Alright everyone happy anniversary, as of today Spirit Child is seven years old and in celebration by suggestion of a reviewer I decided to make an alternate ending for the story, so please enjoy the final installation to the Spirit Child story.

A second later I woke up but instead of the beautiful landscape of the spirit world, I was surrounded by a moonlit desert.

Ky: "Grandma?! Where'd you go?!"

I looked in every direction but all I saw was blue tinted dunes all the way to the starry horizon.

Ky: "Haah, where the heck am I?"

The air was chilly, enough for my breath to be visible. I tried to make Kirino's path appear but nothing happened, then I tried Aiko's but still nothing, then I tried to link with grandma but again nothing.

Ky: "Dammit."

I then tried to wake myself up but I couldn't, not seeing any other options I chose a random direction and began walking. Months passed, I tried many times to wake up and link with…anyone but to no avail, nothing but days of walking up and down sand dunes beneath a perpetual night sky. Sometimes I began to think I was walking in circles and as time passed I began to feel weaker, I began to notice that I was getting skinnier like I was starving despite not feeling hungry and my memory was starting to get spotty, I even forgot when my birthday was.

Ky: "What's going on?"

Eventually I became too weak to keep moving so I just gave up and collapsed.

How'd I even get here anyway? Why am I here? Where did I come from? Who…am I even supposed to be?

As I lay there, completely clueless of my own existence, I began to feel sleepy but I also felt at peace, like I was on my way to somewhere better once I drifted off. My vision began to blur and my body began to feel cozy and warm despite the chilly air.

It's not like I can move anymore, might as well go to sleep.

Daddy?

Ky: "HAH!"

I wake with a start though I still felt weak and remembered nothing of myself but something in me forced me to stay awake and I felt compelled to begin walking in a specific direction. I walked for what felt like months, I then began to notice that what I thought was a giant storm cloud off in the distance tinted by atmospheric haze though the rest of it was hidden beneath the horizon and as I progressed the sky that bathed the desert in perpetual night slowly began to light up like the sun was rising.

Eventually I exited the desert and continued on an infinite salt flat and as I moved forward the sun finally peaked over the horizon and I saw that the cloud was actually a giant tree when I noticed the trunk and the cloud was the main leaf bushel. I continued on, what seemed like an eternity passed by as the tree gradually grew bigger in my vision and sun got higher in the sky, but I was compelled to reach it, for what reason I did not know until I finally came face to face with the trunk. It stretched off in every direction like a massive wall made of wood and bark, I looked up to see the leaves miles up, despite it being day, the light passing through the leaves looked like twinkling stars.

Kyousuke?~

Suddenly the wall in front of me opened up to a wooden pathway, my compulsion forced me to go past the tree's threshold and continued down the dark path. I continued through the pitch-black corridor for a couple of minutes until I saw a light at the end and exited into…

Ky: "Eh?"

The desert, the very same one I woke up in. Thinking I might have made a mistake I went back through the tree but on the other end once again the desert appeared to me.

Ky: "Hm."

I stood there confused but turned around and went through the tree again and again it brought me to the desert. I repeated this again and again and again, each time bringing me back to the desert.

What's going on?

After the twenty-sixth time exiting out into the desert, I suddenly felt a jolt go through my brain like I was having an aneurism.

Ky: "Agh!"

I collapsed to my knees in the middle of the tree's dark corridor.

Daddy~

Kyousuke?!

I'll always have a place for you there.

You messed up and there's no going back.

Stop wallowing in your own self-loathing.

Just go die.

Is that really all you want?

…I love you.

After that my mind was back to normal and I strained myself to get back on my feet, once I did I listlessly trudged forward. I exited the tree but instead of the desert, I stepped out into a white void.

Ky: "Huh?"

The place didn't have any noticeable horizon or light source though there was a floor.

Ky: "Where am I?"

Thinking something went wrong again I turned around to go back but when I did the tree was gone.

Ky: "What the…"

I tried to concentrate to see if I could manifest the tree again but nothing happened, I tried harder but no matter what I did nothing happened.

Ky: "Hmph."

I turned around to try and figure out which direction to go but the force that compelled me was gone so I just picked a random direction and continued, believing I'd eventually get to where I needed to go.

100 Years Later

"Who are you?"

"Who are you?"

"I don't know."

"Me neither."

"Where'd you come from?"

"I don't know."

"Where are you going?"

"I don't know?"

"Huh…well good day."

"Uh, yeah, you too."

1000 Years Later

"So what is your name?"

"Uuum, I think I settled on Doot."

"Why that name?"

"Dunno, just the first thing I made up."

"Okay…Doot, so what's next."

"…{Shrugs}."

10,000 Years Later

"Right…fight…sight."

"Hey Har?"

"Yes Doot."

"Look at this thing I made?"

"What is it?"

"I don't know…it's kind of pointy here and, uh, round here and it's pretty light and it's grey colored."

"Interesting."

100,000 Years Later

"Okay Doot, so what do you call this thing?"

"I call it an In, since, you know, you can go inside of it like when I put my hands over my eyes to pretend I'm somewhere else but less dark."

"What is this color you made it, it's this same color as me but different?"

"I don't know, it's just a color I remember, it makes me feel…comfortable."

"Me too, hmm, home, a place one does not roam?"

"…What was that?"

"Don't know, just thought it was funny how those two words sounded alike."

