Amu stood silently in the same spot for a while. Her gaze fixed on the sky above her, which gradually darkened. Individual raindrops fell, blending with her tears. Eventually, the trickle of drops broke into a heavy monsoon.
"Amu... we should find shelter somewhere..." Both she and he were already soaked, but she didn't respond. He looked at Tadase and sighed at the sight. He feared that Tadase would hardly speak a word now; one thing was certain, help from him could not be expected.
"It doesn't matter anymore..." Amu pressed her nails into her palms. Nothing mattered anymore. The world was empty. She was empty.
"Child, I feel the weight of your fate, yet you must move forward." Undine had finally appeared again.
"Why are you here now... now that it's too late..."
"I am sorry for your loss, but you must stop Dia."
Nagi sighed. "She's right... if we do nothing, Dia will just keep going. I think she only wanted Ikuto because it would be easier for her, and for personal reasons, but she doesn't need him." Although he supported Undine at the moment, he found it inappropriate. Amu needed time.
"I don't care... let the world end... I'll gladly go with it..." Her gaze was now fixed firmly on the ground, her hair dripping incessantly from the rain.
"So, did you lie to me back then? Wasn't it your own words that sacrifices had to be made for the greater good?" The water spirit looked at her with disappointment. Under these circumstances, she would reconsider the pact and possibly break it.
"I... but..." She sobbed. Why did she have to fight for the world's good? "Not like this..." Her voice broke under her pain.
"You were even ready to sacrifice him yourself, now your resolve wavers?"
"Yes... but I would have followed him afterward..." She couldn't do that now, not when she was responsible for the world. "I just can't anymore..." She fell to her knees and wept bitterly. "I can't keep being strong... I can't keep pretending everything is okay... especially not with this..."
Nagi's expression twisted into one of pain as he saw her suffer, kneeling beside her to wrap an arm around her, though he didn't know if she wanted that. He wanted to be there for her somehow. "He can't really be gone..." It hurt so much inside. She simply couldn't grasp that this was now her reality. Her fingers dug into the earth beneath her hands. It was all black to her, but still, she got up and wiped away her tears. If this was her fate, she would fulfill it and eventually join Ikuto. The sooner she finished, the sooner she could hope for that last spark that would give her strength.
"I must continue healing the harpies..." She stood up and left the forest to return to the motionless harpy. Even though all of this felt so endless to her, it had only happened in a matter of minutes. Since she had already started healing, the harpy was still in the same state, it was not too late. She sighed heavily. Only now did the physical pain of her heart and exhaustion break through. She sank to her knees, gasping a little.
"You need to recover first, Amu..." Nagi and Tadase had naturally followed her.
"I can't... I don't have time for that..." She briefly held her chest and clawed at her dress. She didn't want to lose this pain, as bad as it was. It was the last thing she had from Ikuto, and yet she knew even that would fade away. She held her hand over the harpy again and focused on her magic. After a few minutes, the soft blue faded, and Amu took a deep breath. Now it was time to wait and hope.
"What are you doing to my girls! At least show them some respect!" A deep voice rang out from above, and the sound of wings flapping was heard.
Amu turned around, and in front of her stood a harpy man. His upper body was bare, revealing impressively trained muscles and the sharp contours of his chest and shoulders. He had a majestic posture, radiating both strength and grace. His skin was as white as snow, which made his medium-length black hair stand out even more, framing his striking face in light strands. His emerald green eyes fixed on her with an intensity that took her breath away.
Amu's gaze traveled further to study the extraordinary shape of this race. The long, pointed ears of the man were adorned with elegant black feathers, gently moving as if responding to a light breeze. The powerful wings behind his back immediately drew her attention. They were pitch-black, streaked with individual purple feathers that seemed to shimmer in a soft gradient, almost like a painting in the night sky.
Amu noticed that his wings were completely independent of his arms. She had somehow assumed that their wings and arms were one, and thus, slightly restricted. His arms were powerful yet graceful, ready to fight or elegantly grasp. As her gaze dropped lower, she saw the strong thighs that perfectly balanced on bird-like claws and feet. These seemed designed for speed and deadly precision, the gleaming claws contrasting with the soft feather pattern adorning his legs.
He was more than imposing—he was the perfect blend of wildness and majesty.
"I... I just wanted to help..." she murmured quietly, looking away. The man grabbed her chin and gently moved it, examining her gaze. Then his eyes wandered to Tadase, who seemed even more broken and empty than the girl. The second man, however, appeared tense, ready to intervene at any moment, yet it was clear that he, too, was deeply wounded. What had happened to these strangers?
Just as he was about to speak, he was suddenly shielded off from Amu. A wild barrier of wind formed around her, and at the same time, Nagi's hands were bound in wind, preventing him from using magic.
"Really, Tadase...?" he complained, sighing as he shook his hands and tried to free himself from the wind.
The harpy that Amu had just healed woke up and immediately lunged upward to attack Amu. Tadase reacted quickly, but he seemed empty, which the harpy king noticed. "Do you control living beings? My girls won't be cursed like that, understood?"
Amu didn't even know what was happening around her and looked at him in disbelief. "Nonsense..." Nagi interjected. "Control 'your girl' instead," since the harpy was still charging at Tadase's shield.
The king walked past the girl and positioned himself in front of the attacker. "Without her, you'd be nothing, so rein in your temper." The harpy let out a scream and disappeared into the sky. The man sighed and shook his head.
Nagi, meanwhile, was confused. The woman reacted exactly as one would expect, but him? He seemed normal and smart?
"Shouldn't you all be like this?"
"Some of us have evolved. Logically, those in higher positions, like the King, for example," he gestured, clearly referring to himself. "They actually can speak the language, just not very well. They just choose not to."
He looked up at the sky for a moment before turning back to Amu.
"So, what's your goal? Why are you here?" He extended a hand to help her up, but Amu didn't respond. He sighed deeply and gently lifted her by the shoulders. "Come on."
Nagi initially extended his hand but then let him do it. He felt no hostility. "They won't say much... I don't want to either, but someone has to."
"Well, then spit it out." Nagi frowned. For a king, he had a very common way of speaking. Was it because he was still a harpy despite everything? "Don't like the way I speak?"
"I didn't say anything..."
"Your reaction when I spoke, however, truly spoke for itself. I'm quite capable of formal speech," he rolled his eyes. "But it's annoying, it drags on unnecessarily, and I feel like a more relaxed atmosphere is needed here right now, not something pretentious and serious."
"It wouldn't change anything... I don't know if anything will ever change again.." Nagi sighed sadly. He just wanted to mourn. Why did he have to speak for everyone when his heart was also aching from the loss of his friend?
"I need to go to Sylph..." Amu murmured weakly and lifelessly. The king raised an eyebrow. "I can help with that, but in this state? No way."
Amu stared at him silently and couldn't hold back her tears.
"Oh dear..." He carefully placed an arm around her and gently pressed her to his chest, a bit awkwardly.
"Good thing that self-proclaimed queen suddenly snapped and set off. I'll take you to mine, and maybe we can talk..." He lifted Amu into his arms and leaped into the air. After snapping his fingers, two female harpies appeared and lifted Nagi and Tadase, following their king.
The harpies' quarters were carved into the mountain. Numerous caves were sealed with large, ancient wooden doors to keep out the cold. As expected, the king's quarters were the highest, and Amu felt herself growing colder, but she didn't care. Thalor noticed and pulled her a little closer to warm her with his body. Due to the local temperatures, their bodies had started to naturally run at higher temperatures. "We're almost there..." He glanced back to see his followers close behind him.
The king's residence was a masterpiece of Harpyian architecture, carved deep into the rocky mountain. The cold, stone corridor was lined with a massive, ancient wooden door, carefully adorned – the wood itself bore the marks of centuries, yet remained strong and resilient. The door was a work of art in itself, with fine carvings telling stories of past rulers and heroic deeds, as if the walls themselves whispered tales from the old days.
The air was cool and heavy, a sharp, almost biting wind swept through the corridor, but the room behind the first door, the round archway, was shaped by the mountain's nature – isolated and warm, protected from the icy cold of the exterior. Amu could feel the change in temperature as they neared the inner part of the residence. However, what she noticed more was the aura the place radiated – a blend of age and power, as if the mountain itself carried the history and heritage of the Harpyians within it.
