn't have made it if he hadn't helped."

How many others had ended up in their position and not made it? Rin wasn't anything great at math, but he knew the odds were slim the moment Todo had begun his hunt.

Mephisto and…Rin remembered the mention of the phone. "Ambrosius is here?"

Cold glanced at his shoulder and Rin broke into a smile, beaming up to the source and laughing. "You made it! I thought ghosts moved on after their business was finished, or whatever?"

"He's persistent," Mephisto said with a fondness he didn't bother to cover up. "Much like that other shade that lingers around your family."

Other ghosts like Goro. A wince ran through Rin. Shiro wasn't one to talk about his brother who's name Rin and Yukio barely knew but who had apparently been unable to move on after his death. He'd haunted Yukio for years, protecting him in the only way he could.

When another sharp twinge sent him wincing, his hand went to his stomach as a soft hiss slid from his lips. A chill settled to the source of the pain and Rin startled. He realized what it was a moment later when the cold eased the pain back to something the drugs could handle.

He shot a grateful smile to where he hoped Ambrosius was, able to concentrate back on the half-threatening conversation between his dad and Mephisto.

"Ghosts," Shiro said in a mutter. His gaze traveled the air in front of Rin, lips twitching down. Rin prepared himself for the usual way Shiro waved off talk of the supernatural, a part of him wondering if the bloody appearance of Ambrosius would finally be enough to convince him of their existence.

Instead, he huffed a breath, rubbing at the back of his hair that looked like it hadn't seen a comb in days and probably hadn't, given Rin didn't doubt he hadn't made it far from the hospital room, let alone to a real shower. The short strands stuck in random clumps when he let his hand fall, smile crooked where he surveyed the room.

"I guess your mom hasn't been scamming all these people this whole time after all," he admitted.

"Heh, Shura said the same thing." Rin laughed. Relief came along with it, a weight off his chest he hadn't known pressed there until just then. He turned to see Yukio and paused. Bruises still lined his eyes and he'd set himself aside from them, an island to himself in the hard plastic chair by the bed.

"I didn't realize," Yuri murmured as she processed. "This whole time my little guiding flame was Goro trying to help us."

"His communication abilities leave much to be desired," Mephisto said despite the scowl Shiro sent his way.

"But!" He added. "You now have a sure-fire way to see him again, so things aren't so disheartening, hm?"

Concession flashed across Shiro's face, something soft there that hadn't been before.

Not that Rin thought he would ever thank Mephisto, but he didn't also think it was expected.

Another glance at Yukio paused Rin and a frown tugged at his lips. He'd been quiet, but at the mention of Goro, he shrunk further into himself, Rin only noticing because he was hyper aware of Yukio's state after the week they'd had.

"Yukio?" The call of his name shook Yukio from the stasis he'd withdrawn into, and Rin watched him draw up, pulling barriers back into place that Rin just recognized as having dropped.

Just when Rin thought he would have to actually shake him, Yukio jerked his head up, teeth clenched until he spoke like the words tore from him in a painful wrench.

"I'm sorry!"

What? Rin blanched, trying to understand where Yukio's apology came from and searching his memories for the source.

"For what, kiddo?" Shiro mirrored Rin's confusion while Yuri inched forward, waiting for the moment to take Yukio's hand in hers once he had calmed down from his state.

It just made Yukio shrink away, gaze flicking between them and shoulders hunching like an animal backed into a corner.

"Everything," laughter burst from his mouth, more worrying than the silence had been. It was the same laughter Rin had heard at the kitchen table when everything had come to light, something Yukio had been keeping from everyone for his entire life.

Rin knew what he was sorry for then.

"It's not your fault," he hissed, trying to move forward to shake Yukio and groaning when it pulled at the wound in his gut.

A hand at his shoulder gently set him back, Yuri hushing him as he fought the shivers the pain striking at every nerve caused.

"Settle down and run me through it," Shiro said in that way he always did, matter of fact, and it let Rin breathe easier, gaze falling to Yukio as he waited.

The tension didn't leave Yukio though, but he spoke anyway. "I was scared, a stupid little crybaby."

Rin fought the growl in his chest and the immediate denial trying to escape along with it. Yukio was the strongest person he knew, damnit.

"I knew this whole time about Goro and I just hid like some kid!"

Oh. Rin had been right about what put the guilt on Yukio's face.

Movements slow, Yuri leant forward. She ignored the flinch from Yukio and took his face between her hands, brushing the thumbs to the trembling skin beneath eyes that looked wet with the tears Yukio held back.

The gentle touch set his tears free and Rin ached to see them, his own inner fears rising viciously to the surface again because he still couldn't believe he was there in that moment where Yukio wasn't hiding behind a mask and they were all together like they hadn't been in years. Now that he'd had a taste of it after so long, he couldn't go back to the way thing were.