100,000,000 Years Later

"Wow, this looks way better."

"Yeah I thought if I could make our In, maybe we could do more, so I changed the color of the Down and the Up."

"Why did you make the Down…this color."

"Well I don't know, it just felt familiar, like something I used to do a lot of fun stuff on, it makes me feel relaxed."

"And the Up? It looks like the same color as your seeing balls."

"Same reason as the ground, it make me feel relaxed."

"Comfort is what one seeks, without it the heart becomes weak, even the words that one can speak, can turn a delighted soul meek."

"Wow you did four this time."

1,000,000,000,000 Years Later

"Har?!...Har?! Where'd you go?!"

I traveled through the long brown spikes sticking up from the ground until I came to a big round grey thing with a pitch black hole in it.

"What's this? I remember making this grey thing but not the hole…Har?! You in there?!"

"Come in Doot…hurry."

Following Har's voice I stepped into the hole only to be met with a weird feeling like my foot was in someone's mouth but I kept going.

"Doot, over here."

I blindly followed Har's voice through the darkness, each of my steps made a weird sound and the feeling was like I was walking on a giant eye ball. I kept walking until I saw him but he was looking down at something in front of him.

"Come here…Kyousuke."

"Huh, Kyousuke?"

"That is your true name as it is mine."

"Uh, I think I'll stick with Doot but if that's what you want to call yourself go ahead."

"Look here."

I walked over to him and as I got closer I could see what was in front of him…it was another person but this one looked nothing like me, it was just sitting there on the Down completely ignoring us.

"You must help her."

"Help her with what? She seems fine to me."

"Kyousuke, you need to release her."

"I thought you were Kyousuke."

"We both are but I am not the half of Kyousuke that can help her, you are."

"Okay "Kyousuke" haah…how exactly do I help her?"

"Look at her face."

So I got on my knee in front of her and placed my hands on both sides of her head to lift it up into view.

"Kuh!"

The moment I looked her full in the face, I was suddenly overcome with intense emotions like I knew this person but almost completely forgot who she was, she was someone I cared about dearly but I couldn't for the life of me even think of her name.

"Wh-What's going on? Why am I feeling this way?"

"Now embrace her, hold her close."

I was reluctant, scared and confused about the unfamiliar emotions assaulting my mind and what would happen if I continued…but…

"Please Kyousuke…you need to save them."

I didn't hear so much as I felt what Har said and I knew I had to do this.

"…"

So, I held her close and in an instant my mind became filled with sights, sounds and feelings as if I was seeing things through someone else's eyes.

Ky: "Kirino."

Then I saw him, I saw myself or someone that looked like me, no it was definitely me.

"These are memories, her memories."

Ky: "Welcome home Kirino."

Ky: "So what do you want to watch?"

Ky: "Jeez and you call me the idiot, hehe."

Ky: "{yaaawn} night Kirino, love you."

This woman and I, that world we were in, I could hardly fathom any of it, that is me but I'm me yet at the same time it all felt so familiar that it was almost painful like I was looking at something that I lost and was never going to get back.

Ai: "Mommy~"

Then there was her.

Ai: "Mommy I wanna play!"

This small girl, I have no recollection of but the moment I saw her I felt tears shed from my eyes.

"Ai…Aiko."

I had never even uttered that word once yet it popped into my mind like it was always there hidden away.

Ai: "Hahaha daddy's being silly!"

Ai: "Mommy when can we go see grandpa and grandma again?"

Ai: "You're the best mommy ever!"

Ai: "Mommy I wanna see daddy."

Ai: "I want daddy to come back!"

Ai: "{Sniff} I want daddy!"

Hearing her made my chest hurt, seeing all those memories was painful, too painful I didn't want to see them but I couldn't look away but then my vision was filled with a bright white light and when it faded away, that woman was standing in front of me.

Ki: "Kyousuke?"

"Uh, I'm still not very familiar with that name."

Ki: "Huh?"

"Listen…I'm not exactly the person you remember."

Ki: "…Why are you here?"

"Haah, I don't know but apparently I'm here to save you and that little girl or something."

Ki: "What game are you playing? Why are you acting like you don't remember me."

"Because I don't, heck you're technically the first person I've ever met."

She seemed doubtful but the absolute honesty I wore on my face seemed to convince her.

Ki: "You really don't remember? How?"

Ky: "Don't know but listen I know this may be weird to hear but…I love you."

Ki: "But you said you didn't remember me."

Ky: "I don't but whenever I look at you, whenever I even think about you, that's all I can feel, love, I don't know how or why, I just doesn't make any sense."

Ki: "…So then what are you going to do?"

I looked her in the eyes, then I held out my hand for her to take.

Ky: "Take my hand."

She was reluctant, seemed even a little disgusted at the thought of touching me.

Ky: "Listen I have no idea what's going on but all I know is that if you want to make things right and save that little girl you have to take my hand and feel for yourself, I can let you feel what I feel, as irrational as my feelings are."

Ki: "…"

So with a timid hand she reach forward and lightly placed her hand in mine.

{Shatter}

The moment she touched my hand she seemed to jump a little and she looked up to me with a blush.

"Feel what I feel, feel how I feel for you."

My body seemed to move on its own and the words came out of my mouth without any thought as I pulled her closer and she let me guide her.

"Feel my love."

I placed my hand on her cheek as I looked her straight in the eyes.

"Feel my pain."