After a few more meters behind the great wooden door, another noble door appeared. The room behind it led to a wide, high hall where the stone on the walls shimmered in soft, golden hues. The light from torches embedded in the walls danced over the distinct edges, illuminating the space. The floor was smooth and cool, and the scent of fresh wood and soft, expensive fur lingered in the air. A large, majestic stone staircase led up to an elevated platform, where the king's throne stood. The throne itself was an imposing piece, made from massive wood carvings, with further decorations of feathers and mystical symbols that reminded of the Harpyians' ability to fly and their pride.
He gently placed the girl onto a beanbag and briefly left the room to get a blanket, which he then draped over her shoulders. He would have liked to offer her hot cocoa, but they didn't have any. Instead, he went out again and returned shortly with three cups. He had warmed up some juice and hoped it would work as a substitute.
"Thank you..." Nagi murmured and took all three cups at first.
"Amu... we don't want to be rude... come on, take it." He gently nudged her shoulder, but she only shook her head. "It will warm you up... Ikuto wouldn't want you to just give up..."
She sighed and took the cup. She wrapped her hands around it, feeling the warmth rise through her fingers.
"Ikuto? The lapdog of the tyrant?"
Thalor sat down across from them, folding his arms.
"Mhm." Nagi couldn't say much more. He just wanted peace. He wanted to disappear. Finally, inner peace. He sighed heavily.
"So, you're connected with them...?" His tone grew more threatening, and the atmosphere shifted. The feathers on his head flattened against him.
"No... yes... it's complicated..." He didn't want to, but he had to, so he explained all the important details.
"Well... that explains the composure of the two of them... and you're just as worn out, yet here I am bombarding you with questions. Sorry."
"It's fine..."
"I can't imagine this witch hasn't taken any security precautions or doesn't have a solution ready. She's almost obsessed with him... that at least explains why she disappeared so suddenly." He thoughtfully placed his index finger on his chin as he observed Tadase. "Assuming Ikuto hasn't disappeared for good, he has.." He briefly pointed at Tadase and shook his head. Thalor had a good sense of the true nature of others and their souls, which is why he referred to Ikuto as a lapdog, since he could feel that Ikuto's heart was not dark. There was simply a thick fog over it. But Tadase? He had no light left in him.
Amu's heart clenched at these words, and she looked up at Tadase, who silently stared at the ground. "You know... that's just as much about disappearing and leaving me alone..."
"Girl, you should leave him be. I think you're just hurting him..." Thalor shook his head and shrugged. Blaming him certainly wasn't the right way to go.
"Of course, she's doing that... when the person who means more to you than your own life tells you that you should've died and go to hell, while you're already fighting with a huge burden yourself, what else is left but to break apart?" Nagi didn't know if he would ever forgive Amu for that. Of course, she acted irrationally, out of emotion, but even he saw no hope left for Tadase.
Thalor raised his eyebrows. "You said that to him?" Amu swallowed and silently looked away.
Nagi sighed, stood up, and knelt in front of Tadase. He took the blonde's chin between his fingers and lifted it. His mouth twisted. Nothing. There was nothing left of him in those eyes. "Come on..." He knew this had just happened, but the longer Tadase stayed like this, the slimmer the chance it wouldn't be permanent. "Amu... I know you're suffering... but you need to do something..."
"I... I can't..." She knew that Tadase wasn't to blame, but it still happened through his hands.
Nagi clenched his fists and took a deep breath before he stood up, walked toward Amu, and slapped her. The girl held her cheek while looking down at the ground.
"Hey, hey, hey! We don't hit women, alright?" Thalor stepped between them, making it clear with his presence that he wouldn't tolerate this again.
"This is between us!" The lilac-haired one snorted. "We're all affected by Ikuto, but Tadase damn well isn't to blame! If you had been there, you would've killed him with your own hands because Ikuto made that decision and controlled it!" His voice was loud, and he didn't care that they were airing their problems in a stranger's house. He briefly glanced at Tadase, but even after Nagi hit Amu, he showed no reaction. He shook his head.
"I know that!" She yelled back, sobbing.
"Then why? Why did you do that to him? Do we not matter to you because Ikuto is gone? Were those feelings all lies?"
"No..." She wiped a tear away, but new ones followed.
"Then do something! Do something, or you'll lose your second choice forever..." He hated expressing it this way, but that was how it was. He swallowed hard at the thought of the next words. "And if that happens, you'll lose me too, because then I want nothing to do with someone like you anymore..."
"How can you be so heartless... It hasn't even been half a day..." She complained and cried bitterly, sinking to her knees.
"I know, Amu... but what about me? I haven't been allowed to be weak... and... that's okay in some way... but we can't wait. Maybe it's already too late..." Why couldn't she understand the seriousness of the situation? He took her hand, gently pulled her up, and positioned her directly in front of the blonde. "Look at him..."
Amu didn't want to look at him. She looked away, but Nagi took her head and turned it toward Tadase's face so that she could see his eyes. Her heart clenched again, and it hurt even more than it already did.
"Do something, Amu..."
Thalor silently stood behind them as an observer. The situation was strange, but he could understand that this was an emotional matter. Something like this could break out involuntarily at any moment, and one couldn't control it.
She swallowed. What should she do? Interacting with him felt so wrong, but he wasn't to blame. Ikuto definitely didn't want this to happen with Tadase. Would he be disappointed in her now? Probably. She sighed sadly and placed her arms around his neck, her head resting on his shoulder.
"I'm sorry, Tadase... please come back to me..." She sobbed and pressed herself tightly against him, but he didn't respond, didn't even hug her back.
"I know nothing changes that these words were said... but... I really didn't mean it like that..." She sat up to look at him. "I don't want it to be you instead of him, and I don't want you to go to hell..."
She paused for a moment. Were these words really the truth? Of course, she didn't want to lose anyone, but would she have dealt with it better if it had been him or Nagi and not Ikuto?
Her hands carefully and tremblingly cupped his face. She felt guilty for doing this right after Ikuto left, but she had to try everything to get a reaction from Tadase. So, she closed her eyes and slowly moved closer until their lips met. Nothing. She opened one eye and saw that his were still open, still empty like an eternal abyss. She broke the kiss and let her head hang. Was there anything she could do?
Her weak, still trembling fingers ran over the ring on her right ring finger and turned it back and forth. "I still wear it... because... because I love you..." Her voice was weak, just a quiet whisper.
Finally, she took his right hand with her left and ran her right hand over his ring as well. Both rings could be seen together. "They really fit well together. You thought so much about it..."
Nothing. He didn't react, and she despaired. She didn't want to make jokes, but she wanted to try everything, so she took a deep breath before speaking again. "You and Nagi... you're already so close... I... I'll just marry you both one day, then no one has to be sad." She forced a smile while still holding his hand. Yet, no reaction.
Amu's forced smile broke as quickly as she had put it on. Her shoulders sank, and she slowly let go of Tadase's hand. It was like speaking to a wall, an insurmountable barrier of emptiness between them. Everything she did, every gesture, every word – it just bounced off.
Nagi, who had been watching the scene, crossed his arms and lowered his gaze to the ground. He could hardly bear to see her like this. It wasn't fair. Amu was broken, Tadase was a shell, and Ikuto... Ikuto was gone. None of them deserved this. But at the same time, he couldn't suppress the bitterness inside him. The guilt that weighed on Amu was undeniable. You did this, he wanted to scream, you destroyed him! Yet he stayed silent. What good would it do?
"Amu," he finally said quietly and stepped closer. His voice was soft, but his words were harsh. "You can't force it. And you can't save him by continuing to destroy yourself."
She lifted her head and looked at him, her eyes glittering with tears. "But what should I do, Nagi? I can't just leave him like this! I... I said that. I did that. If I lose him, then..." Her voice cracked, and she wrapped her arms around herself as if she could stop herself from breaking down completely.
