Chapter Four

Episodes 40-49

The world wasn't suddenly saved because Ryuuga and Sento realized they were soulmates. If it were that easy, any couple could have defeated Evolt in the past ten years.

No, Kazumin was still stupid and wanted to go to Hokuto to get his guys' bottles back. Ryuuga wished he didn't understand why, but he did. Still, going alone was stupid! But then Sento decided to go too, to look into his father's research. Some big things happened while they were gone, but Ryuuga spent most of it training in order to keep his mind off the fact that his soulmate and, arguably, his best friend were alone in enemy territory.

They learned that Sento's dad was actually still alive, and that he'd developed the Lost Bottles in order to do…something. Something 'defying physics.' Sento went to visit Shimizu Koichi, and Ryuuga nearly came out of his skin when something made his soul mark throb painfully for several seconds. When Sento came back, he told everyone about Shimizu's death, and told Ryuuga about Evolt trying to turn him into a Smash, and how Genius stopped it. They kissed a lot after that.

They learned about how there was a chance Sento's dad was working with Evolt. Ryuuga did his best to stand at Sento's side—to defend Sento's dad. He didn't remember his own parents because of Evolt's interference, but Sento had regained his memories of his father. He loved his father. And Ryuuga wanted Sento to be able to keep that faith in him.

But then something started to be…wrong with Ryuuga. They'd go into battle to stop the Smash or Seito's machines, and Ryuuga felt an unquenchable urge to fight, fight, fight more! Kazumin couldn't stop him, but some unseen enemy could knock him out of his transformation and stop it.

Sento felt the change through their mark and asked about it.

"I don't know," Ryuuga told him honestly, shrugging and then wrapping his arms around himself. "I just…wanted to hit something. And I couldn't stop myself. I wanted to…" He grimaced. "I wanted to destroy something."

For a long moment, Sento said nothing. Ryuuga had thought he was doing alright. The visions of Evolt's memories had stopped once his soul mark came back in full force, but now this? Maybe…Maybe he was going bad.

Sento clapped a hand on his shoulder, waking Ryuuga from his worries. When their eyes met, Sento smiled. "You didn't try to hurt Kazumi, though, right?" he asked, but it was more of a statement. "That means you wouldn't hurt a friend. You still recognize the enemy, even in that state. That's a good thing."

"Yeah," Ryuuga agreed quietly.

But what would happen if he couldn't?

…

…

Sento's dad appeared in battle, and revealed that he'd been using Sento as part of his plan to help Evolt. Sento's sadness echoed through their marks, and Ryuuga went into battle with it hanging in his heart. How could someone betray Sento?! How dare he!

The rage and desire to fight took over, and Ryuuga couldn't stop. He wailed on Sento's dad, even as Sento's dad explained it was Evolt's power running through him that caused the rage, even as Ryuuga claimed to be nothing like Evolt, even as Sento asked him to stop.

"Banjou, stop," Sento begged. Another punch. "Stop, Banjou, please." Another punch. "Ryuuga!"

His cry made Ryuuga pause, his fists shaking in the air. Whatever had him in a blind rampage momentarily lifted, but it strained to get out again. "S-Sento," he ground out through clenched teeth.

Stop me. He couldn't say it. His lips wouldn't form the words. Simply holding himself still took all his effort. Stop me. Stop me. Stop me! Before I kill him! Before I kill everyone!

And then the moment ended. Ryuuga shouted, filled with rage, and continued beating on Sento's father. A few moments later, Genius Build attacked him. His kick landed hard, throwing Ryuuga off of Sento's father and several feet away. The rage was forced from Ryuuga's mind, but he was barely aware of his clear head for a few seconds before everything went black and he fainted.

…

…

When Ryuuga woke up, only Sawa was by his side.

"What happened?" he asked, then winced as his own voice made his head hurt.

Sawa wrung her hands together in her lap and glanced away before she answered. Sawa? Nervous? "Sento…He attacked you with Genius. To stop you from going berserk, of course," she quickly amended. "But…Kazumi and Gentoku…They're really upset that he attacked his soulmate to protect an enemy." Her voice trailed off at the end and she winced.

That explained why Kazumin and Gentoku weren't there, but what about the others? "Sento? Misora?"

Sawa fiddled with her watch, shifting it enough that Ryuuga caught sight of characters peeking out from beneath it. Her soul mark?

"Misora went missing, so Sento left to find her." Where she'd sounded anxious before, now her tone was clipped. All facts, no emotion. She only did that when what she was saying really effected her.

With a shake of his head, Ryuuga pushed himself to a sitting position, wincing and groaning all the way. Sawa jumped and took him by the shoulders.