I gently place my forehead against her's.

{Shatter}

"Feel my joy."

I rubbed my hand down her side.

{Shatter}

"Feel my sorrow."

I intwined our hands together and pulled them up against my face.

{Shatter}

"Feel my heart."

Finally I gave her a loving kiss on her lips which she accepted almost as if on instint.

{Shatter}

After a few moments she released the kiss and looked at me again.

Ki: "K-Kyousuke?"

"…No, I'm not that person anymore, he's long gone, I'm just an echo, the last piece he left behind to save you."

Ki: "But how?"

She began to shed tears at that admission.

"Even souls can die but only if they desire to, Kyousuke lost his will to live but still wished to save you and Aiko and that's what I am, the last bit of his will and…his last message. Kirino I'm sorry I failed you, I'm sorry I was such a terrible lover, I'm sorry for ever hurting you and I'm sorry that I can't be there for you anymore but know that I will love you, Aiko and our unborn child until the end of time."

Ki: "…Can't you come with me?"

"Unfortunately, no, I'm bound to the spirit world, it is all that I know, I'm sorry, my love for you and Aiko will still burn but I don't have a place in your heart anymore, I'm only a stranger to you now."

Ki: "No, please."

"Goodbye Kirino."

Ki: "Kyous-"

She disappeared never to be seen again, logically I should've only felt minor grief but the moment she blinked out of sight, it felt like my heart was ripped out of my chest.

"IiiAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAaaaa!"

I clenched my chest as I fell to my knees and doubled over in pain, why does this hurt so much? Why do I feel this way?

I collapsed onto my side in the fetal positions, quietly sobbing as my chest burned with pain, eventually it dulled but didn't seem to fade.

"What do I do now?"

"Perhaps, I can find something for you to do."

Just then another person appeared, he looked kind of like me but his face was built different, his hair was a different color, kind of like Kirino's but lighter and his eyes were a sparkling sky blue and his voice was smooth and comforting. He was God apparently, he wasn't able to reach me until I was able to commune with Kirino, once I did that I was close enough for him to grab me, after that I spent some time in the place he called Heaven, it was amazing, I met so many kind people and God helped me deal with my pain, it never truly went away but I was able to manage it better, I never found out what happened to Har but now that I think about it…he was probably never really there to begin with. I eventually made peace with my existence and exited Heaven to wonder the spirit world but before I did.

"Wait, before you go, I want you to have this."

"Huh?"

God handed me a weird outfit, it looked really complex and mysterious but it being a gift from God I couldn't turn it down so I put it on.

"What's it for?"

"It's for Kirino."

"Huh?"

Hearing that name made my chest burn slightly but I listened to what he had to say.

"…Sometimes it's good for a soul to die, for them to have a second chance or to try and find love somewhere else. But She won't be able to do that, if she tries to cling onto you, so I ask that you wear this so she can't recognize you."

"Okay."

"Also, there's some work I would like for to do at a certain place, a place you've been to before."

"Okay sure."

"And one more thing."

"Yeah."

"What will your name be."

"Yeah, can't really call myself Doot anymore, it sounds ridiculous now…can't I just not have a name, do I even really need one?"

"It's up to you but I think Herald is a good name, if you ever need to use it feel free to."

"Will do."

So I set off on my adventure, no longer as Kyousuke or Doot but as me, the caretaker of the Graveyard of Souls.

For eternity I wander, on the infinite plane of Heaven, for eternity I wander, mending the souls fallen to depression, for eternity I wander, waiting for my world pass unto me, for eternity I wander, waiting for her to find her final peace.

Kirino's POV

Ki: "Kyousuke!"

Suddenly it felt as if I woke up from some strange dream, I didn't remember anything.

Ai: "Mommy?"

Ki: "…Aiko?"

Ai: "{yaaaawn} Is it time to go now?"

Ki: "AIKO!"

"Kirino?! N-No way."

Aiko was with me again, saved from total erasure, I had my baby girl, I don't know how it happened but I felt it was because of Kyousuke, he restored my love for him by making me realize how true it was, a love so intense it destroyed whatever barriers were keeping it out. It was because of that love I was able realize how Ayase had manipulated me into seeing things differently but I see the truth now. After bidding farewell to Liberus and my angel, Aiko and I returned to the living world, where miraculously Aiko was once again in perfect health completely baffling all the doctors, after they didn't some examinations to confirm Aiko's health we were released and I immediately attempted to call Kyousuke about the good news.

|{Brrrbrrr…Brrbrrr} Hey this is Kyousuke, if you're hearing this I'm not available right now, leave a message and I'll try to call you back.|

Ki: "Hm?"

I tried again but got the same message.

Ki: "That's weird."

Ai: "Mommy can we go see daddy now."

Ki: "We will, just give me a minute okay honey?"

Ai: "Okay, I can't wait to see daddy again."

{Weeweeew!}

Just then an ambulance pulled up to the hospital and charged through the lobby and in the split second as they passed by…I saw Kyousuke.

Ki: "Kyousuke? …H-Hey what happened?!"

I attempted to follow them but I was stopped by a hand grabbing onto my arm and I turned my head to see grandma, she looked like she had been crying.

Yor: "Kirino…I'm sorry."

Ki: "Sorry about what? Grandma what's going on?"

Yor: "He…He gave everything he had."