Nagi sighed heavily, knelt in front of Tadase again, and looked at him up close. The emptiness in his eyes made him sick. Tadase, who had always been so full of life and hope, was now nothing but a shell, an abyss with no bottom. "Amu," he said finally, without turning, "you need to give him time. And yourself, too."
"Time?" She laughed bitterly, a rough, desperate sound. "How much time, Nagi? Hours? Days? Years? What if he never comes back? What if I've lost him forever?"
"Then you have to learn to live with it," Nagi answered quietly, though it tore him apart inside. "But if you keep going like this, you won't just lose Tadase, you'll lose yourself too."
Thalor, who had been silent until now, stepped closer. His deep voice cut through the silence. "There's no guarantee that he'll come back, girl. Some wounds don't heal. And sometimes... you just have to accept that you can't save someone."
Amu shook her head, tears running down her cheeks. "I can't accept that. I can't... lose him too." She turned back to Tadase, placing her hands on his shoulders again. "Tadase, please..." Her voice was barely a whisper. "Come back. I need you. Please..."
But again, there was no response. Tadase was lost somewhere in the darkness of his own mind. And Amu didn't know if she would ever find him again.
Tadase was currently in this own dark world. Everything was black, and in the middle of this endless black nothing, he curled up in the fetal position. Amu's words and his own accusations and doubts were the only things that echoed through the darkness.
'Go to hell'
'I wish it had been you instead'
'I failed'
'I should've done more'
'I should've saved him, even if it meant my own life'
'Why am I so useless and weak?'
'I don't deserve to live'
'I just want to disappear forever'
All of this and even more negative words he said to himself, but most of all, it was Amu's voice with those two statements that kept locking him deeper in this darkness. He couldn't go to hell, so he created his own.
There were moments when all these words took over, constantly present without pause, overwhelming each other as they came up again and again at the same time. It felt like a chaotic, dark net wrapping around him, completely encasing him in a ball of black lines that grew darker and more intense each time. Amu's words from the outside world, on the other hand, were only a faint whisper. He heard them, but he ignored them.
"Hey Tadase..." a familiar voice tried to break through the chaotic confusion. It didn't sound like the voices from outside; it sounded much closer. The source of the voice slowly began removing the black threads around him, trying to create a hole for Tadase.
Although everything was complete darkness, this hole still created some light, as the threads surrounding him were darker than the darkness itself. He briefly looked up. What was happening? This was new. Until now, this formation came and went as it pleased, though it had been lasting longer each time. Was it trying to swallow him? He simply accepted it, it didn't matter to him, but why was it being torn apart now?
His empty gaze filled with disbelief and confusion. A familiar figure stood there, extending a hand to him. He shook his head and remained in his position. Was he hallucinating now? Was something inside him trying to survive by projecting this? Was it imagining someone would rescue him from this black nothingness?
He barely shook his head. He didn't want to leave, and there was surely nothing left inside him that would say otherwise.
The figure sighed and scratched its head, puzzled. "You can't stay here forever..." the voice spoke again. No answer.
"Won't you speak to me? Are you really that angry at me?"
Nothing.
"Can you even still speak?"
Silence. The figure sighed. Something had to make him react.
"I don't deserve anything else. I don't understand the origin of this hallucination, but I'm sure everything inside me agrees. This is what I deserve." His voice was broken, devoid of any emotion, and very weak.
"Hallucination? Listen, I'm real, but I'm afraid I don't have much time..."
"That's impossible... you're dead..."
"Isn't that exactly why it's possible? Souls? How else could I meet you inside yourself..." Ikuto's voice was calm and gentle, free from resentment or blame.
"Soul..." he murmured, repeating the word. For a moment, hope flickered in his eyes. He left the dark web of negative emotions around him, and for a moment, it shattered. He stood before Ikuto, placing his hands on his shoulders.
"If you... if your soul is really here... if that's true... then take over my body." He practically begged, almost hysterical. "I know... my body, my appearance, and my abilities are nothing compared to yours... but... but it's better than nothing, and eventually, you'll get used to it!"
Ikuto's gaze darkened at these words. He looked at the blonde in front of him and quickly realized he looked completely collapsed, as if he had been seriously ill for years.
"Please, Ikuto..." Tears left his eyes, which had barely regained a little life due to that single hope.
"I don't want that, Tadase..."
These words were like a slap to the face, like a stab to the heart. The dark threads returned, encircling him again.
"But why... you could be with her again... Amu... her life would have meaning again..." His gaze fell to the ground, and he released his grip from Ikuto's shoulders. "She's completely destroyed... my actions have ruined her..."
"Tadase... stop it... you know you couldn't have changed anything. No matter how strong you were, I could always control you..." Ikuto sighed heavily and placed a hand on the blonde's shoulder.
Ikuto's hand rested heavily on Tadase's shoulder, as if it were the only thing keeping the boy from fully slipping into the darkness. "Tadase, listen to me," he began with a gentle yet serious voice. "You're blaming yourself for something that was never within your control. Not back then, not now. And above all..." His voice grew more insistent. "It's not your job to carry on my life."
Tadase silently shook his head, his lips trembling. "But if I... if I wasn't strong enough to save you, then... then at least I can make sure Amu... that she doesn't have to suffer like this." His voice was fragile, a shadow of his former determination. "I can at least give her you back..."
Ikuto looked at him silently for a moment, his deep blue eyes full of compassion, but also with a touch of frustration. "Tadase... You don't understand, do you?" He gently pressed against Tadase's shoulder, forcing him to meet his gaze. "I'm not here anymore. Amu has to accept that, just like you have to. You can't bring me back, and I wouldn't want you to destroy your life trying."
"But how...?" Tadase nearly choked on his words. "How am I supposed to keep going if I know I failed? That she's suffering because of me? That I... that I'm the reason she hates me so much?"
Ikuto sighed deeply, his fingers tightening on Tadase's shoulder. "Amu doesn't hate you. She's hurt, yes, and she said things she regrets. But you're not the cause of all this. Not really. The real reason lies deeper—it's in all the things neither of us could change."
Tadase was silent, and Ikuto seized the moment to continue. "You've made mistakes, just like I have. But that doesn't mean you can give up. Do you know what will happen if you stay buried in this darkness? Amu will lose you. She'll blame herself even more because she couldn't save you. And that's the last thing I want."
The dark threads tightened around Tadase, but Ikuto ignored them, pressing harder against his shoulder. "Come back, Tadase. You have to do it for yourself. For Amu. For Nagi. I'll always be part of you, but I'm here because I want you to keep living. Not for me, but for yourselves."
Tadase looked at him, tears running down his face. "I... I don't know how to do this," he whispered. "I don't know how to get through this."
Ikuto smiled weakly, a sad yet encouraging expression. "You're stronger than you think. And you're not alone. Nagi is with you. And Amu... Amu will forgive you. Her reason will come back. She knows you couldn't change it, that it wasn't your fault, and if not, Nagi will make sure of it."
"But I don't want to keep living... please... take my body for your soul... I'm tired of this life." Ikuto spoke easily about how he should live for Amu and Nagi, but most of all, for himself. The only reason he was even still here was Amu, because if it were up to what he wanted, he'd be dead and at peace by now.
Ikuto looked at Tadase long and deeply, his blue eyes full of sorrow, but also with an unyielding determination. "Tadase," he began calmly, "I understand your pain. More than you might think. But you're wrong if you think death is the answer. Believe me, I've thought about it many times... and yet I kept going."
Tadase winced, tears streaming down his cheeks. "Kept going? For who? For Amu? Because she needed you? I'm not you, Ikuto. No one needs me." His voice was full of despair, almost angry, but behind the anger was an infinite emptiness.
"You're wrong," Ikuto said softly, his voice like a gentle but insistent wind. "Amu needs you. Not as a replacement for me, but as a friend. She's hurt, yes, but if she loses you, she'll break even more. And Nagi..." Ikuto smiled faintly, his tone softening. "Nagi needs you more than you will ever understand. He's the one who's always been there for you, even when you didn't see it. Do you really want to do that to him? Leave him alone?"
Tadase shook his head, his hands trembling. "I'm not strong enough... not for Nagi, not for Amu, not even for myself."
