CHAPTER 11
The world went completely silent. The anguished screams and sobs of the onlookers threatened to bring the house tumbling to the ground, but Mikazuki heard nothing. He stared down at Kogitsune's expressionless face, desperate to find even the slightest remnant of the life still fluttering in his vacant gaze.
People were moving all around Mikazuki, and he was vaguely aware of the Healer's arrival, but no one made a move towards Kogitsune's lifeless frame. The Sword was gone, and there was nothing to be done. It was only a matter of time before…
Mikazuki gasped softly, watching in quiet agony as Kogitsune's body glowed brightly, turning translucent. The warmth fled from his skin, his flesh turning ice cold as his body hardened into what could only be described as a metallic glass. When Mikazuki reached out to brush the hair from Kogitsune's face, his beloved's entire frame shattered in a cloud of silvery dust.
Mikazuki stared down at what was left of Kogitsune, his mind trying to process the reality of this single moment. Everything had happened so fast: Kogitsune's confession, his death, and then this… The totality of Kogitsune's entire existence had been wiped cleaned from the world. One moment he was there, and the next… there was nothing left. Not even his sword.
"Come away, Mikazuki," Izo whispered, bending down to help him up.
Mikazuki shoved his master away, shaking his head in defiance. He was angry, his rage building as it fed off his complete and utter despair. Though it was Izo's sword that ended Kogitsune's life, it was Mikazuki who'd caused his death.
"I need to…" Mikazuki's words trailed off as realization dawned. "I-I… I don't…" he swallowed, his stomach turning violently as the tears poured down his cheeks. "I don't know what to do."
For months, Mikazuki had moved towards one single purpose: The ultimate end of his suffering. It had consumed him, giving him focus and purpose. Now he was suffering a thousand times over, but even in this moment of debilitating anguish, blind rage and utter disbelief, Mikazuki knew, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that death would not provide the escape he so desperately wanted. He had no purpose now. No hope of escape from the torture tearing apart his world.
"You don't need to think about that right now," Izo whispered, kneeling in front of Mikazuki and pulling him into his arms. "Right now you just need to hold onto me."
Mikazuki clung to his Master, allowing wave after wave of pain to wash over and through him. He wept without restraint, his tormented cries filling the room and echoing in his ears. He cried until he couldn't breathe. He wept until there were simply no tears left to fall.
"Here," Izo said, taking a glass from the Healer and lifting the rim to Mikazuki's lips. "Drink this."
Mikazuki was too distraught to fight, taking a sip of the warm liquid and sighing softly as the heat rippled through his trembling frame. He took another sip, and then another, some small part of his mind wondering how a simple cup of tea could offer such comfort. But when his eyelids started to grow heavy, he realized he was drinking more than just tea.
"Sleep," Izo murmured, gesturing to someone Mikazuki couldn't quite focus on. "We'll take care of you."
Mikazuki shook his head, trying to keep his eyes from closing. "N-no, I have to…"
"Hush now," Izo ordered in a gentle voice. "There will be plenty of time to figure this all out. But now is the time to rest."
Mikazuki's eyes fluttered shut, his body relaxing in his Master's arms. Though he was under sleep's alluring spell, Mikazuki could just make out his Master's whispered conversation.
"How long are you going to keep him like this? Drugged and complaint?"
Mikazuki recognized Nihongou's baritone, flinching unconsciously at the fear and sadness in his friend's voice.
"For as long as I have to," Izo replied. "After what Kogitsunemaru has done here today, I owe it to him to protect Mikazuki."
"You worry Mika-chan will try to follow him into death?" Nihongou asked.
"I don't know," Izo whispered brokenly. "I just know I can't lose them both."
Those were the last words Mikazuki heard before slipping into the quiet solitude of sleep…
Mikazuki remained in this prolonged state of shock for what felt like an eternity. Between the crying and grief-stricken screams, drug induced sleep, and staring up at his ceiling for endless hours, Mikazuki had lost all sense of time.