Without letting her elaborate further I left Aiko with her and ran to chase after Kyousuke until she came to a window showing Kyousuke in a hospital bed and in the process of being hooked up to life support.

"He's flatlining again, get the defibrillator."

I stood at the window panicked as they pulled out the paddles and pressed them to Kyousuke's chest.

"Clear!"

{THUMP!}

He was still flatlined and after a few seconds they tried again.

"Clear!"

{THUMP!}

{Beep, Beep}

His heart was beating again to my relief, the doctors immediately went to work examining him after a couple of minutes one of the doctors came out to talk with me.

"Do you know the patient?"

Ki: "I'm his sister, do you know what happened?"

"We don't know exactly but it seems he's suffered a seizure, we'll run some test and send him through the scanner but that may take a couple of hours, please go wait in the lobby and we'll call you when we have an update."

Ki: "Okay, thank you."

Oh my god, it's Aiko all over again, why is this happening.

I walked back to the lobby where grandma and Aiko were waiting, I quietly set next to them and set my face onto my palms.

Ai: "Mommy? Are you okay?"

Holding back tears I lifted my head to face Aiko.

Ki: "I'm fine sweetheart, I'm just worried about daddy."

Ai: "Is daddy going to be okay?"

Ki: "…I don't know…but let's pray that he will be okay?"

Ai: "…Okay."

Yor: "…This is my fault, I never should've let him go in there."

At hearing that I pulled my headphones out of my purse, plugged them into my phone and handed them to Aiko.

Ki: "Here sweety, why don't you listen to some music while we wait, it'll make you feel better."

Ai: "Okay."

So with Aiko no longer listening, I looked to grandma.

Ki: "Tell me, what happened?"

So grandma filled me in on her and Kyousuke's ill-fated venture into the spirit world and what her guardian angel had told her happened to Kyousuke…he couldn't handle his grief anymore and his soul shattered. The angel said that this may have been an inevitability given his condition and that he may have suffered fatal heart issues in the near future anyway and for all intents and purposes…Kyousuke was dead and what I saw in that hospital room was nothing more than an empty husk but he used the last of his will to reach my heart and save Aiko.

Ki: "Then this isn't your fault, thanks to you, Kyousuke was able to save Aiko and I, even if it did cost him his soul, he gave everything to save us…I just wish he didn't have to and {sniff} I wish I wasn't the one who had to make him do it {sniff} so if anything, this is all my fault."

My body shook and tears burst forth as I leaned into grandma for comfort and she embraced me, I tried to calm myself before Aiko noticed but I just couldn't stop myself, next thing I knew I heard her voice.

Ai: "Mommy? {sniff} Why are you crying? Did something happen to daddy? {sniff}"

She looked at me looking worried and teary eyed as well, as if expecting to hear the worst possible news. But I put on a brave face and looked at her, it almost destroyed me inside knowing how her cute little face would contort in sadness when I had to break her heart.

Ki: "I'm just worried that daddy might have gotten hurt but I'm sure he'll be fine."

Ai: "…"

Ki: "…Excuse me I have to go to the bathroom."

I was barely holding it in and I didn't want Aiko to see me fall apart, even before I reached the bathroom I couldn't help but let my tears flow again and as soon as the door closed behind me I let it burst out.

Ki: "Iihihihi!"

I fell to my side against a wall and slid down to my knees as I let it all out and I truly took in the reality that…Kyousuke was gone, I cried and cried for I don't know how long, I even had to rush to the toilet to vomit a couple of times. I just couldn't believe it, the love of my life, the father of my children, the person I was the closer to than anyone else in the entire world, was completely gone, I'd never see him again and it was then I remembered the last thing I said to him.

Just go die.

Remembering that sent a powerful pain through my chest like I just got stabbed, I wished I could take those words back, to have him back, to apologize for the pain I put him through.

{Kick}

Suddenly I felt a movement in my abdomen and I remembered the baby, all this grief must have been having an effect on it.

Ki: "…I'm sorry, I hurt you again, I'm such a terrible mother…maybe it would've been better if Kyousuke ended up with someone else, if he had just left me alone, he'd be happy and loved by one of the others."

Ru: "Kirino? Are you in here?"

Ki: "Y-Yeah, I'm here."

Ru: "What's going on with you? Are you feeling okay?"

Ki: "…No."

Ru: "Have you been crying?"

Ki: "Yes."

Ru: "Over Kyousuke? I know you still had some compassion for him but I didn't think you'd be so distraught."

Ki: "It's not like that anymore… I've recently came to a revelation, this morning after thinking things over and calming down I realized how wrong I was about Kyousuke and my treatment of him, so I was planning on apologizing and maybe getting back together with him again."

Ru: "Well given how you've treated him, I wouldn't blame him if he turned you down."

Ki: "I know I was horrible {sniff} I know I don't deserve him."

Ru: "You don't, but I know that fool loves you too much to simply walk away."

Ki: "I was planning on talking to him but next thing I know, he's brought in on an ambulance."

Ru: "Your grandmother told me, she found him unresponsive in bed with a weak pulse, given all that's happened, all the pain you put him through, it almost seems like he just gave up. You and Aiko embodied all his hopes and dreams and you took that all away, how do you think any man like him would feel, if I hadn't seen you looking like such a mess here wallowing in your own misery, I would've been inclined to slap you across the face but I'm not the type to kick someone while they're down."

Ki: "So you hate me now."