"I never realized you could see them," Yuri said, her soft voice the balm on their nerves, the tone one that gave them a place to rest when they fell where Shiro was the sturdy wall that kept them upright.

Right then, Yukio needed them both.

"You should never have had to go through that alone," she said before she pressed to bring Yukio to her shoulder where he hid, bitten-off whimpers escaping. "You were so strong, and I'm so proud of you."

"Both of you," Shiro added. Rin shot him a grin, getting one in return.

Things were good now. He had his brother back, his family. They could go home and he would cook for them and they could put everything behind them to move forward.

Yukio would go on to become a successful lawyer, his parents would catch the next asshole who tried to hurt people, and he would exist knowing they were happy.

"So," he said when his thoughts of the future had buoyed him enough that he could almost ignore the constant dulled pain in his gut the medicine couldn't quite ease. "How'd the case go?"

Sniffling came from Yukio as he raised his head, adjusting his appearance and swiping the tears away to speak. "And how did you know where to find us?"

"We got the bastard." Shiro cackled with a triumphant slash of lips across his teeth. "He's going to be rotting for a long time for the shit he pulled."

"It was thanks to one of the daughters of his victims," Yuri said. "But it's only one of the heads of the snake. It's not over yet, I'm afraid."

"Yeah," Shiro's expression darkened, "now we need to find whoever was funding that lab and its research."

A sigh from Mephisto brought Rin to see the rueful smile there, reminding him he had just seen everything and fighting the heat at his cheeks to listen as he spoke. "It never is the end with those particular organizations."

"It was a premonition I had," Yuri chimed in. "Goro came to me in my dreams–I'd been so worried because I hadn't felt his presence in so long–not that I knew it was him this whole time, you know?"

Shiro shook his head, used to the tendency Yuri had to ramble and adding, "We barely wrapped the case up before she tore back home like a bat outta hell and we came here."

"He was clear this time," Yuri said, laugh rueful as she rubbed at her head. "I recognized this place from the times reviewing your case or I wouldn't have known what the vision of it on fire meant."

Shuddering, Rin couldn't help himself from thinking about the pyre in the dark that had been a home before Todo had set it on fire.

"Shura," Yukio said suddenly, glancing between them before turning to Mephisto. "And Ryuji, they're ok? And the people they went to rescue?"

"A little bruised–it seems Saburota left them some nasty surprises–but otherwise ready for duty, and the family was just trussed up." Relief at Mephisto's answer sent Rin's head back, cold surrounding him and taking him a minute to place as apparently Ambrosius was occupying the space on his pillow and he'd just dropped to what was possibly his lap. He wouldn't be complaining, though, an ache had started up in his head that wasn't going away anytime soon and the cold let him think again.

Everything was fitting into place, though, and Rin thought he could finally rest for the first time in weeks. Longer, given the worry Yukio's distance had caused during the years at school.

One last question lingered in his mind, letting his head fall to the side so he could see Mephisto.

"Hey, what happened with Todo?"

The light strokes Yuri had been placing to his hand paused, a quiet blooming in the room.

"He's been examined and his body will be cremated," Mephisto said, voice soft and void of any emotion. "The remains will be given to his niece as his only surviving family member."

Rin couldn't imagine why she'd want them, but he didn't have to spend any more time thinking about it because it was over with.

"Ok," he managed, then trailed off, realizing he was tired again. "I'm gonna sleep now."

He went under to a soft touch at his hand and cold embracing him, comfortable and safe.

—

"Listen," Rin said to the room as he struggled with some wires and the old TV he'd found on the curb. "I know Mephisto plays these all the time and it's boring or whatever, but I'm stuck here until I get the ok to go back to work so I've gotta do something or I'll go crazy!"

"So, you can either play with me or not. Your choice," he huffed and propped his hands to his hips once he'd finished setting up the game system.

Gold flares glared at him from an equally stubborn expression through the standing mirror Rin had gotten when he'd come up with the newest arrangement.

Ambrosius crossed his arms, limbs pale and bloody.

Then he kicked at the controller on the floor before conceding and dropping to rest his hands on the buttons.

"Fine, but we have to do something else besides games or I'll throw things again," Ambrosius made his demand.

"Deal," Rin said, picking up his own controller before settling gingerly to the bean bag chair and beginning the game.

Recovery wasn't looking so bad when he had Ambrosius keeping him company, even if he and Yukio had developed what seemed like the kind of antagonistic relationship that Shiro and Mephisto shared for reasons Rin couldn't begin to understand.

With a last sigh from Ambrosius, controller moving with his intent concentration, their game started and Rin continued enjoying the rest of his recovery time.

—

Papers shifted in the manila file Yukio had brought with him to the interview.