Tsurumaru visited every day, and Nihongou came by so much, it was a wonder the Sword hadn't moved himself into the house. Sometimes Mikazuki remembered their visits, and sometimes he was too lost in his own world to completely register their presence.
In the end it was Izo who brought Mikazuki back from the edge of despair. It was a strange thing that the sage would be his savior. After all, Izo was the one who'd dealt the final blow. Still, Mikazuki didn't blame his Master for Kogitsune's death. In terms of his suffering; in comparison to his guilt and anguish, Mikazuki felt like Izo was the only one who understood the true depth of his grief.
At first they simply sat together in silence, Izo holding Mikazuki's hand as the Sword cried inconsolably. The sage knew there was nothing he could say or do to change the wretched truth. Kogitsune was gone and he was never coming back. There was no solace; no reprieve from the pain. All Izo could do was be there for Mikazuki. Though he tried to hide it, there were days when Izo cried with him, sharing the burden of pain between them.
After a while, they started to talk. Not about Kogitsune's death, but about little things. The weather, what was for dinner, and all the happenings in and around the estate… Inconsequential as it might seem, these conversations were what pulled Mikazuki from the darkness. They were like anchors to the world still waiting just outside his door, which gave him the small push he needed to start rebuilding his life.
When the day came that Mikazuki was well enough to step outside the sanctuary of his room, he slowly but surely started reconnecting with friends and old acquaintances. It took time, but soon he rediscovered the things that brought him joy, and he was able to find some modicum of peace in spite of the soul-crushing pain he carried with him each and every day. Mikazuki was in mourning, and he would remain so for the rest of his life. He would never love again. Not the way he'd loved Kogitsunemaru.
CHAPTER 12
3 months later…
Mikazuki stared out the open sliding door. Summer was once again drawing to end, bringing with it memories Mikazuki wanted to remember, while at the same time wanted to forget. How many times had he and Kogitsune played games in this room? Laughing and arguing… Mikazuki liked to think those were happy days; joyful and carefree. Illusion or not, focusing on the good parts of their relationship helped Mikazuki make it through each day.
"Hey," Nihongou said, appearing behind Mikazuki. "Izo-sama said I'd find you in here."
Mikazuki looked up, smiling at his friend before scooting over to make room for him to sit.
"How are you feeling?" the Yari asked, dropping onto the floor.
Mikazuki shrugged, gazing off into the distance. "I think I'd feel better if people stopped asking me that question every time they saw me."
"Sorry," Nihongou muttered. "It's just…"
"I know," Mikazuki cut in, turning to face his friend. "You're all worried about me, which is to be expected considering all that's transpired. I only hope there will come a day when you visit me and you don't have that look on your face."
"And what look is that?" Nihongou asked innocently.
"The one where you're surprised to find me still here. Alive and breathing."
"It's not surprise," Nihongou countered. "It's relief. It's joy. It's the moment I realize I get to spend another day with you."
Mikazuki laughed softly, shoving Nihongou gently. "Stop, you're going to make me cry."
"I'm serious," Nihongou said, despite the smile on his face. "I don't want to lose you. Neither do the others. And there are some days when you scare us."
"Am I not allowed to mourn?" Mikazuki asked, turning away.
"Of course you are. But you go days without talking or seeing anyone. This is the first I've seen you in a week."
"There's no need to worry on my account," Mikazuki replied. "I've no intention of harming myself."
"You say that, but…"
"There are no 'buts,'" Mikazuki snapped. "I would not dishonor Kogitsune's sacrifice by taking my own life. He died to save me. He believed my life to be more important than his own. Fool he was, I will not disgrace his memory."
"He loved you, Mika-chan," Nihongou said in a quiet voice. "And when you care about someone the way he cared about you, it's not a sacrifice."
