"We need to talk."
He caught me by surprise. It's not often when a portal opens up before you as you prepare for bed. Though, after all these years, I should suspect it.
Raphael's form doesn't speak hostility or pride like it normally does. In fact, he's smaller, paler as if he hasn't had any nourishment of any sort for days.
I mull over him and bring up this new found teasing smile I got. "Hello, Raphael-san," I say, shrugging off my swords and placing them besides the fire. "Wonderful to see your pleasant mug again. Where's Leonardo?"
The flinch doesn't go unnoticed, but Raphael stands taller as if protecting himself. "Usagi, I'm not in the mood for your sarcasm. Something's happened. I'm here to-"
"There is always something happening," I turn to him after prodding the fire. "What? Did Karai manage to-"
I choke. I see it now that he's moved closer, the flames shining on him. Double Katana and straps hold to his back and chest. His bandana isn't red but a dim blue. In his hand is fabric, flowing gently in the breeze. I'm on my feet in an instant, rocks probing at my naked feet.
"What happened?" I hiss. Raphael leans away, no doubt fearing this boiling anger rising in me. "Where's Leo-chan!?"
I rarely say that. Leo-chan. It feels too informal and tender. But he is my brother and chan he is. Raphael visibly recoils at the honorific and when he opens his eyes again, they are glass.
He kneels, hunched in pain. After a moment, I kneel, too. We're so close that our knees barley touch. I know what's coming. I've dreaded it every time I left their lair. I've waited for the day that I would come and no blue masked boy would be there to greet me.
Despite having that knowledge, it doesn't make the punch any lighter.
Raphael holds the mask out to me. His voice quivers, tears plainly spilling.
"He's gone, Usagi," he chokes. "Leo's gone."
I don't know how long it is before I begin to scream. Seconds. Not even. I don't know. But it scares me, the tear I feel widen in my heart. The darkness that suddenly engulfs me is too swift to stop.
I find myself curled on my side next to Raphael, paws over my ears as I scream. Raphael is just as loud in his grievance and leans over me as if trying to protect me from some unknown force.
It doesn't matter. Death is an old friend of mine. He wanders wherever I go. But today he's played a cruel jest. He's killed a piece of me an all to real sense.
The world is ending. I let blue wash over me and I drown.
Everything is temporary
Everything will slide
Love will never die, die, die
Time is cruel. It lets you believe you have everything you could wish for, allows you to dwell in it then jerks it away as soon as it came. Time and fate have never been friends of mine.
Raphael gave me Leonardo's sword and mask. Said Leonardo would want me to have a piece of him. I subconsciously rub the black sword now attached to my hip. Willow branch I have given to Jotaro. He was honored. In its place I hold Leonardo's katana and another blue sword I received from him. I named them after his swords.
Musashi and Kamizumi.
That brings me to another memory. I'm grateful for this one. It can cloud out the earlier one. My years don't stop though. I doubt they will for a while.
On Leonardo's second trip, we witnessed a festival. I asked him about his holidays. My favorite one he talked about was Christmas. I wanted to see it with all my heart. Little did I know months later I would be free to attend such festivities.
I rub my thumb over Kamizumi.
Christmas. What a wonderful week it was…
I know that ooh, birds fly in different directions
Ooh, I hope to see you again
Ooh, birds fly in every direction
Ooh, so fly high, so fly high