He contained the nerves with a soft exhale and stopped himself from reorganizing things after the fifth time checking he had everything on hand.

Besides the secretary in the office who'd raised a thin brow at his entry and directed him to sit with a polite, "Sir," nothing had happened.

Just the ticking of the clock and the occasional typing on the computer from the secretary, the man ignoring Yukio for whatever was on his screen.

Stop. Yukio forced himself still. He was here for a reason, and he'd more than earned the chance to apply.

Chiming sounded and Yukio jolted, papers clenching in his fist before smoothing out.

"Please send dear Mr. Okumura in here to see me, Belial," a voice said through the speaker on the desk.

"This way, sir." Belial gestured to the ornate doors making up the entry to Governor Faust's office.

Yukio swallowed, rising to his feet and steeling himself for the interview for the internship he'd been debating over applying to for at least a year of his life when he wasn't debating fleeing the country.

A warmth like a sun beam rested over his shoulder, Yukio straightening his spine at the heat.

"Thank you," Yukio bowed to Belial and made his way to the door.

Given he was no longer running like a coward from his problems, Yukio thought he would take a piece of Saburota's advice after-all. Even if Shiro had thrown a fit when he'd heard the news.

He smiled, the heat at his shoulder lingering, and entered the room.

"Ah, welcome, welcome. I've been looking forward to this meeting all day," Faust said from his desk full of figurines and other childish things.

"Tell me, Mr. Okumura, what made you decide to come to me?"

Yukio began to speak.

—

The door creaked at her push in a whine of iron hinges that needed attention.

Homare walked down a long, cold hall without seeing much of it at all. Her short heels sounded loud with her every step, and the flouerescsent lights of the police station burned her eyes.

She ignored that too, a slow blink her only reaction.

Wary stares followed her from room to room as she passed them by while the woman with vibrant red hair leading her to her destination had given her nothing more than a brusk nod and the bare minimum of her directives.

It was to be expected.

"Through here, ma'am," the deputy said.

They entered to a room as cold as the rest of the building had been, empty except for two others.

"This her?" the man known as Shiro Fujimoto asked. His eyes were dark beneath his glasses, and she couldn't get anything from his expression.

"That's her," the deputy confirmed.

"Ok," Fujimoto said and brought out a clipboard with papers on it. "Fill this out and this is yours."

She did, signature neat and orderly.

"Here." A small box, simple, standard issue, wound up in her hands. It was cold, too.

And that was it. Stares followed her until the door shut, cutting them off.

Her heels clicked on their way back down the hall and to the car she'd been dropped off in, door opened by the driver and closed without another word.

With a rumble, the car began the trip back to their destination.

Light through the window curved over the box in her hands that contained the remains of her uncle and she felt nothing.

But, she hadn't expected to, and he wouldn't have either.

The time drifted, Homare passing it by staring out the window in contemplation until she caught stuff of a grand gate before a drive that went back through the old trees lining it.

A groan of metal made it through the idling car engine and they went by the carved white marble and gold embellishments as the gate parted to let them in.

It was as she'd left it. Nothing was out of place, lawn trimmed and green and pristine all the way to the vallet entrance to the estate.

This time when she was let out of the car, she moved under her own supervision, the halls that she passed down more familiar than memories of a distant childhood home.

Around her, staff moved to clean with quiet exactness, the sterility of the estate maintained at all costs.

"Ma'am." The hulking form of Lund and his twin brother, Strom greeted her. They'd both been unable to catch her uncle's eye, didn't have the spark needed for it. Two automatons that did exactly as they were told.

In this case they were told to open the doors for her as she strode in to the inner chambers.

Monitors beeped steadily around her and Homare ignored them as well as the doctors who moved around the room to bow to the figure on a bed in the center.

"Homare."

She set the box carrying her uncle to the plain table next to the hospital bed before stepping away.

"Sir."

Lucifer nodded. Wet coughing sounded, and she watched as red stained the hand he brought to cover it.

"It's yours, I have no connection to it," she said. "My uncle would have wanted it that way."

"Thank you." His pale hair fell across his eyes and shadows deepened the bruises there as he glanced at the box. It only made the soft, green hue of them stand out from his solemn gaze. "Your uncle was dear to me, if only I weren't in this state, he would have been able to help me like he helped Johann and the others. "

"Of course," Homare bowed again, preparing to leave, "anything to be of service, sir."

Homare left to continue her duties. The research from Morningstar Labs still needed to go on, even if a branch had been eliminated.

Under a new, more competent director, it would see results.

She would make sure of it.

End Notes: And that's a wrap! There's two more "books" planned in this series and a special little one-shot sequel to this one as a reward to myself for completing it and also bc I crave that amairin content so I had to get it in somewhere even if it wasn't the main fic lmao