Mikazuki brushed his hand over his eyes, hoping the Yari wouldn't see the tears forming in them. "I loved him, too. It's strange how easy it is to say the words when there is no one to hear them. I have such regret, Nihongou. There were so many things left unsaid between us."
"Then say them now. He will hear you. We Swords talk about death like it's final; like it's the end of all things. True, we aren't human, not in the traditional sense anyway. But do we not feel as keenly as the Saniwa we serve? We exist in the realm of the eternal, living and yet never getting old. But this illusion of immortality doesn't mean we are without souls. There is a place for us in the afterlife, too, Mika-chan. A place where we can go to watch over the ones we love in the here and now. I believe Kogitsune waits for you there. And when your time comes, when fate has called you home, he will be there to greet you."
"Ever the optimist," Mikazuki replied, resting his head on Nihongou's shoulder. "I don't dare to hope for such things. I don't deserve them."
"Kogitsunemaru believed you were worth his life. Trust me. He will wait an eternity and a day to be by your side again."
Mikazuki closed his eyes, trying to picture Kogitsune's face in his mind. He imagined his beloved's smile, filled with love and unbridled happiness. What he wouldn't give to see it again.
"Are you up for a visit?" Nihongou asked. "I've brought someone I'd like you to meet."
Mikazuki sat up, pinning Nihongou with a chastising look. "I can't believe you would make Chiyo wait like this!"
"It's not Chiyo I meant. I mean, she's here, too, but it's… it's someone else."
"Who then?" Mikazuki asked curiously.
"My son," Nihongou answered with a smile. "I want you to meet my son."
"A baby? When? How?!"
"A few weeks past. And as for the how, well… I'm guessing you know that already," he chuckled softly.
Mikazuki laughed, covering his mouth with his hand. "A baby? Your baby! I can't believe it! Why didn't you tell me?!"
"With all that was going on with you and your recovery, and then… and then Kogitsune's death… To be honest, there was never a good time to bring it up."
Mikazuki slapped Nihongou on the back, his smile turning a bit sad. "New life should always be celebrated, no matter the circumstances, tragic or otherwise. I'm so happy for you and Chiyo. This is incredible news!"
"I can scarce believe it myself. He's perfect, Mika-chan. The most perfect creature I've ever laid eyes on."
"Well, don't keep me waiting," Mikazuki replied excitedly. "Bring him here so I can meet him!"
As if on cue, Nihongou's wife entered the room carrying a bundle in her arms. Mikazuki climbed to his feet, bowing respectfully to Chiyo.
"So you're Chiyo," Mikazuki said, smiling at the woman. "You're even more beautiful than Nihongou described. Utterly breathtaking."
Chiyo blushed, bowing her head in response. "Thank you, Mikazuki-sama. It's an honor to finally meet you. Nihongou holds you in high esteem. I'm grateful to know he has such a wonderful friend."
"I wouldn't say wonderful," Mikazuki chuckled. "And if anything, he's been a far better friend to me than I have to him."
"Stop being modest, Mika-chan," Nihongou interjected, winking down at him. "It doesn't suit you."
Mikazuki laughed, moving forward to get a closer look at the baby. "He so small," Mikazuki whispered, taking care not to startle the infant. "And he looks just like his mother. Thank goodness for that."
"Hey!" Nihongou smirked.
Mikazuki shared an amused look with Chiyo before turning back to the child. "You were right, Nihongou. He's perfect."
"Would you like to hold him, Mikazuki-sama?" Chiyo asked.
"No, I couldn't, he's too small and delicate."
"Nonsense!" Nihongou declared. "Come sit here and hold him. It's the only way to meet my little Daichi properly."
Mikazuki had no choice but to do as he was told, sitting back down and allowing Chiyo to settle the baby boy into his arms. The infant stared up at Mikazuki, kicking his small feet and waving his tiny arms.
"I think he's excited to meet you as well, Mikazuki-sama," Chiyo said with a giggle.
