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Title: Maoh, A Day Late

Summary: Yuri promises to meet again.

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Part VI, Chapter 4

You and I (II)

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Shori didn't need to say anything when he returned to where the other Demon Tribesmen waited. His eyes met Yuri's and Murata's, and he nodded to one side, beckoning them to come with him. His cool, commanding gaze swept over the others, making them reflexively fall back, despite Wolfram and Conrart's clear unease.

Swallowing heavily, Yuri stood and hurried after his brother, Murata silently standing as well. Conrart's hand clenched around the hilt of his sword, but he didn't move to follow, and even Wolfram couldn't find the words to protest. None of them had been able to say anything in the face of Ondine's pronouncement.

It had been too heavy, a sudden tragedy that left no time for them to even try to find a solution. No time to go back to even say goodbye.

'I knew from the start that I might never see them again,' Yuri thought, watching his brother's back as he followed after him. 'But I could still hope. This is... I don't know what to do...'

He felt like crying, but even that wouldn't be enough.

Murata was the first to break the silence as they drew to a stop in an isolated clearing. "Shibuya," he said quietly, "there's nothing we can do. This is to protect the Earth from the threat of the Originator."

"I know that," Yuri whispered, his stooped shoulders curling even further inward.

"That's why we-"

"Enough," Shori said sharply. "If you're suddenly feeling so talkative, I have questions for you to answer." Their dark, unreadable eyes met, separated by more than just two pairs of glasses. "First and foremost: just what are these Originators?"

Murata smiled meaninglessly. "That is something we never understood fully. I don't think there's any reason for you to waste your limited time discussing that. I'm sure there are better things for you to do, older brother of my friend."

"Don't patronize me!" Shori scowled. "And you no longer have the right to call me that!"

Murata's smile widened as he prepared to retaliate, but Yuri stopped him with a hand on his shoulder. "Murata," he said, "I want to know too. What are the Originators?"

For a long moment, his friend remained silent. Then, he sighed in surrender.

"Like I said, we were never able to understand the Originator's origins or true nature," he said, pushing up his glasses. "The best I can tell you is that the Originator... is an aggregate of negative emotion. Fear, anger, sadness, greed..."

'That's what I felt,' Yuri thought. 'When I touched the thing inside Stoffel. I couldn't feel a core or any center, just places where the darkness was deeper.'

"As far as we were able to determine, it is not so much a being as a phenomenon," Murata continued. "It infects other living beings, taking over their hearts through the small bit of negativity everyone has, feeds upon their emotions to multiply itself and uses their minds and their bodies to spread itself even further."

"Wait. Are you saying... it has no consciousness of its own? It's a disease?" Shori asked, his brow furrowed in thought.

Murata shrugged. "Yes... and no. There seems to be a certain will behind it. But its exact goals and its methods changed whenever its host changed. It would take on not only their physical form, but also all their knowledge... and a warped form of their desires and beliefs."

"I was told the Originators took over people and could even use the dead as puppets," Shori muttered, his expression growing distant as his mind spun. "But what you're saying is beyond that..."

"Yeah. What we fought weren't just empty husks, controlled by the Originator, but some twisted combination of the Originator and the people who had been taken over," Murata said quietly, closing his eyes as he remembered that horrifying struggle. "And yet they were all connected. Destroying any single body was meaningless. The rest of it survived, growing only stronger..."

'So destroying the darkness in Stoffel really was meaningless,' Yuri thought, his arms curling tightly around himself. 'How are we going to fight something like that? There must be a way!'

"And just how do you plan to fight something like that?" Shori demanded, his voice cold and strong. His eyes narrowed. "Or rather, how do you plan to have Yuri fight it? Don't tell me you're risking my brother on nothing but a prayer!"

But Murata remained unfazed, meeting his eyes evenly. "Don't worry," he said. "I'll do everything I can to support Shibuya."

"That's not good enough!" Shori shouted, gesturing sharply.

"Shori!" Yuri protested, moving between the two. "Murata is the Great Wiseman. He helped the Great One seal the Originators away in the first place!"

