At the End of All

Surprise! I live! I know it's not an update on my actual story, but this was something that popped into my head and wouldn't let go. I don't get much time to write now, but I swear I'll try to work on the chapter I have got so far and get it out to you guys eventually.

For now, though, just enjoy this first chapter of a series of stories consisting mostly of Hyo's past and also the stories of roads not taken in the original story. I may or may not expand on certain chapters depending on how I feel about them or if you guys like a certain chapter. You all can certainly request a certain scene or peek into the past if the urge hits you and I'll see what I can do to make it into a chapter!

Happy reading, friends!

(Hyo's POV)

The pain in Hyo's chest is nothing new. It is nothing sudden or surprising. He's known for quite some time now that he's living on borrowed time. That is the way of things for all who have contracted Geostigma. Or...it had been.

Now there is a cure, but Hyo knows(even now as he stares into the horrified, wounded sky blue eyes of his brother and his knees buckle) that it is not a cure meant for him.

The ripping, tearing coughs black out his vision for a long moment and, when his sight return, his eyes focus on the blood pooled in the palm of his left hand. A gurgling breath leaves him. His left lung is failing, drowning him in his own blood. Hyo still isn't surprised. This moment has been coming ever since he contracted the deadly disease.

Hands on his shoulder make him look up, but he's swaying, slumping against the other person even as he tries to focus on his or her face. A voice -Cloud's- barks out, panicked, "Hyo! Hyo, don't do this. Stay with me. Stay awake!"

His head rests against Cloud's shoulder and as, vaguely, he thinks, 'But I'm tired, Cloud… so tired.'

As if reading his mind, Cloud tightens his arms around him as he babbles, "There's a cure now, Hyo. There's a cure. You're going to be okay. Just stay with me, little brother. Don't you dare close your eyes!

"You're not going like this. Not like this!"

'But I am…' Hyo's strength is fading away, leaving him shaking in Cloud's arms as another gurgling, rattling breath leaves him. Each breath is more difficult than the last. It catches in his throat, choking him, making him cough and gag as blood wells up in his trachea. With a violent, agonizing cough, Hyo manages to expel the fluid.

But nothing is without consequence and Hyo goes entirely limp, his head lolling like that of a rag doll's as he struggles to breathe through the still rising blood. The world tilts. Suddenly, he is staring up at the sky. Hyo blinks slowly as blond hair and terrified blue eyes overtake his vision. Hyo blinks again before he smiles softly, sadly, his lips trembling slightly at the corners as he thinks, 'It's okay, Cloud. I'm alright with things ending like this.'

It is obvious that his time in this world is over and it is both saddening and comforting to him. Saddening because he has a reason to stay, to live. Comforting because he will not die alone in this time and place. No, as long as he is surrounded by his family then he can and will accept his fate. Because, even with his life and sight fading from him, Hyo can still sense the gathering of his family around him, can still hear them begging and threatening him to stay, can hear the children crying.

It's heartbreaking to hear them, but all things must end. He releases another heavy breath as he thinks, 'For Death waits at the end of all that lives.'

He's not afraid. Not anymore. He thinks that maybe he stopped being afraid a long time ago. Besides, it's not like he'll never see them again. Or that there isn't someone waiting for him on the other side. Hyo's smile gentles and he mouths silently as his vision blackens further, "Don't follow me so soon. Aerith will be upset if you do."

He feels Cloud's chest jerk and shudder in a sob that he can barely hear as he lets go of what little precious strength he had been holding on too. He lets out another rasping, grating breath as black oblivion closes in on him and he thinks, 'They'll be okay. This will hurt, but they'll learn to live without me just as we had to learn to live without Aerith.'

His eyes slide shut slowly as the dimming blue of glowing eyes fades from his sight entirely and then… There is nothing but silence. Hyo let's go, surrenders to the black -to the silence- and, for the first time since he'd woken without voice or memories, there is peace…

Ending Notes: Before you all give me hell, this is something that actually happens in Hyo's 'past'. And since he lived into his mid-thirties before he finally 'died', I think it's more than safe to say that, yes, his family managed to save him. Him surrendering to the darkness is the start of a healing coma for Hyo since his family refused to let him go soon. Especially since Hyo is only just going on 21 years of age.

Hope you enjoyed reading this. Leave me a review telling me what you think or suggestions for a chapter that you want to see. I'll be happy to take up prompts for this part of the series and my outtakes stories!