"What are you doing?" she asked. "You're hurt."

Grimacing, Ryuuga said, "And? He needs me."

Sawa blinked rapidly and pulled her hands back. "You're not mad? That he attacked you?"

Even as Ryuuga bent over to grab his shoes and slip them on, he grunted, "Why would I be? I was out of control and Sento knew that. I would've done the same."

Besides which, he'd been about to kill Sento's father. No matter what the man had done, Ryuuga would never have forgiven himself for killing a member of Sento's family. Punishment was one thing. Murder was another.

"Banjou," Sawa let out, sounding awed.

Standing, Ryuuga turned to face Sawa and put his hands on his hips. "Now. Where'd they go?"

…

…

He arrived at the battle in time to hear Sento's dad reveal that Sento being Build was just part of his plan, that Sento had been manipulated by his dad. It was worse than when Owner did it, because this was Sento's actual father. For a moment, it actually looked like Sento would give up.

That wouldn't do at all.

"You told me this before," he said as he approached Sento's prone form on the ground. "That the things we believe in are not an illusion, and to fight for the things we think are right. Don't you think saving Misora is the right thing to do?"

That got Sento back on his feet and fighting again, with Ryuuga at his side. But within moments of entering the fray, Ryuuga felt that overwhelming urge to destroy take him over. It grew stronger, and stronger, until Ryuuga wasn't able to think at all, only attack.

And then—Well, something hit him, sending him careening backwards and away from Sento's dad. It wasn't until Ryuuga made to stand up that he realized…his head was clear. The urge to destroy had vanished, but he hadn't lost consciousness! Somehow, Sento had stopped him, or cured him, or whatever.

With a clear head, Ryuuga jumped back into battle with Sento and they kicked his dad's butt. Katsuragi was forced to retreat. Once they had dropped their transformations, Sento's eyes landed on the bandages around Ryuuga's head.

"I'm sorry," he said.

Ryuuga blinked rapidly, confused. "For what?"

When Sento only stared at the bandages some more, Ryuuga reached up and touched them. Oh right. The head wound was because of Sento.

Ryuuga scoffed. "If you hadn't, I would've killed someone. A little head wound is worth not being a murderer." He winced at the same time Sento did, remembering that Sento had, in fact, killed someone. "Sorry."

With a self-deprecating smile, Sento shook his head to dispel the memory. "We've both apologized, and we're both forgiven." He sighed and his smile turned warmer. "Let's go home."

With a little, relieved laugh, Ryuuga threw his arms around Sento and nodded. "Home."

…

…

After that, it was a race against time. A race to defeat Evolt. A race to create the White panel and, with it and the Black panel, create a new world. A world without Evolt. A world without the Sky Wall Disaster. A world without all the deaths caused by Evolt and Sento's father and the wars.

And while Sento ran countless calculations and the team made half a dozen plans and backup plans, Ryuuga thought.

In all the times they had fought, all the moments when someone had to sacrifice themselves for someone else, Sento had been the one to lose out. Whether it was the Hazard Trigger, the Pandora panel upgrade, or simply getting in the way of a finishing blow to take the hit instead. Sento had always offered himself. When he hadn't, he'd still lost out—his father, his memories. And, no matter how hard he tried, Ryuuga had always failed to help or save Sento in return. He hadn't ended a war. He hadn't won a proxy match. He hadn't saved a life.

He'd always been too weak.

The plan was to merge their world with another and erase Evolt from existence. And it hinged on Ryuuga surviving until the end so that he could activate Pandora's Box. Followed by Sento using Build to throw Evolt into the break in universes to power the shift, or whatever.

When they'd all asked if that would hurt Sento, Sento had shrugged and said, "I'll be fine." But Ryuuga's mark had thrummed with anxiety that wasn't his own.

Sento was lying. And he was scared. Scared enough that Ryuuga could feel it.

Ryuuga had to do something this time. He didn't want to live in a world without Sento. So if anyone had to put themselves in danger—possibly die—it was going to be Ryuuga. Not Sento.

The night before they would give their all against Evolt, everyone lay on their mats—or, for Sawa and Misora, in the bed. As usual, Ryuuga and Sento shared one while Kazumin and Gentoku had their own separate ones. Ryuuga was on his side, facing Sento, who was laying on his back. Even though his eyes were closed, Ryuuga knew Sento wasn't sleeping. His breathing was uneven, his body held too still.

And Ryuuga's mark felt unsettled.

"I know you're still awake," Ryuuga whispered.

Sento didn't bother to keep up the ruse. He turned his head and opened his eyes. The same fears in Ryuuga's head were mirrored in Sento's eyes.

"I'm scared too," Ryuuga continued, his hands clenching into fists.