"You don't understand! I saw it!" Shori yelled back. He flinched, something completely unlike the stubborn, always controlled brother Yuri knew. He said quietly, "I saw it. At the place where the Box had been kept, its darkness had leaked into the ground. When we tried to remove it, a monster was created. It was... we barely beat it, even with Bob's power. If that is just a fraction of their potential, if that's what they can do with only lifeless dirt at their disposal..."

"...I do understand. I saw it too," Yuri replied. "But that's exactly why I have to fight them! To protect everyone!"

"You're the one I want to protect!" Shori snapped, then winced.

Yuri looked away, feeling both annoyed and bitterly touched at this old argument. "...You don't have to protect me," he muttered.

"I'm your older brother."

"I'm not a kid anymore."

Neither of their words held any real fire, though they still firmly believed in what they had said. But there was no point in rehashing the things they had already repeated so many times.

Shori sighed, quietly. "...I want to tell you there's no point in fighting, but I know that you won't accept that. I want to say we can just come home and forget that horrible darkness and this entire messed up world, but..."

"But I can't just abandon everyone," Yuri finished, his voice low and sad. "I'm the Demon King. They're counting on me."

"Yeah..." Shori said. His expression was exasperated, but also soft and fond. He smiled, wryly. "I know. You're my brother, after all. And that's why... I'm going to protect you matter what. No matter which world you are in."

"S-Shori?"

He turned away sharply and headed toward the village. "Come on," he called back over his shoulder. "We need to tell Ondine she doesn't need to keep the portal open any longer."

"Shori!" Yuri yelled, chasing after him. His heart was suddenly pounding, even as his stomach dropped. "What does that mean? Shori!"

"It's simple," Shori said calmly, his steps even and sure. "I'm staying here."

"You can't!"

Shori chuckled. "I can't decide what you will do, Yu-chan, but that means you can't decide for me either."

"No! Shori!"

This time, he didn't bother to reply. They had almost returned; Yuri could see the village circle up ahead. Noticing their approach, Conrart and Josak had looked up, Wolfram following their gazes.

'He can't stay here!' Yuri thought frantically. 'What about Mom and Dad? What about succeeding Bob as Earth's Demon King? No, I can't let this happen! Shori's future isn't here...'

But what could he do? What could he do...?

"Shori!" Yuri yelled, the desperate determination in his voice stopping brother in his tracks and drawing the attention of his comrades. "I'll do it! I'll go back to Earth with you!"

~.~.~

No one had known how to respond to his decision.

"Yuri, what are you saying?!" Wolfram finally burst out. Next to him, Josak had taken on a cold, disdainful expression Yuri hadn't seen in a long while, while Conrart looked uncertain, under his carefully blank mask.

Murata pushed up his glasses. "Shibuya, think carefully about what you're doing," he said quietly. Mostly hidden behind the gleam of his lenses, his face was unreadable.

Even Shori seemed uneasy. "You don't have to do that, Yu-chan. I'll stay here with you," he said, his brow furrowing as he studied his brother far too closely. Pursing his lips, he thought, 'I didn't intend to force him into it. If Yuri really does it... if really goes back to Earth, it'll break his heart. I'm not sure he'll ever be able to forgive himself.'

Yuri shook his head. Slowly, he let his gaze sweep across each of them before glancing away. "I can't let you throw away your life for my sake," he insisted. "And we can't both leave Mom and Dad like that. You're... you're my family, the most important thing to me. I've missed you all so much..."

His breath hitched, and he ducked his head.

"Yuri..." Shori murmured.

"But... but..." Wolfram stammered, his gaze flickering to Yuri and away. He felt completely adrift. Despite all his complaints, he had always seen Yuri's determination as something admirable and, despite how annoying it could be, reliable in its own way. But this time, Yuri had given up.

No. He had become determined to protect his family. This was what it was like being on the other side of Yuri's drive.

'But aren't we your family? You're part of the Demon Tribe now!' Wolfram bit back the words, stubborn tears welling up in his eyes as his shoulders and clenched fists trembled.

Wolfram had told Gunter he would accept Yuri going to Earth, but he had been absolutely certain Yuri would return. This... this was forever.

"So you're just going to abandon the Demon Kingdom?" Josak said coldly, not bothering to hold back his anger and disappointment.