Ru: "…No…though I really want to, but it doesn't feel right to hate you now, I am still angered though, plus that fool probably wouldn't forgive me if I didn't try to give you another chance to redeem yourself."

Ki: "Thanks, for not giving up on me."

Ru: "I'm sure there's more to this than you're letting on but we can talk about that later."

Ki: "Haah, well let's go back out there."

I got up and we both headed back to the lobby where everyone was waiting, Aiko quickly ran up to me and hugged my leg.

Ai: "Mommy are you okay? You were gone for a really long time."

Ki: "I'm fine sweetheart, come on let's go sit down."

We waited for hours, during which I explained what happened with Aiko and my change of heart to mom and dad and they understood and accepted my apology, they still didn't support our relationship but given the dire circumstances they were more worried about Kyousuke even their happiness for Aiko's recovery was overshadowed. Aiko eventually fell asleep on my lap and Kouhei went on a lunch run with Sena while Yukio stayed to support Aiko, then at around the fourth hour a doctor came up to us.

"Ahem, um, would the family of Kyousuke Kousaka please come with me? And leave any children here with your friends, I'd rather not talk about this in front of them."

So mom, dad and I followed the doctor, leaving Aiko with grandma and the others, he eventually lead us to the room where Kyousuke was being held where we saw him lying in bead staring blankly at the ceiling, his body connected many different machines and tubes.

"We did everything we could to keep him alive but once we got him stable he began to fade fast so we had to connect him to every machine necessary to artificially maintain bodily function, after that we did a scan of his brain…I'm sorry to say but Kyousuke Kousaka is brain dead."

Yo: "No."

Dad stood in silent shock not knowing how to react, while mom cried into his shoulder. I already knew what the outcome would be but seeing it in front of me just made it hurt more.

"We don't know how exactly it happened but it seems he went into cardiac arrest sometime in the night and by the time we were able to get to him his brain was already starved of oxygen, there's no hope of recovery. We can keep him alive though that would be very expensive but it's your call, we can pull the plug and let him pass or we can keep him going but like said he'll never recover, he'll be living the rest of his life like this."

Yo: "What do you think Daisuke?"

Dai: "…Kirino?"

Ki: "…"

Dai: "You should decide."

My heart was aching, seeing him there, all I wanted to do was lie there next to him and hold him close. But I knew he wasn't in there, what was lying in front of me was just an empty husk, the real Kyousuke was no longer in this world.

Ki: "…He wouldn't want this, Kyousuke would've rather die peacefully than be a burden on anyone, especially if there's no way of coming back, he'd want to be at peace."

"Are you absolutely sure?"

Ki: "Yes."

So the doctor gestured to one of the nurses in the room and with the flipping of a few switches and the yanking of cord…the heart monitor began to slow, Kyousuke stopped breathing and his eyes lost what little light was left before he finally flatlined…Kyousuke was officially dead.

Yo: "Oh Kyousuke {sniff}."

Dai: "…Rest now."

Ki: "Goodbye…Kyousuke."

Mom cried into dad's shoulder and I could see that he was barely holding back his own tears but remained stoic, I already had my cry but it still hurt more than anything I've ever experienced. After that we broke the news to everyone except for the children, they were all devastated, tears were shed by even the men, all our close friends went to see his body and grieve. Kyousuke's body was cremated and we attended his funeral, his closest friends giving tearful eulogies, Ruri seemed to be a rock for everyone comforting all our friends in their grief though Saori was silent through everything, she hardly reacted to any attempts to comfort her, she almost seemed distraught.

Ai: "Mommy what's going on? Where's daddy?"

Ki: "Aiko…I'm sorry but daddy is leaving."

Ai: "Where's he going?"

Ki: "Somewhere far away but we can't go with him and he can't come back."

Ai: "But {sniff} why?"

Ki: "Because…he needed to do something very important, he needed to save our world, that's why you got better, that's why you're here right now. Daddy gave up ever seeing us again in order to save us, your daddy is a hero."

Ai: "Really? But I don't want daddy to go."

Ki: "He has to, daddy needs to go or else you'll get sick again and daddy wouldn't want you to get hurt."

No matter what I said, she began to get more and more sad, fortunately grandma stepped in to help me.

Yor: "Your daddy would want you to be strong, even if he can't be here right now, he'd want you to be happy and smiling as much as possible, so can you be strong big girl for your daddy?"

Ai: "{sniff}…Yeah and are we ever going to see daddy again?"

Ki: "Maybe someday."

Ai: "Can I say goodbye?"

Ki: "Daddy already left, but here…"

I took a piece of paper and a pen out of my purse and handed it to Aiko."

Ki: "Write Daddy a goodbye letter and I'll send it to him okay?"

Ai: "{sniff} Okay."

I was glad Aiko was still at the age where she believes in whatever I say, makes me wish she always be like this but eventually she'll come to the full realization that her father had died and she'll have to spend the rest of her life without him and she'll break down completely.

I don't know if I can handle that.

I stood by holding the majority of Kyousuke's ashes in an urn as they placed the rest into his grave along with Aiko's goodbye letter.

Ru: "Kirino, you were wrong you know?"

Ki: "Huh?"

Ru: "I heard what you said before, about how Kyousuke would've been better off with another woman, if that had happened then Aiko wouldn't have been born, you likely would've gone and married another celebrity or a rich dignitary and been whisked off to who knows where and Kyousuke wouldn't have had a reason to return to Chiba and leaving our group of friends forever separated."