Sento gave a weak smile. "Only a true idiot wouldn't be scared," he whispered back. He reached his hand up to interlock his fingers with Ryuuga's, making him unclench one fist. "Remember what I said, though?"

Narrowing his eyes, Ryuuga said, "No matter what, stay alive."

Sento nodded. "Good. Everything will be alright as long as you stay alive."

Ryuuga shook his head. "No," he said, his voice thick with emotion. He squeezed Sento's hand. "I meant you."

No matter what, stay alive. Sento had to live. Ryuuga had lived in a world without Sento before. He couldn't do it again. This time, Ryuuga would be the hero. Ryuuga would save Sento. He would be strong enough.

After a few moments, Sento managed another smile. "Of course. I'm the hero."

Ryuuga pressed his lips together. Not this time. Sento needed to stay safe. After several long seconds of simply staring at each other, Ryuuga hedged, "Can I—for tonight? Can we?" And he tugged on Sento's hand.

Almost without speaking, they resituated themselves. Ryuuga curled around Sento from behind, the big spoon to Sento's small, arms holding Sento close, their hands still clasped. For one night, Ryuuga could pretend that he could shield Sento from everything dangerous and evil and sad. He could hold Sento in his arms, safe, protected, and warm. For one more night.

…

…

They gave everything in that fight. Kazumi. Gentoku. Ryuuga and Sento. Misora and Sawa. Their hearts broke, and their friends died, and the world shattered bit by bit.

But they did it. They combined the black and white panels. They brought forth another Earth. But when Sento went to drag Evolt into the rift, to sacrifice himself to create the new world—Ryuuga pushed him out of the way, forcing Sento out of his transformation.

"What are you doing, Ryuuga?" Sento gasped, looking up at Ryuuga from his new spot on the ground.

"I have Evolt's DNA," Ryuuga said. "It makes more sense for me to do this."

Sento scrambled to his knees. "You can't—" he wheezed. "Ryuuga—!"

Ryuuga grabbed Evolt's paralyzed body. This was it. In this way, he would save Sento, and the world.

"Ryuuga, stop!" Sento begged. "Let me do it!"

Sento had never begged Ryuuga for anything before, and Ryuuga wanted to make it better, but he couldn't. Not this time.

"Sento," Ryuuga said, his voice tender, trying to let Sento hear and feel how much Ryuuga loved him. "Thank you. You're the best soulmate I could've wished for, Rabbit."

And then he shot off into the sky, dragging Evolt with him into the distortion between worlds. Leaving Sento behind.

…

…

He came to suddenly, innately aware that he was within Evolt's body. Not possessed. Absorbed. With Sento beaten on the ground before him.

"This is the end, Kiryuu Sento."

Like hell, it was!

Ryuuga exerted every ounce of strength he had, demanding the body listen to him. And it did. Evolt couldn't move, couldn't attack, couldn't do anything.

"What are you doing?" Ryuuga called out. "Run, Sento!"

Sento gasped, relief clear on his face. Then he shook his head. "Like hell I'm leaving you here, Muscled Fool," he puffed into the dirt.

"I'll handle him somehow," Banjou assured him with false bravado. He could already feel his grip on the body failing. "But you need to survive." A small laugh. "You know what kind of expression I'm making right now?" Even though he was happy—he had the strength to do this much—his voice broke as he said, "I'm smiling. Because I'm saving you, and you're going to live."

It was one thing to plan to sacrifice oneself to save another, and another to be in the moment of sacrifice. He'd thought his 'thank you' would be his final words to Sento, but they hadn't been. And as he felt himself fading, felt himself dying, he couldn't help but want to cry.

"What nonsense!" Evolt shouted, and his power pulsed.

Ryuuga's sense of time and space went wonky, spun, blackened at the edges. He wasn't connected to anyone or anywhere. Not Evolt, not anyone. He was alone.

Then Sento picked him up, his bottle, Ryuuga's pure essence. "Idiot," he said, but it sounded fond.

And together, Sento and Banjou, Rabbit and Dragon, the Perfect Match—they transformed together, combined every part of Ryuuga with every part of Sento, all their power and all their feelings—and they put an end to Evolt's reign of terror.

Then the worlds collided into a billion stars.

…

…

When Ryuuga could open his eyes again, he saw a clear blue sky. No part of him ached like he'd been in a battle, or been reduced to his purest self.

The mark on his chest felt faded.

Ryuuga sat up abruptly and pulled his shirt off to look. The characters were washed out like they'd been sun bleached. For a moment, he despaired, but then he felt again. The mark wasn't numb, wasn't painful. It still felt…connected, though the feeling was weak.

"Sento," he breathed out.