Ikuto sighed deeply and stepped closer, strengthening his grip on Tadase's shoulder once again. "Strength doesn't mean you have to carry everything alone. Strength means continuing, even when you think you can't. It means accepting the help of those who love you. And yes, Tadase, they love you. Even if you can't see it."
Tadase looked at him, his eyes full of pain and doubt. "But I... I'm so tired, Ikuto. So incredibly tired. It would be so much easier to just give up."
"Easy?" Ikuto laughed softly, a sad, bitter sound. "It's never easy, Tadase. Not life, not death. But if you give up now, you'll not only lose yourself. You'll hurt everyone who still believes in you. Believe me, Tadase, I know what it's like to be tired. But I also know it's worth fighting for."
Tadase winced, and a bitter smile crept onto his lips. "Keep fighting? You? That's almost laughable, Ikuto. Didn't you choose to leave it all behind? Wasn't it your choice to die by my hands? And now you're here, preaching to me about strength and life?" His voice was full of mockery, mixed with deep-rooted pain. "You made it easy. You just gave up."
Ikuto remained calm, but his gaze grew more serious, more penetrating. "Tadase, I sacrificed myself to save Amu and everyone else. It was never about giving up. It was about giving you all the chance to keep going."
Tadase chuckled softly, a rough, broken sound. "Move on? For whom? For Amu, who hates me now? For Nagi, who does nothing but pity me? Or for myself? You've destroyed everything, Ikuto. You've destroyed me." His eyes glinted with suppressed anger. "And now you come here like you're the great savior, telling me to move on? Why? So I can suffer even more?"
Ikuto wasn't deterred by the anger; he stepped even closer. "You're angry, Tadase. At me, at yourself, maybe even at the world. But that doesn't change the fact that you're still here. That you still have a choice."
"A choice?" Tadase clenched his fists, his voice nearly cracking with bitterness. "I had no choice, Ikuto! You pushed me into a situation with no way out. I killed you. I! And now I'm supposed to live with what I've done? Because you forced me to?"
Ikuto was silent for a moment, letting the words sink in. Then he spoke with a calmness that was like a blade. "Yes, Tadase. You're supposed to live with it. Because life isn't easy. Because guilt, pain, and loss are parts of it. You can lose yourself in this darkness, hate yourself, hate me, hate the world—or you can try to make something better of it. But the choice is yours."
Tadase gritted his teeth, his gaze a mix of anger and despair. "And what if I just don't want to? What if I can't face you and Amu anymore?"
Ikuto met his gaze. "Then you'll stay in this darkness. But eventually, you'll realize that's not the answer. You're stronger than you think, Tadase. And no matter how much you hate me, I'll always tell you that you're not alone. Even if you don't want to hear it."
The words echoed in the darkness, and Tadase's only response was a mocking laugh.
"At least speak to her one last time... take over my body at least for that... it might help her..." He suggested, partly for Amu's sake, but partly hoping he could prevent Ikuto from taking over again, after he had once already.
"I think it would only make things harder..." Ikuto replied.
"No... she didn't even get to say goodbye... your body was gone after all..."
Ikuto sighed deeply, considering briefly. He truly didn't know what the better decision would be in this case, but he probably would have wanted a final conversation in Amu's place too. "Fine..." He stepped closer to Tadase and rested his forehead against the blonde's, then closed his eyes. Tadase felt himself gradually softening, a veil wrapping around him. He thought the darkness would lift, that it would get brighter as Ikuto took over, but in reality, it became much darker, and a wild storm of negativity and hopelessness raged. Tadase was surprised, not expecting Ikuto's heart to be darker than his own, but he couldn't think about it further as his soul and consciousness faded into the background.
Amu was still kneeling in front of Tadase, sobbing, holding his hands, but she had given up speaking.
"Amu..." the voice was weak and broken, yet calm. That voice, she would recognize it anywhere, among thousands. Her eyes widened, and instinctively, she scanned the room. Only when her gaze landed on Tadase did she realize his eyes were blue, and she gradually understood.
She stared at Tadase in disbelief, as the reality sank into her consciousness. His blue eyes—those unique, deep eyes that held so much pain, love, and secrets—didn't belong to Tadase.
"Ikuto...?" she whispered, her voice barely audible in the still hall.
"Yes... it's me," he answered quietly, his voice rough and weak. It was as if each word cost him something. He looked at her trembling hands, still gripping Tadase's body, and a wave of emotions overwhelmed him.
"Listen, Amu..." he placed a hand on her cheek. "If I hadn't done that, I would have killed you. I didn't want that. There was no other way. I know you'd rather have died in my place, but then I'd be where you are now. You don't want that, do you? And unlike me, you still have two other people who would be absolutely destroyed by your loss..." He glanced briefly at Nagi, noticing the tears forming in his eyes. Even in his borrowed eyes, tears gathered.
She wanted to speak, but with a gentle smile, he placed a finger on her lips to silence her. "I know it's hard, and it will take time, but you have to let go of your anger. Tadase tried so hard to stop me, but you know how I am when I set my mind to something." He gently tapped her forehead.
"I... I'm trying... but he won't respond to anything..."
"I know... he's given up... he doesn't want to come back..." Ikuto sighed heavily. "Next time, try using your pretty little head before you speak, okay, princess?" He chuckled slightly. He wanted to lift the mood, not press it down further.
"Ikuto... I can't anymore... I don't want to anymore... I've lost two people so important to me in such a short time... it hurts so much..." She threw herself crying into his chest, feeling him gently embrace her.
"I know... I'm sorry... I wish things had turned out differently." He glanced back at Nagi, speaking more softly. "Don't forget Nagi... he acts strong... but he's breaking quietly... don't lose him too."
Amu sobbed even harder and clung tighter to Ikuto. She just wanted peace and to mourn, but the world wouldn't stop spinning. It kept turning and demanded that she function and care for others.
"You're strong... you've always been, even in our world. Don't give up and keep fighting for the good, okay?" He stroked her head gently. "Someday, we'll meet again, and when we do, I want to be proud of my girl."
"I want to be with you, Ikuto... please..." She looked at him desperately, pleading with her eyes, but he shook his head. "Not now. You still have many years ahead of you." He smiled softly and pulled away from her to walk over to Nagi. He made a gesture indicating that he wanted to move out of Amu's hearing range so they stood at the other end of the large room, speaking quietly.
"Honestly... I didn't want to see you this early... what's all this about?" Ikuto shook his head and sighed deeply.
"You feel it? That bad, huh?" Nagi sighed too. He didn't even know how much time was left for him. "Sorry... it just happened somehow..."
"I leave you two alone for a moment, and you give my girl trauma after trauma." He raised an eyebrow.
"Well... you can take the worst of it on yourself..." Nagi paused and looked at Amu. "She'll probably never recover from this, and deep down, she'll always carry a grudge against us. But you're supposed to look at the positives, right? At least the romantic chaos should come to an end." He laughed bitterly and leaned against the wall.
"She loves you both, and that won't change, especially not now that I'm gone. You all just need time." He placed a hand on Nagi's shoulder, trying to offer some support.
"Time I apparently don't have... Tadase has to come back..." He thought for a moment before continuing. "Tell him... he knows it, but tell him it's less time than we thought, and that Amu will be completely alone if he doesn't pull himself together."
"I can't do that. It would be too much for him in his current state and would only make things worse."
"That idiot... he's always been unstable when it comes to his own life," he thought back to the time in the castle when Tadase had already attempted something.
"If he doesn't make it back, she'll break completely... I don't want that... but I've already talked to him, and all he wants is the end..." The weight in his voice seemed endless as he took a deep breath. "He even wanted me to take over his body forever..."
"I hate to even consider this... but... if he really wants it that much, wouldn't it be best for everyone...?" Nagi spoke hesitantly, hating himself for voicing these thoughts, but everything seemed hopeless to him as well.
"I don't want to live at the cost of another soul... especially not a friend's, even if I didn't have much time with him..." Ikuto shook his head, rejecting the idea.
"She needs your calmness more than ever, Ikuto... she needs your light..."
"Light, huh?" He smiled bitterly. He seemed to be doing his job well if Nagi really thought he was bringing light. Probably only Tadase knew the truth now, and that was only because they had connected. There had been no light left in him for a long time. He fought every day against his own demons and pain. His guilt. And since today, a storm raged inside him, taking everything with it.