Ki: "What about you? If he had stayed with you, he would have stayed in Chiba."

Ru: "Then what about you, Kyousuke was your anchor to Chiba, without him your future would have led you elsewhere and without you around…things wouldn't be the same, besides Kyousuke already burned his bridge with me, I couldn't see him as a potential lover even if tried. As much as I don't like to think this, you and Kyousuke being together was probably the best outcome for us, especially since seeing you two with Aiko sort of helped me gain the courage to find someone for myself and start my own family."

Ki: "Really?"

Ru: "Yes and despite this outcome, I'm sure Kyousuke doesn't regret anything about his life with you."

Ki: "Jeez {sniff} since when did you get so sappy?"

Ru: "Don't expect this to be a regular thing, I just wanted to take another chance to tell you how wrong you are."

Ki: "Thanks Ruri…you know it was also because of Kyousuke that we became friends, if it wasn't for him encouraging me to got to that first Otaku Girls Unite meeting, you, me and Saori never would've met."

Ru: "Well then, thank you Kyousuke for bringing us all together, may you rest in peace."

Ki: "Rest in peace, big brother."

In the following few months when it became impossible to hide it, I made the announcement that I was pregnant with Kyousuke's child and it was a boy, everyone congratulated me, especially Kyousuke's friends though mom and dad didn't really know how to feel about it but were still happy for me, mom even came to my baby shower and dad signed on as the official father figure for Aiko and the baby, though while we did tell Mr. Kiyoshi, we didn't tell him that Kyousuke was the father, we all thought it best that he doesn't know about our secret. The day came, just a few days after my own birthday and I gave birth to my baby boy, as I sat there on the hospital bed holding him, I was scared about having to raise him and Aiko on my own.

Yo: "Oooh, look at him, he's so cute~"

Yor: "He has your eyes~"

Of course that fear was put off the moment mom and grandma started gushing over him, I had them standing by as I gave birth.

Yo: "So what are you going to name him?"

Ki: "I've decided to name him Naota."

Yor: "Ooh, that's a good, strong name."

Yo: "Happy birthday Naota Kyousaka."

Even when the two of us were discharged everyone was trying to get some time to fawn over Naota, I almost felt bad for Aiko but she was also guilty of trying get in his face so the lack of attention she was getting was unnoticed to her, unfortunately some tests would show that he has minor brain damage, my blood test showed the presence of an unknown drug the doctors think may have been what caused it, oddly though I wasn't questioned about it beyond that, just told to take some special vitamins.

…

Ki: "Haah…"

I was at Ayase's doorstep, I left Naota and Aiko with my parents, after everything that happened in the spirit world, I knew I needed to confront her.

{Knock, knock, knock}

Ay: "Oh, hey Kirino."

Ki: "Hey."

We hugged and she let me in.

Ay: "What are you doing here?"

Ki: "I just came to hang out, get away from the kids for little while."

Ay: "Hmm."

She seemed to tense up a little the moment I mentioned my children, that angered me, I was able to remember everything, everything that she did to me, the drugs she gave me that hurt Naota, even how she tried to tell me to abort Naota, for the past few months I wanted to kill her but I stayed my hand so I wouldn't have to watch my babies grow up from prison and now that everything with Kyousuke's passing and Noata's birth is settled, it was now time to end this friendship.

Ki: "Excuse me I just need to use the restroom."

Ay: "Okay, I'll get some tea ready."

While she headed to the kitchen I quietly made my way to her bedroom and after looking through her things I found it, a sealed plastic bag with crushable powder pills in it, I remembered what they look like. After that I headed back to the kitchen where Ayase was mixing the tea.

Ki: "Ayase?"

Ayase turned to see me holding the bag of pills and she looked shocked for a second before her expression eased.

Ay: "Uh, wh-why do you have my migraine pills?"

Ki: "Cut the crap Ayase, I know what these are, I know what you've been doing to me!"

Ay: "…How did you find out?"

Ki: "I have my ways."

Ay: "I was trying to help you."

Ki: "No you were only thinking of your own interests, I was happy I didn't care if people found out I still would've been happy but you too all that from me!"

Ay: "Would have still been happy if I had stopped being your friend because of it?"

Ki: "Even if you hadn't done what you did? Absolutely, because he was the most precious thing to me, I could have everyone else abandon me if it meant I could have him back…but right now all I want is for you to be gone from this town, from this prefecture, I never want to see you again."

Ay: "You can't make me do that."

Ki: "Well then I guess I'll just have to turn these highly illegal drugs into the authorities, see what they think."

Ay: "Kirino you're not thinking straight."

Ayase began to approach me and I noticed her hiding something up her left sleeve, at that I immediately pulled Kyousuke's gun out from its hidden holster and aimed it at her, she immediately froze and dropped her knife.

{Clatter!}

Ay: "Wh-Why do you have that!"

Ki: "My dad was able grab it before it could be confiscated and he gave it to me, I may be breaking the law by having it but with this Kyousuke still protects me and our children from horrible people like you, so either leave and never come back or go to prison, your choice."

Ay: "{sniff} But why?"

She began to cry.

Ay: "Why are you turning against me like this {sniff} I was trying to save you!"

Ki: "Because you hurt my family, I will never forgive anyone who does that, I want you gone by next month or I'll be going to the police."