After pulling his shirt back on, Ryuuga stood and got a better look around. He was on a rooftop in the middle of the city. It was vaguely familiar, and then he spotted the signs and banners on the street and walls below. He was on top of the building that housed his fights.

In fact…was that his face on a banner by the door? Except his hair was black.

Ryuuga reached out and ripped a strand of hair off his own head to check. Red. Nope, that hadn't changed. Whatever. What mattered was figuring out what happened and finding Sento. So Ryuuga snuck down from the roof and away from the fight headquarters, heading for Nascita.

Along the way, he saw posters for Lynks, with that Satou dude Sento got his face from. They seemed really popular, and if that dude was still alive and making music, then that must mean they'd succeeded in creating a world without Evolt.

There were also hundreds of people walking the streets. A lot of them had marks on their bodies, but instead of names, this world had symbols. Swirls or checks or Rorschach blots. There were makeup ads and clothing ads for covering them until you met your match, commercials for a tv show where someone's mark was damaged supernaturally and how that affected them. What a strange world. How would anyone ever be sure they had an exact match? Ryuuga preferred names.

He also saw a news broadcast from Prime Minister Himuro—another bit of evidence they'd succeeded. And if Himuro and Satou were alive again, then everyone else had to be alive too. Including Gentoku and Kazumin. Including—

He nearly ran into himself—the black haired him, that is—on a date with a very alive Kasumi. They sat under an umbrella, eating ice cream. They had matching soul marks on their thumbs. And this world's Banjou Ryuuga looked so…happy. He had none of the anger that Ryuuga remembered feeling growing up, none of the stress he'd felt as time passed and Kasumi got sick. Had his parents lived in this universe? Was Kasumi not sick? They were legitimate soulmates this time.

Good for…well, for him, Ryuuga guessed. Except where was Sento? Ryuuga had been wandering for hours and seen no sign of Sento, or Satou—except for the posters. He was starting to get worried.

He found Nascita, but neither Misora nor Owner recognized him or the name Sento, when Ryuuga asked, so he left quickly. He even bumped into Kazumin on the way out, but the older male barely glanced at him. No one recognized him! They were all alive, and seemed happy, but they didn't know him.

Next, he sought out the Katsuragi's. Sento had been made from Katsuragi, after all. What if he'd inhabited Katsuragi's new-universe body? His face would be different, which would be weird at first, but Ryuuga would get used to it. Or maybe Katsuragi had a brother this time.

Except where the heck were the Katsuragis?! Ryuuga didn't know where to start. Sento's mom's house was hours away by boat or car, if she even still lived in the same place. And both Katsuragi men had been scientists working for the government, but where did government scientists work in this universe? And what if they weren't even scientists this time around? What if they worked in an entirely different region, or country?!

Eventually, tired and lost—both physically and emotionally—Ryuuga put his hand over his soul mark. He needed to find Sento. What if he was hurt? What if he needed help? Not to mention, Ryuuga had done what he could, used all his strength, trying to save Sento in that final battle. He needed to see Sento, to know he'd succeeded, to know Sento had survived.

Without thinking about it, Ryuuga began walking. He kept his hand over his mark and followed where some instinct led him. Faster and faster, until he was flat out running through the streets. Only a short time later, he ended up in some park, with a large statue of a flock of birds mid-flight. Ryuuga half-tumbled down the stairs leading into the park proper, only to come to an abrupt halt at the bottom.

There, sitting on the edge of the fountain at the bottom of the art installation—it looked like Sento, from behind at least. Was it really—

"Sento!"

The man stood from the fountain and turned to see who had called him. And it was! It was Sento! Ryuuga's Sento!

"Ryuuga," Sento breathed out.

Exhaling heavily in relief, Ryuuga closed the space between them and grabbed Sento up in a tight hug. At the physical contact, Ryuuga's mark flared back to life. Maybe Sento felt it too, because he gasped and snapped his arms around Ryuuga in return.

"No one knows who I am," Ryuuga said roughly, not loosening his hold even a tiny bit. "And you weren't there. I thought—" He let the very idea dissipate with a heavy sigh, and his breath was shaky. "You lived."

Sento nodded into Ryuuga's shoulder. "And so did you."

They had created a world without Evolt and the Sky Wall Disaster. They had created a world where their friends could live carefree lives. And, against all the odds, they were both there. Together.

Sento laughed, bright and happy, a sound that mimicked the emotions lifting Ryuuga's own heart. "This is terrific!"

Smiling, Ryuuga pulled back just enough to see Sento's face. The smile there made Ryuuga want to kiss him—so he did. When Sento blinked at him with wide eyes, Ryuuga smirked. "Yeah. It is."

…

…

fin