"I can't... as much as I want to, but I'm just not part of this world anymore..."
Finally, he hugged the lilac-haired one tightly. "I hope you have good news when we meet again." His voice was heavy, and he suppressed the tears.
Nagi couldn't hold back the tears any longer and hugged him back.
"I'll talk to her one last time." The blue-haired one briefly glanced at Amu, then looked at Nagi one last time. "We had our differences, but I'm glad I met you. You've really grown on me."
Nagi tried to smile but broke into more tears. "I'll miss you... and you're leaving us in a pile of shards..."
"I'm sorry..." With one last hug, he finally turned away from Nagi and walked toward Amu.
"You're leaving, right?" She looked at him brokenly and couldn't help but burst into loud sobs. "Please don't go... please..." She fell to her knees and desperately clung to his legs.
"Amu... I can't... I don't have a body anymore... You wouldn't want to sacrifice Tadase, right?" He placed a hand on her head and gently stroked it while looking down to her.
Amu swallowed and didn't know what to say. If she expressed her feelings, it would be a cruel answer, and yet she chose to do so. "He's gone, Ikuto... he won't come back, no matter whether you're here or not... please don't go..."
"He... he's not completely gone... I was able to talk to him... there might still be a chance."
"And if not? Then both of you will have left me..." She continued to sob bitterly.
"I have to go, Amu... I'm sorry..." He knelt down to her, gently lifted her chin, and kissed her one last time. "I love you, and I believe in you. You'll heal, and you'll do what's right. Don't give up on the world. Don't give up on yourself, Princess."
"I'll be alone... if Tadase doesn't come back and you decide not to stay, then there's only Nagi left, but how much time will I have with him? Three-quarters of his life seems like an awful lot... maybe he won't be here tomorrow either..." Her sobbing gradually quieted, and a sense of emptiness and hopelessness overtook her.
Ikuto swallowed and didn't know what to say. Should he stay after all? He felt helpless.
"What will happen to Aruto... I'll never be able to look at him again without crying..." Their son would forever remind her of Ikuto. He looked so terribly similar to him.
"You're strong, Amu... you'll make it... but you have to let go now..." He gently pulled her up to him, brushed a few strands of hair from her face, kissed her forehead, and then kissed her lips once more. How much he would miss that taste. How much he would miss her. Tears ran down his cheek as he broke the kiss. "Goodbye, Amu..." He closed his eyes and focused inward, trying to find Tadase and give him control, but it felt as if something was blocking him.
Amu looked sadly down, but when she looked at Tadase's face and saw that his eyes were open again, she frowned in confusion. Blue. They were still blue.
"Ikuto..."
"He won't let me swap..." He swallowed, his voice sounding panicked, something very rare for Ikuto. His breathing became faster, more restless. He closed his eyes again and tried to get deep inside his mind. He could sense the direction where Tadase's soul was, but he couldn't reach it.
He opened his eyes again. His pupils were frantically moving left and right as he bit his thumb nail. "If I don't manage this soon, he'll be gone forever... I should never have agreed to this, damn it..." He held a hand in front of his eyes and forehead and rubbed it tensely.
Nagi noticed the sudden unease in Ikuto and stepped closer. "What's wrong?"
After Ikuto explained the situation, Nagi sighed heavily. "That idiot..." he repeated the words he had said earlier.
"Two souls can only exist together in one body for so long... besides... I only had a limited time anyway, since I shouldn't even be here..." He lowered his hand and stared at the ground gloomily. "If we don't swap, his soul will be taken for mine..."
"Should you really stand in his way if he wants this so badly?" Amu looked away and nervously tugged at her sleeve.
"Not even death will give my soul peace..." Ikuto laughed bitterly and sank to his knees, his hands desperately buried in his hair. Why did he have to fight so hard for what was right? What was the right thing? Was he making a mistake by insisting that Tadase should return?
Thalor sighed heavily. The whole situation weighed heavily on his heart, even though he didn't know any of them. An incredible tragedy lingered in the air, pressing down on them with a crushing weight. He walked over to Ikuto and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Boy, you caused all of this. Maybe it's time to pay the price for it. Maybe your punishment is to keep living in this body."
Ikuto swallowed hard. "But what was I supposed to do… if I had done nothing, she would have died…" Why was the blame on him now? As if he wasn't already blaming himself enough. If only he had reacted sooner when he was hit back then as a wyvern, but he didn't know if they were being pursued, and landing might have risked Amu's safety. If it weren't for that wound, everything would be different.
"Do you really want to leave, Ikuto...?" Amu looked at him blankly.
"I don't want to... I want to stay with you..." Their gazes met, and he felt that incredible pain in her.
"Then why don't you?"
"Because it would be wrong... Tadase is still here... we can't just give up on him. I could never be at peace with myself if I just kept his body, even though he wants it... he's lost... he doesn't know what he wants..."
"He knows what he wants..." Nagi replied, shaking his head.
"Still, we can't force Ikuto to destroy himself just to stay... even if Tadase himself wants it," Amu whispered, heartbroken. "Even though I wish more than anything that he stays..."
She felt her heart pounding in her chest as she searched for Ikuto's gaze. Her eyes filled with tears that ran down her cheeks as she leaned closer to him. The pain inside her was immeasurable, yet she couldn't look away. She knew this was the moment that would decide everything.
Slowly, trembling with emotion, she placed her hands on Tadase's body, as if she could reach him through the pain. She leaned down to him, her lips finding his. It was a gentle kiss, yet in it was an immeasurable intensity, a desperate attempt to wake Tadase, to bring him back – and at the same time, the painful wish not to let go of Ikuto.
"Tadase... please..." she whispered again and again between kisses, as if she could reach him through her words. "Come back. I need you... I can't live without you..."
Her hands traveled over Tadase's face, touching him tenderly, as if trying to find something of him, something that belonged to him, something that came from him. And yet, she knew she was only touching Ikuto – that she was experiencing these final moments with him, even though it was destructive.
"Tadase... please..." her voice trembled as she kissed him again, this time with more passion, as emotions overwhelmed her. She felt the pressure in her chest, the pulling in her heart, the feeling as if she was losing something irreplaceable. And still, she fought on, trying to reach Tadase. To hold Ikuto and him at the same time, even though she knew it was impossible.
Ikuto's eyes met hers again and again, and in them was the pain he felt, just as strong as hers. But with each glance they shared, Ikuto's eyes began to change. The familiar blue that Amu loved so much faded, giving way to a shimmering red that slowly consumed his iris. The change was unstoppable – a sign that Tadase's soul was returning and Ikuto was retreating. The deep blue gradually gave way to the fiery red that marked Tadase's eyes.
"Why are you doing this?" Ikuto asked, his voice hoarse and broken. "I thought I was supposed to stay..."
"Because I love you," she whispered, and the words broke her heart. "I love you, Ikuto... And I wish so much that you stay, but it would be selfish. You would always suffer... so... so I have to help bring him back..." she sobbed bitterly.
Their kiss became more intense, more desperate. Her hands wandered over Tadase's body, searching for the last spark of life, for a sign that he could still hear her. But deep inside, she knew she was only feeling Ikuto – that it was he who held her in this moment, that it was he who still reached her soul.
"I can't... I can't let go..." she groaned between the kisses, her voice filled with pain and hope.
Ikuto looked at her, his eyes filling with tears he could no longer hold back. "Amu..." he whispered, and in that one word lay everything – love, despair, and the sad realization that there was no way out anymore. The red edges of his eyes had now taken over the entire space, and the blue had completely faded.
Their lips met once more, this time more gently, as they spent their last moments together. It was probably the last kiss, not only a farewell but also a promise – a promise that their love would last forever, even if they had to part.
Amu finally pulled away from him, her eyes searching his one last time. "I will never forget you, Ikuto. You will always be a part of me."
In that moment, she felt the bond between them break. She knew he would be gone forever, but at the same time, she knew she was not alone. Their love would always connect them, no matter what happened.