I walked out the front door, quickly holstering Kyousuke's gun, even with the door closed I could still hear Ayase's anguished sobs, the small part of me that still cared for her began to ache but it faded quick. Once I made it to my car, I sat back and began to cry myself, not for the current Ayase but the Ayase that I loved before that was now gone and the lifelong friendship we had. Once I had calmed, a peace fell over me, like I was being comforted by an invisible hand, I imagined it was Kyousuke there, telling me to be at peace. I spent the rest of the day just cheering myself up and finding my happy place before I drove back to my parents house where I was immediately greeted my Aiko and grandma Yoriko holding Noata.

Ai: "Hi mommy!"

Yor: "Welcome back, look Noata it's your mommy."

Na: "Unf."

Ki: "Hey there Aiko, did you miss mommy."

Ai: "Yeah but you weren't gone for long, I'll always miss you lots and lots."

Ki: "You're so sweet, was Naota any trouble?"

Yor: "Nah, the boy takes after his father, quiet and stoic."

Ki: "Here I'll take him."

After taking Naota into my arms I entered the old living room where dad was reading the newspaper, Mr. Kiyoshi was watching the news and I could see mom in the Kitchen preparing dinner.

Ha: "Hehey there Kirinio, welcome back."

Yo: "Oh hey Kirino, you think you want to stay for dinner today?"

Ki: "Sure, Aiko you want to eat dinner here?"

Ai: "Yeah, grandma food super yummy."

So we set the table and I sat Naota into his bassinet, given how many people were attending family dinner night, which were now every other night, we had to get a new bigger table. Mom set down seven plates of food, one for me, one her, one for dad, one for Mr. Kiyoshi, one for grandma, one for Aiko and…one for Kyousuke, right next to me, right were we always used to sit and for a second I was back in those days, when he and I were young and were just beginning to get close again, when I began to fall for him again.

Ki: "Okay bye everyone."

Ha: "Drive safe."

Yor: "Bye my darlings."

Yo: "If you need anything just call."

Dai: "Hm."

I drove home and carried a sleeping Aiko on my shoulder while Naota snoozed in his car seat, once inside I was greeted by Tomoko and Rascal was of course head first in a bag of dog food. Tomoko was still looking pretty down about Kyousuke but still wagged her tail for me.

Ki: "Hey there girl, you still missing daddy."

To: "Wror."

I carried the kids upstairs, set Aiko in her bed and gave her a kiss and wrapped Naota in a harness around my chest, I then went downstairs and sat in front of the Altar I had set up for Kyousuke and Tomoko quickly laid down next to me. Next to a vase of flowers was a framed photo of Kyousuke with Aiko riding on his shoulders and in front of that was a plate of cold croquettes that I was surprised hadn't been eaten by a certain household raccoon.

Ki: "Sometimes I wonder how smart Rascal is."

I lit the incense and prayed, I know he wasn't there, his soul had already passed to a new world but I still prayed trying to reach across the far expanses of space and time to reach him wherever he may be.

Ki: "I'll see you again, one day, even if we don't remember each other, I'll always love you Kyousuke."

Aiko's Goodbye letter

Dear Daddy

Thank you for saving me and mommy, I'm sad that we can't see you anymore, I wanted to play more games and watch TV with you and take Tomoko and Rascal the park with you and lots and lots more stuff. I'm gonna miss how you make pancakes and how you read me stories before bed and how we played pretend and how you threw me up in the air really high, I know mommy said you can't come back home but I want you to so please come home if you can, goodbye daddy, I love you daddy.

Love Aiko

Aiko's POV

After dad died, rather than fall apart mom pulled herself up, she never remarried or even dated as far as I know, fortunately dad's life insurance payout was significant, not enough to make us rich but enough that on top of mom's savings and after paying dad's hospital and funeral costs, we had enough for mom to quit her job and devote herself to being a full time mother and also have enough to pay for college for both my brother and I. She was the best mom a kid could ask for, fun but still lovingly strict, grandpa Daisuke and grandpa Kiyoshi stood in as our father figures making sure to bring us up as well-rounded children. Grandma Yoshino was always there to spoil us though, she always had some kind of treat ready whenever we came to visit and bought us our favorite toys, grandma Yoriko was the fun grandma always telling us stories of the spirit world and taking us to visit Shinto shrines which I always enjoyed. Mom told me about my origin and how dad saved me along with everything about the Spirit world, at first I didn't believe her but after showing some evidence including an old paternity and maternity test, she convinced me somewhat, at least I knew I wasn't adopted. Our aunts and uncles also doted on us, aunt Saori especially, seeing us as her sole heirs, she even announced to her parents that we were the children of the man she loved and much to mom's anger, revealed that we were born from incest but after a bunch of drama the likes of which would've have made the most heart wrenching cliché filled dramedy seem mediocre, aunt Saori's parents decided to accept us, coming to terms with the fact that we would be the closest things to grandchildren they would ever get from her.