Yuri quailed, making Shori snarl in return. Josak matched his glare. The air between them almost crackled with tension, and the two looked like they were about to come to blows. But Conrart pulled Josak back, shaking his head.

"If that is His Majesty's wish... Yuri's wish... then he has the right to return to his home and family," Conrart said, his voice unnaturally even and calm given the situation. He met Josak's ugly look unflinchingly.

"Fine," Josak snapped, pulling away from his friend. "So long, Your Majesty! Good riddance."

"It's not like that!" Yuri finally burst out. "We'll meet again! I swear! I'll find a way..."

"What are you saying, Shibuya?" Murata spoke up suddenly, having been lost in his own thoughts. His eyes narrowing as he looked at Yuri again.

Yuri squared his shoulders, straightening with determination. But his expression gave away uncertainty and doubt. "I'll find a way past the seal and come back to see everyone again," he swore, his tone wavering despite the strength he tried to project.

Murata shook his head sharply, his lips pursing. "That would defeat the whole point of the seal, Shibuya," he protested. "You would placing an entire world in danger from the Originators! You can't just arrogantly claim that you'll certainly defeat it. You can't risk everyone's lives as long as there is even the slightest chance we might fail."

"I can't let Shori stay here!" Yuri yelled back.

There was nothing anyone could say to that. Even Shori could only glance at him and look away quickly, his expression momentarily conflicted. 'Yuri will regret it. I'm causing him to suffer, but...' Shori thought. 'But... I can't back down either. I won't go back alone. And at least this way... Yuri will be safe.'

It was selfish of him, but Shori couldn't bring himself to take that thought back.

At least Yuri would be safe on Earth.

Yuri's eyes darted between the other four, but he finally shook his head and turned away. "...Let's go," he muttered, his head bowed under a terrible weight. A faint shudder went through his form.

"Yu-chan, are you sure?" Shori asked, glancing at the four Demon Tribesmen. "You should..." '...Say goodbye,' he had intended to say, but seeing their angry, hurt or unnaturally blank looks, he couldn't force the words out.

"We shouldn't make Ondine wait any more," Yuri insisted, grabbing Shori by the arm and dragging him away, toward the lake.

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Ondine looked up in surprise as they approached. She looked even worse than just a few hours prior, and Yuri had the sudden unsettling feeling that her promise of another day would have been bought at a very high price.

"I can still..." she began, trying to rise, only to sway and collapse back on her knees.

"There's no need," Shori assures her, kneeling quickly by her side and steadying her. "We're departing."

"I... You? You both?" she wondered, her wide eyes darting between them.

Yuri nodded, his head jerking as if pulled up and down on a string. His fingers tightened around Shori's arm before pulling away.

"I... I see..." Ondine murmured, though her befuddled expression clearly said she didn't.

Shori moved ahead, casting a glance back as Yuri lingered. "Sorry, I just..." the younger brother murmured. "I won't see everyone again... for a really long time, probably..."

Both of them looked back in the direction of the village, waiting, but there was no sound or movement among the trees. The forest stood empty. Finally, Yuri sighed and turned away, taking a step toward his brother.

"Wait!" a frantic cry split the air. "Yuri, wait!"

Wolfram burst out onto the lake shore, Conrart and Murata following after him. Even Josak silently approached close enough to watch the unfolding scene.

'So they did come,' Shori thought. Turning away to give them that much privacy, Shori moved toward the lake. The path slopped into the water, marking the place where their ancestors had departed from this world, four thousand years ago.

He kept moving, slowly, until the shining waves had risen to his calves - strangely not feeling at all wet - and the pull of the gate had become almost impossible to resist. This was the point of no return.

Taking a deep breath, Shori closed his eyes and waited.

Finally catching his breath, Wolfram straightened and pointed angrily at Yuri. "You better come back soon!" he yelled, scowling fiercely. "Your determination is your only good point, you wimp! So you better... you better not give up!"

He ducked his head, sniffling a little, and Conrart laid a gentle hand on his shoulder. Turning to Yuri, Conrart smiled wistfully. "We'll be waiting for you, here at the Demon Kingdom. It's a promise," he said, making Yuri's eyes widen as he recognized the echo of his own words to Conrart.