"I'm excited to meet you too, Daichi," Mikazuki replied, speaking to the tiny infant in his arms. "Your mommy and daddy named you well. Daichi is a good, strong name befitting a future Saniwa." Mikazuki let the baby wrap its small hand around one of his fingers, laughing softly when the infant squealed happily.
"That's quite a grip you've got there, and already I can feel your magic growing inside you. If I didn't know any better, I'd think I was holding the next Lord Commander in my arms."
"Izo-sama said the exact same thing," Nihongou laughed. "Chiyo was tested as a child, but she didn't have the magic required to gain entry into the Order. Izo-sama seems to think Daichi will exceed all expectations. I'm assuming that's why your Master is so interested in my son's future."
"As well he should be," Mikazuki replied, brushing the pad of his index finger gently across Daichi's cheek. "This little boy is going to be the greatest Saniwa the world has ever seen. I personally guarantee it."
CHAPTER 13
Mikazuki walked through the garden, enjoying the night's cool breeze. Nihongou's visit had lifted his spirits tremendously. Meeting little Daichi had changed him. The shadow of despair still hung heavy upon his shoulders, but even the finality of death paled in comparison to the beauty of new life. Daichi's soul was pure and untainted, and for Mikazuki, the child's mere existence represented something he'd believed impossible and unattainable. The tiny baby was the physical embodiment of hope everlasting; proof that in the midst of tragedy, hope never dies. It is simply reborn over and over in an endless cycle of love.
Handing Daichi back to his parents was the hardest thing Mikazuki had ever done. In fact, the moment his friend had left, Mikazuki had gone straight to his Master, requesting that he be released from Izo's service the moment Daichi came of age. Izo had laughed, questioning if Mikazuki understood that it would be years before Daichi would be able to take on a Sword. And even then, there was no guarantee he would become a Saniwa Sage. Mikazuki had smiled in response, and rather than explain his rational, he simply asked the same question once more.
Izo had sobered immediately, understanding passing between them. Mikazuki had sensed it too; the power Izo had felt upon meeting the tiny child. Without another word, Izo granted Mikazuki's request.
And so, Mikazuki set upon this new path; a journey that would lead to him to experience love in all its forms. His heart, once cold and closed off, would be opened in ways he would never understand. He might not have realized it then, but Daichi would be the key to his eternal happiness.
CHAPTER 14
21 years later…
"How do I look?" Daichi asked, frowning down at Mikazuki.
Mikazuki looked Daichi up and down, walking around the tall dark haired male. "Very impressive, Daichi-sama," he replied with a nod of approval. "You look like a real Saniwa."
"You think? I feel foolish in this armor."
"This armor, foolish as it might be, will keep you alive and safe."
Daichi snorted. "You sound like my mother," he drawled.
"A wise woman," he winked, adjusting Daichi's breastplate. "She's proud of you, as am I. If your father was still alive, he would be proud of you, too. In fact, it would be him helping you prepare for your first battle."
Daichi's expression turned mournful, and there was a touch of anguish in his steel gray eyes. "I'm glad you're here, Mika-san. I wouldn't have made it this far if it weren't for you and father. I might not have my father at my side, but still have you. I can't believe Lord Commander Izo just… gave you to me. It is a gift I don't deserve."
"Nonsense," Mikazuki chuckled. "Izo-sama did not give me to you; I asked to be relinquished into your service long before you ever raised a sword."
"Really? How did you…?"
"There will be time for stories once the battle is won," Mikazuki chastised. "There are three of you vying for the title of the next Lord Commander, and though you are the only one worthy of the title, you must first prove it to the Council. You and your competition will be sent into three different eras simultaneously. You will be judged on every decision you make as well as every mistake. You must be brave and unyielding, while at the same time cautious and open to guidance from your Captains. No one man wins a war, but one poorly calculated move by you could end it all."
Daichi inhaled sharply, breathing out slowly. "No pressure," he chuckled softly.
