A/N: Just in case, most of the Onmyoji lore here was referring to the Netflix Onmyoji lore

Ace turned to his side as his older twin had fallen asleep after the medication their mother made Keiwa take finally took effect. He thought about the harrowing period throughout his life whenever he somehow was able to take part in the Desire Grand Prix to gain some information about his mother. Throughout those long times, he thought that he would forever walk the solitary path... alone by himself.

"You're special, remember? If that means your path will be lonely, then so be it."

Yet, in between those times... there were still 'brief' periods when the DGP was nowhere present where he was around. One of those periods was during the Heian era, where instead of being involved with the DGP; his incarnation of that time ended up involved in something totally removed from it. Even though he still ends up tasked with similar responsibilities.

Oddly enough, that was one of the only other times his incarnation had been associated with the fox. At times he used to wonder just how much his master, Kamo no Tadayuki actually knew to have bothered taking him under their tutelage from a young age. He also ended up meeting Hiromasa too, by chance. As much as he never planned for something like that to happen.

"They told me I'd be cursed if our eyes met. But I don't feel a thing."

It's been a long time since he last reminisced about it. And he used to wonder whether or not it was really a good thing that he met with Hiromasa, one of Keiwa's earlier incarnations. Not that there wasn't anything good arising from their past relationship, but at times he wondered if the good had truly outweighed the bad or if all of the hearsays were really harmless as Hiromasa used to insist.

That rumour about how one would be cursed if their eyes had met. Because just like how Keiwa's life had turned awry the moment the two of them met, the same thing had happened to them when Hiromasa met him when he used to be Seimei. He thought about how many times Hiromasa would end up being caught in some incident or come into harm. Many times the aftermath tends to be pretty harmless and inconsequential. But then there were some special cases, usually related to a certain someone...

It made him wonder if they shouldn't have met each other... regardless of the time periods.

.

"It's only natural to want to help when we see someone in trouble."

He thought about the first DGP Keiwa had been part of. That time when he found out that Keiwa had received a Boost buckle for the first time, he had immediately thought up a ruse to convince Keiwa to give up that precious buckle for him to use. He tricked Keiwa saying that his reason for joining the game was for some innocent children's sake when it's only for his own—to end the round quickly so that he could find his mother. And just like how Hiromasa used to be tricked by him so easily, Keiwa was the same as well. If it was to help someone who needs it, Keiwa wouldn't think twice about giving a helping hand to those who need it.

Keiwa had always behaved so similarly to Hiromasa. Even after being tricked and vowing not to trust him anymore, Keiwa ended up trusting him again just because Neon was in danger. Even when Hiromasa said that they wouldn't come to ask for his help ever again, Hiromasa still ended up finding him later on when the incident was something only 'Seimei' could resolve.

Just like Hiromasa, Keiwa was too quick to want to offer his help to another person without thinking about their own wellbeing. Just because Keiwa (Hiromasa) saw how he (Seimei) was able to use his power to help other people in need of help, they ended up trying to do the same thing that he did.

And because of that, a lot of times that naivety, kindness and courage led them towards danger...

xxx

"It was up to the two of us to protect this world..."

Ace smiled weakly.

Keiwa had scolded him so badly earlier. And he thought they wouldn't be talking about 'it' so soon after Ziin had passed the Caesar coin to him. He had enjoyed reminiscing about their memories from the Heian era before Keiwa turned their conversation topic serious again. And of all the things Keiwa wanted to talk about... was that.

If possible, he wouldn't want to have to explain himself on why he made that choice. Not to Keiwa... or to their mother.

.

"What happened to you before you died last time?"

"I thought you said that we should protect this world together? Yet you end up dying alone..."

"Suel was too strong. That Regad Omega form of his—Since you and the others should have fought them as well after he killed me, you should be aware of how strong that person was as an opponent."

He thought he could try to get Keiwa to believe his version of what happened during his confrontation with Suel. Then maybe he could try to sell that story to the others and pretend that it was the truth since he doubted that Tsumuri would've told the others about the 'trick' that Suel had used to kill him. Of how Suei used the Black Tsumuri to overpower her and take control... and made her believe that she had always known and intended to take his life. He was sure that Tsumuri was still unable to absolve that one guilt... thus he didn't wish for her to have to relive it again by having the others find out about that hidden truth.

.

He thought about the time his carelessness had left Hiromasa vulnerable and allowed a half-demon to take his friend's life away. Even though later on he was able to revive Hiromasa by asking the aid of Fukun Taizan, it was not without any sacrifices made. The more he thought about it, his fight with Suel was like Seimei's constant confrontation with Ashiya Douman. Even if he was able to get his wins over any kind of games his opponents would throw at him, he couldn't deny how there would always be casualties claimed in between those fights. Just like how Hiromasa was killed as a result of some chain reactions of multiple events that originally started by Ashiya Douman.