"...Yeah," Yuri whispered, swallowing heavily. "I promise. I'll definitely come back. I'll see you again!"

"Then let's get going, Shibuya. No point in dawdling," Murata said, strolling past the others to Yuri's side. Meeting Yuri's surprised gaze, Murata smiled wryly. "I'll be coming with you. Otherwise, there's no telling what you'll do. I did tell you that I would support you no matter what."

Yuri nodded, his shoulders shaking. "Thanks for everything. Thank you... for supporting me all this time. Thank you..."

He spun around suddenly, and ran.

Truth was, his nerve had almost given out. He had to do this now, before he hesitated or changed his mind.

Shori glanced over his shoulder, his sympathetic gaze turning shocked as he realized that Yuri wasn't about to run past him into the gateway.

Yuri was running straight for him. They would crash.

The two brothers collided painfully, Yuri's momentum sending Shori stumbling back, deeper into the lake. The gateway's pull was too strong to fight now, and he could feel his being stretch out in the same strange way that had brought him to the other world.

But... Yuri's arms weren't wrapping around him, holding tight. Yuri had backpaddled quickly, keeping his balance, at the boundary line where Shori had stood. Instead, he pushed, with all his might.

A moment too late, Shori finally knew what was happening.

"Yuri!" he yelled, reaching out.

"Goodbye, Big Brother," Yuri murmured, just loud enough for him to hear.

Then, the gateway was pulling Shori away, at the same time as Murata grabbed the back of Yuri's jacket and dragged him back, out of the lake.

"Ondine, close the gate!" Murata yelled, startling the former Oracle. She scrambled to obey, swiftly drawing her magic back.

The golden light flared, blinding, and a shining pillar shot toward the sky.

In the next moment, everything went dark. It was over.

Blinking the spots out of their eyes, the others looked around in confusion. Yuri and Murata had fallen in a heap at the very edge of the lake, water lapping at their soles. Nearby, Ondine slumped in pure exhaustion. Silent tears had begun to stream down her face.

"Yuri!" Wolfram called out, running to the two double-blacks. "What was that? What happened?"

"I couldn't let Shori stay here," Yuri said quietly as he sat up. Pulling his knees to his chest, he wrapped his arms around them, curling up and hiding his face.

"Yes, you said that, but..." Wolfram twitched, realization hitting him. "You were going to push him in all along."

Yuri nodded.

Sighing, Murata pulled Wolfram back a little, to give Yuri space. "That's what I thought," he said.

"I don't understand! Why do all that, then?" Wolfram protested. "Why... act like that toward us? I really thought..." He trailed off, flushing in embarrassment.

"...It's like I said. Shibuya's brother can see through deception easily. If any of you knew and tried to hide it from him, he'd get suspicious right away," Murata explained. He smiled sheepishly. "Actually, I was kind of afraid he'd catch on when I figured it out myself. Even I have trouble hiding things from him. Even Shibuya does."

'It's lucky even he got caught off guard by the rush to get going before the portal closed,' Murata thought. 'Shibuya's brother is too sharp otherwise. Though probably even he didn't expect Shibuya to pull something so roundabout and underhanded. Shibuya played it surprisingly well, in misdirection if nothing else...'

"I guess, in this case, Shibuya meant everything he said, just not the way we thought," Murata murmured.

Both of them glanced at Yuri's hunched figure, Conrart quietly moving to stand beside them. Yuri's shoulders were shaking faintly, but no one was quite sure how to comfort him, or even if they should.

"Yuri..." Conrart tried, reaching out abortively.

Yuri shook his head, sniffling quietly. "I'll... I'll see them again," he insisted. "I'll find a way to go back. I swear! One day..."

He repeated his earlier promise. But his voice was filled with grief and uncertainty.

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((This... damn... chapter... How many days did I struggle to get it down? Argh!))

((This situation came across as feeling incredibly forced. I'm not sure why. Most of the details had been decided long before they came together like this. (Ex: Shori's ability being the opposite of Yuri's illusions, basically.) I thought that it generally made sense, so why did it feel so weird while I was writing it? I wonder.))