Mikazuki laughed as well, his heart stuttering through a beat as a flash of crimson eyes and a cheeky smile flitted through his mind. In that moment he felt incredibly happy and utterly sad at the same time.
Daichi reached out, cupping Mikazuki's cheek intimately. "What's the matter?" he asked, brushing his thumb across Mikazuki's cheekbone. "You suddenly look so sad. If you're worried, don't be. I'm ready for this."
Mikazuki rested his hand atop Daichi's, savoring his touch for several moments before pulling the male's hand away.
"I know you are," Mikazuki replied. "You just… remind me of someone I used to know. He was brave and strong and as hard-headed as you," he snickered softly.
"Kogitsunemaru?" Daichi asked hesitantly, biting his lip when Mikazuki's gaze widened in surprise. "Sorry, it's just… you never talk about him."
"That's because there's nothing to talk about," Mikazuki said firmly, hiding the fact that he was dangerously close to falling apart.
"You're lying. Father told me about him before he died. He said you loved him. He said… he said Kogitsunemaru is the only person you would ever love."
Mikazuki turned his back on Daichi, lifting his head to hold back his tears. He couldn't have this conversation. Not now.
"Is that why you chose me?" Daichi asked, moving closer to Mikazuki. "Do you see parts of him in me?"
"Some," Mikazuki replied, taking a calming breath. "There are moments… like right now," he added with a nervous laugh, "when I see his spirit in you."
"And that makes you cry?" Daichi asked in confusion.
Mikazuki wiped the tears from his cheeks, squaring his shoulders before turning to meet Daichi's gaze. "You are your own man. And if I'm crying, it's only because I'm so proud of you. This is the moment you have worked hard to reach. I've watched you grow and learn, and become an honorable and just man. You will lead this Order into a new and glorious age. There is no one more suited to rule than you are, and I am grateful and humbled to have witnessed your each and every step towards greatness."
"You're going to make me cry," Daichi laughed, tugging at his garments shyly.
"I doubt that," Mikazuki grinned, looking up at the male's towering frame. "Now enough of this. Today marks the beginning of your victory. They will sing stories of your greatness, and when the dust settles, you will have the earned the title of Lord Commander."
"Thank you, Mika-san," Daichi replied. "Thank you for believing in me. Thank you for staying at my side, and… and thank you for granting me the honor of bearing this symbol upon my armor. The Fox gazing up at the Crescent Moon… I remember when I was young and you tried to teach me what it meant. It took over a decade of lessons, but I understand what it means now."
"Do you?" Mikazuki asked, handing Daichi his sword. He paused, running his hand over the symbol engraved into the sage's breast plate. It was of a lone fox, gazing up at the crescent moon in silent longing.
Daichi nodded, smiling sadly as he took Mikazuki's hand in his. "It's why even though you love me, and I love you, we can never be together."
Mikazuki stiffened, pulling his hand away. "That's not what I taught you. The symbol was created after Kogitsunemaru's death, and at my suggestion, but you're a fool if you believe this symbol represents nothing more than the love he and I shared. You are destined to fail if you cannot see the bigger picture before you."
Daichi sighed heavily, running his hand down the front of his breastplate. "The symbol represents devotion," he explained in calm and reverent voice, "not to one person, but to something bigger than one's self. It's about a belief in a love so strong and all-encompassing, that it gives us the courage to fight even when we believe all hope is lost. As Lord Commander, I must never lose faith. To second guess myself and give into my fear leads to the darkness and evil we fight. To lose hope is to fail, and to fail is to allow the darkness to win. I must be the light. I must be the Moon, removed from the world and often forgotten, but yet vital to its continued existence."
"And why can you never be the Sun?" Mikazuki asked sternly.
"Because the work I do; the work every sage and every Sword does, must be kept from the ones we protect. Our good deeds and victories will never be recognized under the light of day. We will save countless lives, but those people will never know the sacrifices we've made in order to do so. In essence, you cannot be the Sun when your work demands humility."