Just as it used to be during the Heian period, the result of the present battle with Suel most likely would end up pretty much the same. Even if he could always stand up to any obstacles thrown at him, what about the companions and allies who were fighting alongside him? He had already witnessed how Keiwa almost died during the earlier games... and he'd seen a future where Keiwa would die if he failed to create his ideal world where everyone could be happy.

In the face of such a strong opponent, he knew that he needed to gain a greater power than what he already had. Even if he had to take drastic measures to gain that greater power, he would not hesitate if doing that could ensure the victory that he desired. That was why... he made that choice.

But really, what other choices should he make? Rather than allow Keiwa to die so early... he'd rather sacrifice himself so that Keiwa could live and be happy...

After all, unlike the Heian period... there was no guarantee that he would be able to use his power (or invoke the Fukun Taizan ceremony) to revive Keiwa if they ended up dead, as how he was able to revive Hiromasa. And he couldn't bear living in a world without Keiwa... even if he succeeded in defeating Suel.

.

"Even if Suel was indeed too powerful, I believed that you wouldn't let yourself be defeated so easily. Unless..."

Unfortunately for him, his twin was not easily fooled. Was it because he had so often played tricks on Keiwa that his twin grew to be able to tell apart when he lied and when he told the truth? Was it also because Keiwa had regained insight to how he thinks due to recovering memories of their past incarnations? Was that why?

"Ace... did you let Suel kill you... without any fight?"

There's no point denying it anymore, so Ace told Keiwa everything. How he had prepared to die in order to ascend to a higher existence. Because that could be the only way for him to get the upper hand against Suel since he needed to become a 'true' deity in order to overcome the limitations that were set in place inside the Room of Creation. Or else, he would end up no different than how it used to be for their mother—to end up a mere tool for the DGP till his powers ran out. He wouldn't have been able to keep the promise of granting happiness to everyone should that happen instead.

That would not be his ideal world...

.

After all, all he had done so far... was always to make sure that Keiwa could be happy. To make Keiwa's wish come true... of course, he could do anything and sacrifice everything to make it happen!

xxx

He just didn't want anyone else to suffer anymore... and he didn't want to let Suel continue with what they were doing any longer. He was aware that everything had a price and nothing could be gained without something equal being exchanged.

Haven't they already realized that... after finding out the truth about their Mother and how the DGP reward system worked? Hasn't he learned that for sure after remaking the world for the first time and trying to restore everyone's stolen wishes and memories while also trying to fix what had been broken in this world due to the DGP and Jyamato's existence? There were limitations to how much external or internal powers he could draw in to maintain his ideal world, and it took time for him to familiarise himself with such great powers.

But if there was something else he realised, for a sense of 'order' to be maintained... there was a need for someone to be the 'overseer'. And Suel should not be that designated overseer. Which was why he had prepared himself to take on that role...

"You're so selfish... Ace! How could you think of sacrificing yourself, just to make sure that everyone else gets their own happiness?"

Ace lay down on the bed as he continued staring at his sleeping twin. He didn't manage to say it to Keiwa earlier because his twin was busy scolding him, but he'll admit it now. Just as Keiwa had acted selfishly before to want to sacrifice Tsumuri if it meant that they could revive Sara and their parents, it was also the same for him. Back then, to get Hiromasa back... he could even risk the safety and stability of Capital just to perform the Fukun Taizan Ceremony. To realise Keiwa's wish and to fulfil his promise to their mother, he could even sacrifice himself. He could be that selfish... for his loved ones.

"How could I be fine with getting my happiness, if it was at the cost of sacrificing your own?"

Guess that's the nature of things when you have something—someone—you love and want to protect, you end up becoming selfish. You're willing to sacrifice everything... for that person's happiness. But that kind of selfish thinking was not always right. He used to try to set Keiwa straight from making the wrong judgement out of grief, but he ended up doing the same thing.

"—there should be some other way. A way for us to defeat Suel... and also to find our happiness."

Ace pulled Keiwa's body close and leaned his head so that both of their noses touched. Yeah, Keiwa's right... there should be a better way to deal with Suel and the Desire Grand Prix. He had his allies and friends. And most importantly... he had Keiwa (as well as their mother, even when she no longer has her powers.) With so many people on their side, they should be able to find the right answer.

There should be a way... as long as they're together.

And together they'll break this curse that had always haunted both of their very long lives...