And so, she stood there, amid the ruins of her feelings, a torn person, the pain in her chest heavier than any physical pain. She watched as Ikuto moved away from her, his gaze infinitely sad and yet determined. It was the moment of final separation, the moment when he broke away from her life and gave Tadase the chance to take control.
Their eyes met one last time. In that moment, as the space between them grew even wider, Ikuto suddenly pulled her close. His arms wrapped around her as if desperately trying to hold her forever, as if he wanted to ease the pain that was consuming him with this kiss. It was not a kiss of passion, but of farewell. The final kiss, carrying all the love, all the despair, and the pain he could never fully express.
Amu felt her heart shatter into a thousand pieces as his lips met hers. The world around them blurred, the pain in her chest became unbearable as he enveloped her with everything he had in that kiss. She wanted to hold on to him, not let him go, but deep inside, she knew this farewell was inevitable – that she couldn't save him.
"Ikuto..." she whispered, but the words caught in her throat, unable to express what she felt. Her fingers clenched in his shirt, as if she wanted to cling to him, as if he were the only thing holding her. But the moment passed, and she felt him slowly pull away, as if it were the hardest thing he had ever had to do.
"I will always love you, Amu," he said, his voice rough, as he finally pulled away from her. In his eyes was the painful certainty that he had to let her go – and that in that moment, she had finally lost him.
Amu stood there, alone, amidst the ruins of her torn soul. Tears now flowed freely down her face. She had lost Ikuto, and without knowing whether Tadase would even return, her heart was a massive, gaping hole, filled only with the painful memory of the man she could never fully possess.
Nagi embraced her, and they both let their feelings run free.
"So you gave in, huh…?" he finally found himself in Tadase's darkness again. He had managed to give up control.
"I... I don't know why... I don't want this..." Tadase was still surrounded by dark threads, and took a few steps back. "Not after this farewell... just go back... please..."
Ikuto continued to struggle with himself. Every step he took seemed heavier, as though something inevitable inside him was pulling him further into the abyss. Tadase couldn't understand what he was asking of him. 'Just keep living in my body.' The words echoed in his mind, tearing at his thoughts. But it was wrong. He knew it was wrong.
The farewell from her had been so intense, so painful, that he could barely recover from it. Her final embrace, her final kiss, the words she whispered... all of it had struck him deeply. 'I will never forget you, Ikuto.' Her words echoed in his mind, and he was torn. Should he have stayed?
He had tried to stay strong the whole time, for Nagi, for Amu. He had fought through these few, but hardest minutes of his life, with the inner thought that he couldn't break down. But now, as he was back in Tadase's darkness, he couldn't hold himself up any longer. The pain he had accumulated broke free when he realized he would never again be close to Amu.
"I can't..." he whispered, his voice fragile as he closed his eyes to escape the overwhelming pain. "I can't just live in this body, Tadase. I don't want to stay in your body... It's wrong... even though... even though I want so desperately to be with her."
Tadase, still enveloped by the dark threads, looked at him. "But it would probably be best..." His voice was calm and empty. But to Ikuto, it felt as though every word Tadase said was another stab to his heart.
He fought against the dizziness that overtook him, but it was too much. Saying goodbye to Amu felt like a wave pulling him deeper and deeper. "I love her so much..." He knew this more than ever now. And it destroyed him to know that he would never see her again.
With an exhausted sigh, he sank to his knees. He couldn't stay upright anymore. The pain that twisted inside him was unbearable. He buried his face in his hands, letting the tears flow freely, the ones he had kept inside for so long. All he had wanted was to save Amu, to see her happy. But this farewell, this final separation... it shattered him.
"I'm so sorry..." he murmured through his sobs. "I'm so sorry, Amu..."
The words he had said to her when they parted echoed in his mind, and he knew he could never truly let her go. It was just too much. Too much pain, too much loss.
"I should have done more..." he groaned, his voice eaten away by the weight of uncertainty and regret. "I shouldn't have left her..."
He shook his head, as if punishing himself for what he hadn't done. Inside him, there was only the image of Amu, and the thought that he would never see her again tore him apart more than he had ever thought possible.
"You can still go back, Ikuto... the body may be different, but it would still be you," Tadase approached him slowly, though his own burden made every step feel heavy.
"How do you imagine that?" Ikuto glared at him, irritated. "Hey, it was all just a joke, 'I'm back now!'" He shook his head. It was absurd. After all the effort it had taken her to reach out to Tadase.
"I think she would be more glad than horrified..." the blonde sighed heavily. Wasn't he supposed to be selfish and think only of himself according to amu? So why was he standing here, trying to help Ikuto, while his own soul was breaking and on the verge of disappearing?
Ikuto clenched his hands against his chest, over his heart. The pain was unbearable. The decision was impossible to make. He felt lost, and yet there was little time left. "Will you go back to her?" His breath was shaky, overwhelmed by feelings and pain.
"I can't tell you that or promise it..." Tadase's voice lowered, and he turned his gaze away.
Ikuto furrowed his brows before bursting out in hysterical laughter. He was losing his mind. Despair was catching up with him. "You can't promise that?! After she tried so hard to reach you?" He stood up and shouted at Tadase, getting closer. "If you don't go back, she'll have no one left! I put everything on you!"
"She still has Nagi... I was never good for her..." A loud bang echoed in the endless void, and Tadase held his cheek. He was surprised that he could even feel physical pain here. Ikuto had hit him in the face.
"Do you know how much I've had to swallow my own feelings just to be there for everyone? Do you know how hard that is? You've seen how I really feel, so stop with your damn self-pity!" He took a deep breath and rubbed his fist, somewhat disappointed in himself for letting his feelings take control. "Nagi won't be around much longer."
Tadase looked at Ikuto expressionlessly and swallowed.
"She'll be alone... you won't pull yourself together... and everything is my fault." He buried his hands in his face again. "I could have done so much differently..." Now he, too, was surrounded by dark threads, but for a dead soul, that meant eternal nothingness. No afterlife. Eternal emptiness. He clutched his arm and dug his nails into it, trying to calm himself, unsuccessfully.
Ikuto collapsed to the ground, exhausted, as the darkness slowly surrounded him, like a shadow that threatened to suffocate his soul. It was as if the world around him was blurring, as though every breath was pulling him deeper into an abyss from which there was no escape.
"I don't know how to go on..." He sobbed, pressing his hands desperately against his chest, as if trying to hold himself together before he finally broke. "I can't without her and I can't just stay here..."
Tadase stood frozen, unable to take another step. He felt the pressure building around him, like an invisible hand pulling at his very soul. "Ikuto..." he said softly, his voice full of apology and resignation, which only made Ikuto's pain worse.
"Why..." Ikuto looked up, tears glittering in his eyes. "Why can't I stay with her? Why do I have to let go?"
The darkness around him began to close in even tighter, and he felt the weight of despair choking him. "I can't..." he murmured, his voice breaking, as he lost grip on the meaning of the words. "I don't want to..."
Tadase slowly knelt beside him, his hand trembling as he tried to touch him. But Ikuto flinched, as if every touch pushed him further from what he so desperately wanted. "Ikuto, you have to hold on..."
"I can't," Ikuto whispered as his eyes slowly closed. "It's too late..."
For a moment, there was silence, and the darkness seemed to consume him completely. But in the stillness, there was something more – the sense that the end was near. An end he hadn't seen coming, but one that now stood before him, and with every passing second, it became more unbearable.
"I wanted to fight for her..." Ikuto murmured softly, as if saying goodbye to the memories of Amu. A final flicker of hope disappeared into the darkness.
Suddenly, Ikuto's soul began to be drawn away, as if by an invisible force. His body, or what remained of it in this form, began to slowly dissolve into shimmering particles, drifting toward the pull. The darkness around him grew thicker, more alive, as if it wanted to swallow him whole.
Tadase felt the air change around him – it became heavy and cold, as though the darkness had sucked every bit of hope out of it. A crushing feeling settled on his chest, an instinctive alarm telling him that something terrible was about to happen. He knew nothing of souls, death, or the rules of this empty world, but one thing was clear: if he let go of Ikuto now, there would be dire consequences.
