Title: Final Stand
Summary: Kaito had come to amends that he would die within the year.
A/N: character death
When Kaito first started using Photon Mode, the pressure on his body, pushing him closer and closer to the ground, was relentless, and it took all of his willpower to get up and go through vigorous training.
After a while, Kaito had almost forgotten about how much Photon Mode strained his body, too focused on hunting the Numbers.
His body, worn out and damaged from continuous usage of Photon Mode, was crashing.
Every morning, it would be a struggle to roll out of bed - if he slept at all that night - and start hunting. Kaito found himself tripping and collapsing more and more as Photon Mode kept sapping away his energy.
But he couldn't stop, wouldn't stop, not if it meant putting Haruto in even more danger.
When Yuma freed him and Haruto from Heartland and their burdens, Kaito had never felt so, so free. In that moment, Kaito decided that he would spend as much time with Haruto as possible.
The Barian War was not unexpected, but Kaito was almost disappointed in having to use Photon Mode again and again. It was destroying his eyesight, and his hearing as well.
Kaito hadn't mentioned anything to any of the others - we don't need distractions in this war - but he was taking a heavy toll from all the duels.
When Kaninja injected poison within him, it burned, it burned so much it hurt so badly. The others bought the "burning duelist spirit" bullshit he spouted, while he leaned against the side of the helicopter, masking his face into a frown and he grit his teeth.
Heartland's brutal assault knocked him down, and Mizael's rage left him, well, breathless. Yes, Kaito figured, this would be his final stand.
As the last of his oxygen left the suit, Kaito gave a calm smile, not scared, not worried
You're the final hope
His eyes, heavy from the fierce duels, shut. His face shifted to the side, and as Operation System Shutdown displayed, Kaito took his last breath.