Eventually dad's illegitimate child Kyousuke Junior would come on to the scene after his mom died, his uncle Iwao would adopt him and he would become best friends with Naota, they were practically like brothers though given neither him nor uncle Iwao knew the truth about us we decided not to tell them that, that was in fact the case. Naota would also grow up surrounded by a gaggle of daughters from our extended family and he'd marry them all while Kyousuke Jr. would marry a girl that happened to have the same name as our mother. Grandma Yoriko would eventually pass in my mid teens, grandpa Hayate would follow just a year later and grandpa Daisuke would pass in my twenties while grandma Yoshino kept going strong like she was freaking immortal, I'm about to be a grandma myself and she's still chugging along albeit with a bit of elderly care. Oh yeah, I ended up marrying Yukio, big surprise there and yeah our family is pretty big even if some of us aren't blood related, though I always feel like there's something missing, like our family will never truly be whole and it wasn't just because dad wasn't there.

Yor: "Okay mom we're here."

Ai: "Haah, this is going to be tough."

Yor: "Just be strong mom, the doctors said she should pass peacefully, besides uncle Naota and Kyousuke will be there to support you."

Yukio then grabbed my hand to comfort me.

Yu: "It'll be okay, I'll be nearby if you need me."

Ai: "Alright then."

We got out of the car and head into my parent's old house, Kyou's car was already in the driveway as well as Izanami's meaning Naota was here too since he can't drive. Yoriko helped me to the front door and let me in where I was greeted by Kirino 2 and Iza.

Ki2: "Hey there sis, glad you could come."

Iz: "They're upstairs in her room, if you need a minute-"

Ai: "No, I need to do this now before it's too late."

Yukio stayed downstairs while I went up and down the hall where I head the beeping of a heart monitor through an open door.

Na: "Hey Aiko."

Ky: "…"

Ai: "Hey, how is she?"

Na: "She's…getting close."

There she was, my mother, laying in her bed looking as week as a willow branch.

Ai: "Hi mom."

Ki: "Hey there sweetie."

Her voice was weak but content.

Ki: "All my little babies together with me on last time."

Na: "Don't talk like that mom."

Ki: "Naota baby, shut it, my time is here and I'm ready for it…I'm ready to go, shed your tears but I want to see smiles on those pretty faces in the end, smile about how happy we were together."

Na: "Heh okay mom."

I held onto mom's right hand and Naota held onto her left.

Ki: "You come here too, Kyou."

Ky: "B-but-"

Na: "Kyou I get that your mind is blown after finding out that we're actually half-brothers and that me and Aiko are inbred but my mom's dying here."

Ky: "…"

Na: "We can figure out what to do later but for now…give our mom some comfort."

I was shocked that they had told him, I looked to Kyou and his face was a mix of emotions, confusion, anger, sadness, exasperation and…a tiny bit of joy, likely from hearing that his life long friend is his blood related brother. So we walked over next to Naota and mom grabbed onto both their hands.

Ki: "You may not by my son but you're my baby too."

I could see Kyou begin to tear up at that, we all sat there silently feeling mom's pulse begin to fade.

Ki: "Remember to smile, my babies."

{Beeeeep}

My mother Kirino Kousaka had died, we shed tears but kept our composure.

Na: "Rest in peace mom."

Ai: "Goodbye…mommy."

Kirino's POV

After I blacked out I awoke to a star filled sky, I felt tired and sleepy.

Ki: "Where am I?"

"Be at peace."

I looked up from where I was lying to see a man in a strange but goofy looking outfit, almost like a clown or jester from some obscure eastern culture. He sat down and lifted my head onto his lap and I felt warm and comforted like this strange person was someone familiar.

"You will be together again soon."

My body began to feel lighter and all of my memories began to fade.

Ki: "Kyousuke."

With that I blacked out for the last time, Kirino Kousaka no longer existed.

…

I rode my bike rapidly through the cold winter night, looking up at the large glider that my friend was piloting along the light the Milky Way.

|Hey Habiki how are things on your end?|

"All looks good, the wings are staying steady."

|Alright I'm going to head out over the ocean to catch some thermals.|

"Gotcha, I'll keep an eye on you from the cliffs."

I slowed my pedalling until I was just a hundred feet from the cliff's edge and stopped, I let my bike fall on its side while I pulled out my binoculars to monitor the glider.

Oht: "Good, looks like he's gaining altitude, don't want another void vortex incident."

{clat-clatter!}

Just then I noticed the sound of another bike falling to the ground and I looked to see a girl, looking out of breath as clouds of mist puffed out of her mouth.

Oht: "Oh, um, hello? What are you doing here at this time?"

"Um I just saw the glider and wanted to see it up close."

Oht: "Oh, well that's my friend Isshin piloting it, if you want you can come see it when he lands, he has a few other planes too, he has a private airfield."

"Wow that's cool!"

She looked out over the ocean as the glider continued to float about like an angel on the Heavens.

"I've always wanted to fly under the stars like that, it must be amazing."

I don't know if it was love at first sight because I was really head over heals for her, I just met her after all but in that moment I felt I needed to try something.

Oht: "Hey, you know I could take you up there if you want."

"Really?! Oh, wait, what's the catch?"

Oht: "How about a date? Don't worry I'm not one of those player types just trying to get you to put out."

"Then why a date?"

Oht: "I just think your interesting and it's obvious you love flying too, so what do you say, give a guy a chance?"

"Hmmm…okay, I guess you aren't the ugliest guy I've dated."

Oht: "Very funny, so my name's Ohta Kazuki what's your name?"

"Seriously?! my surname's also Kazuki!"

Oht: "Hehe really?"

"Yep Habiki Kazuki, good to meet you Ohta."

Oht: "Hm, likewise…good to meet you Habiki."