"You can't go like this, Ikuto!" Tadase yelled, his voice breaking through the silence like a desperate echo. He grabbed Ikuto by the shoulders and shook him, trying to pull him back into reality. But the darkness seemed to sense him, to recognize him as an intruder. It reacted like a wild animal, black threads shooting out from nowhere, striking his arms and hands like fiery whips.
A burning pain shot through his body as the shadows hit him, as though they were searing his flesh. Tadase winced, biting down hard, but he didn't let go. His fingers dug deeper into Ikuto's shoulders as the darkness continued to attack him.
"Come to your senses, Ikuto!" he screamed again, his breath ragged, his arms trembling from the effort to ignore the pain. But Ikuto remained motionless, his gaze empty, as his body continued to fall apart, being dragged into the black abyss.
"Goodbye, Tadase..." The last flicker of any desire to change anything, to fight, was extinguished in him.
"No!" A scream tried to break through the darkness. Time was running out, Ikuto was slipping further away. Tadase desperately felt through the dark nets, ignoring the pain, until he managed to get closer to Ikuto. He was motionless. "I have no idea about any of this, but I have this horrible feeling. Ikuto... you can't go if you give yourself to the darkness..."
"The time I had left is over, Tadase. I have to go."
"Yes... maybe... unfortunately... but not like this, please." He pleaded, using all his strength to stay close to Ikuto and not be pushed away by the black whips again.
Tadase clenched his teeth as the darkness enveloped him, as though it wanted to consume him too. But he didn't let go. The pain seemed to matter little anymore. All that mattered was the man before him – the man who was about to be lost forever.
"Ikuto, stop talking like it's over!" Tadase shouted into the emptiness, his voice cutting through the cold darkness surrounding them. "You haven't even tried to fight! You're stronger than this! You're stronger than I am!"
Ikuto didn't move, his shoulders remained heavy and lifeless under Tadase's grip. The darkness surrounding him was like a second skin, slowly disintegrating him, piece by piece.
"What's the point of being strong if you end up alone?" Ikuto whispered, his voice barely a breath. "It doesn't matter anymore..."
Tadase shook his head, tears burning in his eyes. "It doesn't matter? Do you think Amu would say that? Do you think she wanted it to end like this? Do you think she wanted you to give up?" He tightened his grip, his fingers sinking into Ikuto's shoulders as though he could hold him back with nothing but his will.
The darkness lashed out harder, and Tadase felt his own body start to give way. But he ignored the pain, the cuts, and the burning heat spreading through him. "I know I'm selfish," he said in a trembling voice. "But not today. Today, I won't let you just disappear!"
Something in Tadase's words seemed to pierce through the layers of despair. Ikuto's eyelids twitched, and for a moment, something flickered in his eyes – a faint, almost invisible light.
"Why are you fighting for me?" Ikuto asked finally, a hint of bitterness in his voice. "You hate me."
"I hate the decision you made. I hate the burden you left on all of us. I hate how selfish you were in that decision, but I don't hate you!"
The darkness hissed like a living creature, resisting Tadase's words. Yet, he clung tighter to Ikuto, pulling him a little closer, despite the whips of shadows growing fiercer.
"Ikuto, please... if you really have to go, then go. But don't go like this. Not like a man who has given up. Show me that the man Amu loves is more than this. Show me, damn it!"
Ikuto closed his eyes, and a single tear rolled down his cheek before disappearing into the darkness. "I don't know if I can..."
"Yes, you can," Tadase insisted, his voice a whisper in the endless void. "And I won't let go until you do. Even if that means this fate claims us both." He felt his soul beginning to crumble, a consequence of the attacking darkness around Ikuto.
He trembled, his form already being consumed by the darkness, as Ikuto looked at him expressionlessly. The flicker in his eyes was long gone, and Tadase knew he could no longer hold him. It was over.
"You're really stubborn," Ikuto murmured, his voice hoarse, almost inaudible. A faint smile played on his lips, a trace of his old self. "But maybe you need that. When I'm gone, she'll need someone like you."
"It's not about me!" Tadase shouted, but his voice was broken, desperate. "It's about how you leave! You can't just disappear like this. Not in this darkness!"
Ikuto weakly raised a hand and placed it on Tadase's arm. "It's not your fault. And it's not mine either. Sometimes... it just is unchangeable."
The darkness began to envelop him completely, but instead of swallowing him, it seemed to suddenly calm down. It moved slower, as if reacting to his acceptance. Tadase saw how the whips and claws loosened as Ikuto summoned his last bit of strength to fend them off.
"Thank you..." Ikuto murmured finally, his gaze distant, but a little clearer than before. "For everything."
Tadase felt the darkness tugging at him, pushing him away from Ikuto's presence, as the pull began once more. This time, it was different—less brutal, quieter, almost like a gentle breeze carrying Ikuto away.
"No... Ikuto!" Tadase reached out his hands, but Ikuto had already nearly disappeared.
"Take care of her." The words were little more than a whisper before Ikuto's form completely vanished, leaving only the darkness.
Tadase stood alone in the emptiness, the silence deafening in his ears. His knees gave out, and he sank to the ground, his gaze blank. The pain was indescribable, yet he knew that Ikuto had found his peace in that last moment—or at least, as much peace as this world could offer him. However, Ikuto left one final gift, a last spark of his power for Tadase. A small, brightly glowing star slowly flew toward Tadase and stopped right in front of his face.
His arm slowly rose, wanting to touch the tiny light, but suddenly he felt a sharp, tearing pain that seemed to pull him out of the darkness. It was as if his soul was being forcefully shoved back into his body with unrelenting power. Everything happened so quickly that he didn't have time to understand what was going on.
Suddenly, Tadase gasped sharply, his head jerking slightly forward as if he had just woken from a deep sleep. The sound shattered the oppressive silence. Amu and Nagi jumped apart in shock and turned their gazes to him.
"Tadase?" Nagi whispered, his voice uncertain.
But Tadase did not respond. Instead, he slowly lifted his hands and buried his face in them before a stifled, heart-wrenching sob escaped him. His shoulders trembled as tears flowed uncontrollably.
Amu wanted to stand up, but hesitated. Her gaze shifted to Nagi, who immediately reacted and stepped toward Tadase. "Tadase, what happened?" he asked quietly, gently placing his hand on his shoulder.
Tadase slowly raised his head, his eyes red and swollen, and the despair in them was almost unbearable. "He... he's gone..." His voice cracked, barely more than a whisper.
Amu froze. She knew what those words meant. And yet, it felt as if she were holding her breath, as if her heart had stopped beating.
"Ikuto..." she whispered, her voice trembling.
"I... I couldn't do anything," Tadase added before collapsing again. His crying filled the room, mixing with the overwhelming silence.
Amu squeezed her eyes shut, her own tears making their way down her cheeks. Nagi stood wordlessly, his hands clenched into fists, unable to say anything that would ease the pain.
The Harpy King approached, his steps slow and threatening as he examined the blond Tadase. His sharp, piercing eyes scanned every detail, his gaze filled with curiosity and a hint of disdain. He lifted Tadase's chin with two clawed fingers and turned his head slightly, as if studying every facet of his face.
"Amazing, what this Ikuto managed to achieve," murmured the King, his voice a rough croak, yet filled with fascination. He let his fingers wander over Tadase's temples and leaned closer to study his eyes from different angles. Tadase stood firm, his gaze cold and defiant, though the confusion behind his facade was not entirely hidden.
The hostile looks from the blond seemed to amuse the King. He leaned back, crossed his arms over his broad chest, and now regarded Tadase with a sly grin. "I could've sworn he was lost. He had already given up..."
The King tilted his head, a look of feigned contemplation on his face. "No... he still has." His words sounded almost casual, but the undertone was unmistakable.
He shrugged, as if the fate of the blond mattered little to him, and sighed heavily. "But..." he added finally, stepping back and eyeing Tadase once more from head to toe, "he's no longer just an empty shell. Something has changed."
Nagi sighed and once again took on the role of reason. "I'm sorry. We were so caught up in our own tragedy that we completely forgot how inappropriate this was, but who could have known we'd get another chance to talk to him..."
