CELESTIAL BODIES
A Double Arts fanfiction by Tobu Ishi

Part 2
 Moon

Kiri knows, in a vague sort of way, that he ought to be scared. He always knew this could happen, and it sure as hell used to scare him. He used to lie awake sometimes at night, after the worst fights, reliving what had happened blow by blow and thinking about what ifs and almosts. He used to wonder if dying would hurt.

As it turns out, it doesn't, much. Not anymore. Kiri's body gently switched off the lights when the third blade went through him. Physically, he just feels...stunned. Numb. Sort of distant, like he's not really here anymore.

It wouldn't even bother him much, now, the fact that he's dying. No, what scares the shit out of him, what's tearing him up with despair as he lies there helpless, is the fact that in a few minutes she is going to die, too.

And, unlike him, she's going to die alone.

"Kiri, can you hear me?" Elraine has her arms around him and is trying to help him sit up a little, to help him breathe. "Andie went for help, she'll be b-back soon..." Her voice trails off, and he feels her arms tightening around him. They both know the nearest town is hours away.

"El," he whispers, tilting his face toward her, trying to get a good look at her. Her eyes are full of tears, and they glimmer green in the moonlight. The whole clearing is bathed in it, every branch and leaf picked out in bright silver.

"Oh, Kiri," she whispers. "I'm so sorry. You could have...you could have had a normal life. You could have been happy..."

"No," he says, interrupting her. A normal life? A life spent wasting his Flare carrying festival equipment and curing colds? A life without shy Sisters and adventure and Elraine? That's what he's supposed to want? "I...I helped people. We helped people, El. I never would have done anything, without you."

A watery smile appears on her face, at that. He smiles back, and squeezes her hand.

Her fingers in his are warm, and he can still feel the gentle tingle in his skin that means he's using his Flare. "Maybe...maybe it'll be okay," he says, trying to think. There's got to be some way to save her, to pour his power into her when he doesn't need it anymore. Right?

"Kiri..." A tear trickles down her cheek. "Please, don't. I'm grateful for the extra time, but it's over now. I'm okay with it. Really."

Fear for her swells up in Kiri's chest, twisting and hurting more than anything physical. "No! El, you have to try." He swallows, fighting back a welling-up of coppery blood and despair. "Look, I didn't do this to be a...a hero, okay? I'm not a hero, or a...a chosen one, or any of that."

"Then...why did you..."

"For you," he says. She looks amazing even in the moonlight, tear-streaked face and all. He grips her fingers, willing her to believe him, to be stronger than him. "I couldn't let you go, El. From the...minute I saw you. I could never let you go..."

"Oh, god," Elraine says, voice breaking, and chokes back a sob. "Oh, god, Kiri, I am so, so sorry that I couldn't be rescued-"

"No," he insists, struggling to sit up. That's not what he's trying to say, but something - pops a little - inside him as he tries to move, releasing a sudden wave of fresh pain, and he gasps and sags in her arms. Elraine is sobbing now, and Kiri stops trying and just lets her hold him close, even though he knows he's bleeding all over the clothes he worked so hard to sew for her. The stains are never gonna come out. He grimaces, lets his eyes close for a long moment and concentrates on continuing to breathe.

The branches rustle overhead in the soft night wind, with a gentle shushing sound. Somewhere nearby, an owl hoots once, twice, and falls silent.

Kiri swallows. He's so damn tired. He never knew he could feel this tired, but...none of the old excuses matter anymore, and she needs to know.

"I love you," he murmurs.

It's hard to tell if the sudden noise Elraine makes is a laugh or a sob. "And I love you," she says. Tears are dripping off her chin and her eyes shine bright even in the dark, as she touches his cheek. "Kiri...I've known for a while. I should have said something, but the time never seemed right..."

"Shit," he whispers. So much wasted time. "No, I should've..."

He can't finish the sentence. His lungs are doing a strange thing where they won't fill the way they're supposed to. It's like trying to shovel air into a bag, and talking is becoming horribly difficult. He can't even sit up a little to kiss her.

From the look on Ellie's face, she's noticed. Which is probably why she bends down to kiss him, instead.

Kiri shuts his eyes and tries to make the moment last as long as he can, kissing her softly back. Elraine tastes like mint candy, with a salty hint of tears, and her lips are soft and warm against his. He wishes they'd done this months ago. He wishes they could do this forever.

"Kiri," she whispers, finally drawing back a little. "Th-thank you. For everything. You gave me so much more time than I ever thought I'd have...let me see so many extra things..."

If it was up to him, she'd live forever; but he can't tell her all the stuff he wanted her to have and do. Not now. It'd just hurt the hell out of both of them. "Don't give up," he says, instead, as fiercely as he can. "You're gonna be okay. You are. I'm not gonna let go..."

Elraine smiles for him. It's the most beautiful smile. He wishes he could draw it.

"Don't worry," she tells him, gently. "I'm right here. I'm not gonna let go, either."

"Okay." He takes another shallow breath, closes his eyes. "Good." He hasn't noticed the way his grip on her hand is loosening. "You're gonna be...fine..."

Elraine nods for his sake and sits up as tall as she can, watching his face intently as his eyes lose their focus and drift shut. She cradles him in her arms, gripping his hand, and waits for the end to come.

True to his word, he's still holding her hand in his when he dies.

She knows exactly when he goes. She can feel Flare's power leaving her as he does, and she braces herself for the seizures, biting her lip to stifle the cries of pain.

Her hand is still holding his when it vanishes altogether.

A/N - Cowritten with Peter, who is both esteemed and inestimable.