"And what does the Fox represent?"
"The Fox is the embodiment of those who will serve me," Daichi continued. "It represents longevity; an enduring commitment to those we protect. It is a symbol of protection; signifying that we are the last defense against the evil we fight. The Fox gazes up at Moon with courage in its heart. The war it fights seems endless; vicious and cruel in ways it never thought possible. But in spite of that fact, the Fox knows the Moon will never falter or fail. Its mere presence is proof positive that the light of a new day will still dawn. Both the Fox and the Moon understand that death is not the end, but the death of hope is."
"You're ready," Mikazuki said, nodding in approval.
Daichi tried to smile, but there was none of the usual light or life in it. They were about to go to war, and there was no place for such things.
"Will you stay by my side?" Daichi asked Mikazuki. "I might be ready," he added with a nervous laugh, "but I'll feel better knowing that you're close by."
"Of course," Mikazuki answered. "I swore an oath to not only serve you, but to protect you as well. Now," he said, "steal your resolve. Calm your spirit and focus on the task at hand. You are already Lord Commander; all of this is nothing more than a formality."
Daichi nodded, but Mikazuki could tell there was fear in his heart. He'd helped raised the towering male, and after so many years at the Saniwa's side, Mikazuki could read him like a book.
"It's okay to be afraid," Mikazuki said. "Fear is what keeps us alert and vigilant. Only a fool goes into war believing he is invincible."
Daichi nodded, inhaling sharply and blowing it out slowly. "To war."
CHAPTER 15
Mikazuki moved through the battlefield with skill and grace, cutting down his enemies all while barking out orders to the Swords and soldiers under his command. It was brutal and exhausting, and every soldier Mikazuki dropped was replaced immediately by another, and then another, and then another…
All the while, Mikazuki kept Daichi in his line of sight. The sage was strong and brave, everything a Saniwa should be. But the male was impulsive, and there were times in battle when Daichi lost sight of the bigger picture. Mikazuki trusted his Saniwa with all his heart, but he knew that arrogance and inexperience were the downfall of every sage. Daichi was as humble as they came, but as for the latter… Well, war is an art. And as with any form of true artistry, it takes years to master.
Mikazuki saw the enemy archer take aim, his feet moving before the arrow flung from the bow. For half a second, Mikazuki thought he wouldn't make it in time, but when the arrow split his chest cavity like a knife through butter, his last breath was one of relief. His Master was spared. The Saniwa would live another day, and with any luck, Daichi would be named the next Lord Commander. Pity that Mikazuki wouldn't be alive to see it…
Every soldier accepts the inevitability of death. It comes for us all, and fighting it is like trying to keep the sun from rising in the East. In the end, Mikazuki felt no pain, only an overwhelming sense of freedom and acceptance. Mikazuki and Death had a precarious relationship ever since Kogitsune's spirit departed the mortal realm. Every day Mikazuki wanted to die; to join his lover in the afterlife. But when the one you love most in the world sacrifices their life to save yours, you owe it to them to live on. To find happiness and purpose where you can, so that when you meet them again you can look upon their face and say, "I lived, I loved and I lost; and all of it I did for you."
Mikazuki opened in eyes, staring up at the cloud-filled sky. He felt no pain, no heartache. For the first time since the day his lover had been taken from this life, Mikazuki felt peace. He sat up, looking around him and realizing that he was still on the battlefield. Men were fighting and dying all around him, but Mikazuki couldn't hear a single battle cry or clash of swords. It was utterly silent, and no one around him even noticed he was there.
Mikazuki climbed to his feet, searching for Daichi in the cloud of dust. He found his Master crouching on the ground, clutching the body of a fallen soldier to his chest. Mikazuki thought it was such an odd sight. After all, why would Daichi mourn the life of one fallen soldier when his men were dying all around him? But then the dust swirled in a sudden gust of air, and Mikazuki saw the face of the soldier Daichi was holding.