"Oh, kid, it's fine. For you, it must've felt like an eternity, but in reality, it was just a few minutes of pain. I hope you at least found some closure. And look, he managed to bring your prince back." Of course he was aware that the whole time the prince of horensia was in the room.
"Ex-prince... Ikuto was the real king..." Tadase wasn't in the mood to talk, but he wanted to make that truth clear.
"Wasn't he the Demon King?" Thalor was visibly confused, but for now, he held back. "You can rest here for now. I think the witch won't show up again soon. Probably something to do with Ikuto's death..." He wrapped a blanket around Amu again and briefly showed Nagi the guest room. "I can arrange individual rooms too. We rarely have guests from other races, and the Harpy tribes won't mind."
"Actually..." Nagi hesitated, as he wasn't sure where Amu stood on this. "I don't know if it's a problem... Actually, I should be with both of them so neither of them does something foolish..." He rubbed his forehead and sighed. He decided to just make the decision for them. "The beds are far enough apart. We'll survive being in the same room... this way, I can keep an eye on both..." Nagi sighed at the thought of probably sleepless nights ahead.
The King nodded, and the two returned. "Once you've at least rested a bit, we can talk about Sylph."
He lifted Amu off the floor and set her on a bean bag. Compared to him, she was so small and delicate. She was as light as a feather.
"So, if I understand this right, it was a tangled love square with all of you? She loves all three of you?"
Nagi nodded silently.
He examined Amu closely and sighed. "Pity, I would have liked her. Those golden eyes must have been especially beautiful in better times."
"They shone incredibly bright. You couldn't help but get lost in them..." the lavender-haired one smiled gently as he thought back to one of those moments. "But I guess that will stay a part of the past." His heart grew heavy at the sight of Amu. The eyes of all three were empty.
"Anyway, it's better if people stay away from me... I bring nothing but misfortune. None of you three have had a particularly nice life since I entered." Her gaze wandered to Tadase and she sighed. She still had to make the best of it and take responsibility, which meant she had to somehow restore Tadase. Ikuto had already taken a huge step in that direction. She stood up with her blanket, draped it around Tadase, and finally sat on his lap, wrapping his arms around herself. She hoped the closeness would help. In her eyes, there was no hatred, no contempt, and no blame anymore. He himself, however, remained motionless and accepted it silently.
"Oh, I can take a lot, believe me. Your supposed misfortune wouldn't break me, but unfortunately I never had the pleasure of meeting you before them." He shrugged and smiled confidently. "Are you a Feralis? A woman with multiple men, if I'm not mistaken, that's part of the Feralis culture." But then, there were those golden eyes and she possed no animalistic features. She couldn't really be a Feralis.
"No, I'm just a human whose heart went crazy. A girl courted from three sides, and she became weak..." her grip on Tadase's hand tightened unconsciously. "But now it's just two..." and the decision that awaited her was now harder than ever. Because even though Ikuto was gone, one day she would have to choose between Tadase and Nagi. Until recently, her decision had been clear.
"Feralis or not. You could live there. It's normal to have multiple partners. Well, for the women, at least."
"...I can't do that. It would hurt both of them more in the long run than just making a decision..."
"Are you sure? I don't think so. You seem like a harmonious team." He tilted his head and glanced around. His gaze lingered on Nagi, and he sighed. He was pretending to be strong, which was why she neglected him. She didn't see that he was only wearing a mask.
"Well... she's definitely more drawn to Tadase, which makes me pretty jealous..." Nagi admitted aloud for the first time in front of Amu. "But yeah... probably, I would be okay with living this culture..."
Amu looked at Nagi, surprised, his words leaving her speechless for a moment. She knew him as someone who rarely spoke directly about his feelings, and his openness touched her. Still, she was overwhelmed. The idea of living in such a relationship seemed more complicated than Nagi made it out to be.
"Nagi..." she began quietly, searching for the right words. "I... I don't know if I could. I don't want to hurt anyone, and I feel like that's exactly what would happen."
Nagi smiled gently, but it was a sad smile. "You think it hurts less to make a decision? To know that one of us will have to live without you forever?" His voice trembled slightly, but he held eye contact.
Amu felt a lump form in her throat. She knew he was right. No matter what she did, someone would be left hurt in the end. She reached for Tadase's hand again, seeking support, but he didn't respond.
"I understand your point," she continued after a while, her voice barely a whisper. "But I... I'm not strong enough for this. Maybe I'm just not made for this kind of love."
The Harpy King observed the scene with amusement, his green eyes sparkling mockingly. "You humans are always so complicated. Instead of enjoying what you have, you worry about what you don't have." He sighed theatrically and crossed his arms. "Let me tell you something, girl. Your uncertainty will destroy you all if you don't make a decision soon. Whether it's the right one doesn't matter. What matters is that you make one."
Amu looked away and fell silent, his words digging into her heart. She felt Nagi still watching her while Tadase remained motionless.
"Maybe he's right," Nagi finally said, quietly and hesitantly. "Maybe we have to stop waiting and just do something."
Amu shook her head, tears welling in her eyes. "I don't know… I just don't know what to do."
The silence that followed was oppressive. Everyone in the room felt the weight of the unspoken words. Finally, the Harpy King stood up, brushed the dust off his feathers, and smiled broadly.
"Well, the drama is delicious, but I have other things to do." He pointed to Tadase, whose lifeless body was still the center of attention. "But I advise you not to leave him in this state for too long. You might think he's here, but his soul isn't fully back yet. You humans are so fragile."
With these words, he turned and left the room, his wings rustling silently as he went. "Let's put this topic aside for now. This is not the time for it." After that, he was gone, leaving behind a silent room.
"He's right... this isn't important right now," Nagi agreed thoughtfully, lowering his gaze to the table in front of him. "It's late... let's try to get some sleep." He rummaged through his bag and took out some berries he had gotten from Thalor. Carefully, he rolled one of the berries between his fingers and looked at it thoughtfully. Should he trust Thalor blindly? The thought made him hesitate for a moment. Then he sighed, shrugged, and finally popped the berry into his mouth. With a slight smile, he leaned forward and kissed Amu to give her the berry, before doing the same for Tadase. What fate considered right or wrong would show itself in time. Finally, he took a berry for himself and swallowed it.
Amu looked at him in confusion, her eyes questioning. "Why...?"
"The berries are supposed to help with sleep," Nagi explained calmly. "Otherwise, we probably won't get a wink of sleep tonight." He stood up, nodded toward a direction, and shot Amu a glance. She took Tadase's hand and followed him.
"Can we share one? I don't want to leave him alone... and I don't want to be alone either," Amu murmured weakly.
"Sure," Nagi answered without hesitation, and looked for the biggest bed in the guest room.
To Amu's surprise, Nagi didn't lie on her side but on Tadase's, so he was between them and hopefully could feel the warmth of both. Nagi kept Thalor's words in mind that Tadase was still lost. "You're not alone, Tadase." At that moment, he didn't care if it was odd. He just placed his head on Tadase's chest and hoped this small gesture would provide Tadase with at least some comfort. It was a silent attempt to show his closeness without words.
Amu sighed heavily and lay down on the blonde's chest as well. In this silence, she felt even more lost. She had no goal anymore. Not her own. Sure, she had to continue fighting Dia, for Undine and because it was Ikuto's wish that they continued to do the right thing, but that was only out of obligation and not her own goal. Her goal had been to free Ikuto, and she had failed.
"If only we had arrived a little later... then we wouldn't have met them..." What irony. How convinced she had been that Ikuto would never hurt her, and just a short time later, he almost killed her. Still, she was convinced that his threat hadn't been about that. Apparently, the attempt to heal the Harpies was considered 'getting in the way,' which is why he had been forced to act.
It was only now that she noticed how much her heart still physically ached and how badly it needed rest. She sighed and closed her eyes.
"Then it would have happened another time..." Nagi murmured quietly, hoping to comfort her a little. It was probably something nearly unavoidable, because they would surely have crossed paths with them again in the search for the remaining Elemental Spirits.
Tadase swallowed hard and gathered all his strength for a tiny moment to overcome his emptiness and took one hand from each of them with his own. It only took a few moments before the berries took effect and all three were forced into sleep.