Mikazuki stared down at his own lifeless body, not sure what to think or say. He was so confused, so lost and isolated that his consciousness couldn't grasp the truth of what he was seeing. He was dead, his spirit now free of its human body.
"Are you afraid?"
Mikazuki froze, recognizing the voice immediately. He turned slowly, the air rushing out of his lungs when his gaze landed on Kogitsune's handsome face.
"There's nothing to be afraid of," Kogitsune continued, the corners of his lips lifting in a smile. "You're safe now. There is no pain here; no fear. Rest now, Mikazuki Munechika, your journey has come to end."
Mikazuki started to speak, but for several moments, nothing came out. He couldn't seem to process Kogitsune's presence or the fact that he was dead.
"You waited," Mikazuki said in a rush, voicing the only thought that came to mind.
"Of course I waited," Kogitsune replied, his expression slightly confused. "In life and in death, there is no me without you."
A humorless laugh burst from Mikazuki's lips, the smile on his face filled with joy and love. "I thought I'd never see you again. I thought…" His words broke off, his voice filled with too many emotions to name. "I'm sorry," Mikazuki said in a rush. "I never got to say those words. One moment you were there and the next…" he paused, steading himself and chancing a step closer to his long lost love. "I love you. I've always loved you. I never stopped loving you. I should've said it every day you were at my side. It wasn't until you were gone that I realized how much I needed you. I was a fool, Kogitsune. If I'd have realized how much you meant to me back then, you'd still be alive."
Kogitsune closed the distance between them, pulling Mikazuki into his arms. "If I were still alive, we wouldn't be here now, sharing the wonder of this incredible moment. I've waited a lifetime for this, Mikazuki, and even if I had the power to go back in time, I wouldn't change a single thing."
Mikazuki clung to his lover, never wanting to let go. He looked up into Kogitsune's eyes, starting to speak, but realizing there was no need. The way his lover stared down at him was all the reassurance he needed. Kogitsune knew all the words of Mikazuki's heart whether he spoke them aloud or not.
"Come," Kogitsune said, smiling as he took Mikazuki's hand in his and led him away from the fighting. "There is no place for us here."
Mikazuki looked back at Daichi one last time, momentarily torn between the staying and the going.
"I wish I could have said goodbye," Mikazuki replied.
"You loved him," Kogitsune said, no jealously or anger in his voice, "and he loved you. For that I'm grateful. Your heart is open because of Daichi. He taught you how to love. He gave you something to live for."
"I do love him," Mikazuki replied, turning back to Kogitsune, "but not the way that I love you. I will miss Daichi, and I will always wish for the chance to have said goodbye, but just like you I've been waiting for this moment. I had no way of knowing if you would be here when Death came to take me; no way to know for sure if an eternity without you would be my punishment for being so reckless and selfish. But then there were these moments when I felt you with me," he continued, his voice catching in his throat. "It's like… you were everywhere; in everything and everyone. Especially Daichi," he added with a heartbroken chuckle. "He was so like you it sometimes hurt to be near him. All the same, I am glad to have crossed his path. I'm better for having known him."
Kogitsune smiled sadly, reaching out and wiping the tears from Mikazuki's cheeks. "I never knew spirits could cry. I feel as though it's the saddest thing I've ever seen."
Mikazuki shook his head, turning it Kogitsune's hand and pressing a kiss to his palm. "There's no cause to be sad. This is the happiest moment of my life. Or rather, death," he added, grinning widely as the tears continued to fall.
"Are you ready then?" Kogitsune asked.
Mikazuki glanced back at Daichi one last time, whispering a silent goodbye on the wind. Without another thought to the past, he turned back to Kogitsune. This was his future and Kogitsune was his eternity.
Mikazuki nodded, allowing Kogitsune to pull him away once more. Without another backwards glance, the two Swords disappeared into the swirling dust of the battlefield.
END~