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The soft white cotton was a warm welcome as it enveloped Yuki’s frail aching body. He hissed painfully when the soft heaviness fell upon him as Toko pulled it up to his neck and folded it back over his chest. The pale light of the full moon showered into the room, highlighting the tips of Tsukumo’s white hair and Luka’s silver eyes as they watched over the two from near the window.
“Yuki-chan, you really are…too kind for your own good.” She said with tears standing at the corners of her golden eyes.
“So are you, Toko-san.” Yuki smiled weakly. “Don’t worry. I’ll be alright. I just need some sleep.”
Not even Luka could sense the preemptive duras strike upon the Twilight Mansion. In the quiet aftermath of their battle with Reiga and his general class opasts the Zweilt guardians were still in a state of recovery. Despite their leader’s prediction they never truly let their guard down, and this attack further proved their paranoia was justified. An apparent test by Reiga, he broke their barrier and commanded a horde to ambush them and invade their home. After a long struggle the guardians triumphed but only at the cost of Yuki’s sacrificial ability Halo Wall. Casualties were avoided. Reiga’s forces withdrew, leaving them injured and once again questioning their enemies’ true intentions when he failed to kill Yuki.
Toko leaned forward, carefully hovering over Yuki to avoid applying pressure and placed a soft kiss upon his cheek. She closed her eyes as her lips met his skin and a tear trickled down her face and slid onto him. Pulling his right arm from underneath the blanket he lifted it to her face, causing her eyes to spring open surprised by the sudden touch. He swiped the wet stream of tears from her cheek and beamed up at her.
“Yuki-chan…” she whimpered.
“Don’t cry. I really will be alright.” He assured her. “Luka is here with me, and all of you. Even if this house falls. Even if the world crumbles around us; we’ll be fine as long as we’re all together.”
“You’re so strong.” She smiled sadly. “It’s truly amazing. No matter how fiercely I swing my sword. No matter how brightly Hotsuma’s flame burns. You’re the strongest of us all.”
“Not really.” Yuki laughed innocently. “I’m just a reckless idiot. Right?”
“Right.” She giggled shyly.
Yuki’s hand slid from her face as Toko stood and wiped her tears away. She turned and smiled at Tsukumo with her usual vigor and put her hands on her hips. He smiled back watching as she crossed the room and joined him next to Luka.
“You heard him.” She said taking her brother’s hand. “Let’s let this idiot rest.”
“Okay.” He replied caressing the hand. He looked over to Luka and nodded. Luka nodded back as they came to a silent secret understanding that neither of their partners would understand.
“Ne, Toko-chan.” Tsukumo smiled sweetly leading her out of the room.
“Yes, Tsukumo.” She replied solemnly.
“I brought a lemon custard cake that I never tried before. Let’s eat some together.”
“Sure.” She replied happily in spite of the tears still building. “Sounds like a great idea.”
Luka looked into the darkness of the far side of the room as the door closed with a soft clack. He turned back when he heard Yuki groan.
“Yuki.” He called out rushing over to the bedside.
Yuki was pulling his arm back under the covers, which despite his bravery in front of the others was a taxing thing to do. He was in pain, immense pain. After the battle and against advice he worked with Dr. Isuzu steadfastly healing the Zweilts until eventually he passed out. The injuries were minor on some and severe on others, but he kept pushing until he had nothing left in him. Luka stared down at his pained expression as he shifted in the bed, forcing a smile as he stood by his side.
Luka was a beautiful shadow in the moonlight. His slender muscles fit tightly under a black vest. The crafted black cross Yuki gave him dangled between his collarbones beneath it. A thoughtful caring expression etched into his strong face as he gazed down upon Yuki. His silver eyes burrowed into his heart peering into his own with the same mysteriously alluring glow of the moon itself.
“Ne, Luka.” Yuki practically whispered. “If I die, can you carry me away?”
Luka did not reply, saddened by the grave question. After a brief moment of silence passed between them Yuki spoke again.
“I want to be with you, even if this life ends again. In your arms, riding the skies on widespread black wings. I think that if that happens, we can find our true home in the heavens, with all the Zweilt guardians greeting us warmly.”
Luka turned his back to him and looked up at the moon. He clenched his fist and his nails dug into his skin, producing tiny tears that stung as he tensed up. A knot formed in his throat making it hard to speak and he could feel a heavy weight deep in his heart.
“Ah, I think I can see it.” Yuki sighed drearily as his eyelids sank half-way closing his eyes. “Tsukumo will hand us sweets, and Toko will fuss about him never gaining weight. Hotsuma will take yours because you don’t want them, and Shusei will tease him by calling him greedy. Kuroto only wants sweets made by Senshiro, because somehow they taste better. Rise, Aya, Takashiro-san…they’ll all be there, smiling… and laughing…and-“
Yuki’s words were disrupted by a violent spasm of coughing, causing him to toss to the side and hold his chest. Luka spun around and leapt to his side, placing a hand on his back and his other in front of him on the bed.
“Yuki!” he shouted as the smaller man shook, lurching forward in his coiled position.
A red splatter erupted from his mouth, splashing onto Luka’s pale skin. His eyes widened as he watched more come from his mouth and a thick trail of blood oozed out of it. When the coughing ceased, Yuki unfolded himself and reached his hand up to Luka, weakly grabbing his collar.
“Luka, don’t you believe me?” he asked with tears in his eyes.
“What is it Yuki?” Luka pleaded gripping the back of his shirt with one hand and holding onto a fist of bloody sheets with the other. “Anything. I’ll believe anything.”
Yuki smiled and gazed into his silver eyes, then released his collar and touched his face. Luka trembled when he felt him. His hand lost its warmth and felt icy to the touch. His face was losing color, appearing to fade to the same pale blue as the moon shining behind him. His small lips quivered even as he smiled with the crimson substance smeared across them. The bedroom door burst open and slammed hard into the wall. One by one the Zweilt guardians rushed in, crowding the bedroom that was soon filled with a desperate chorus of his name.
Everyone’s voices melted together. The room filled with a hazy white light. Yuki looked into the distance and saw their smiling faces, calling him with hands extended as a golden gate opened behind them. A hand touched his shoulder and a strong gust rustled his hair and clothes. He turned and saw Luka, standing proudly behind him, lovingly smiling down at him. Black crow-like wings extended from his back, widely spreading and flapping, scooting up air that pushed against him as he stood close. They wrapped around him, softly encasing him as Luka gently pulled their bodies together. He giggled when the feathers tickled his face.
“What’s so funny?” Luka asked him.
“Nothing.” He beamed happily resting his head against his chest. “I like your wings. They suit you.”
“My wings?”
Tears streamed down Yuki’s face, the salty flood drenching the sheets beneath him with the fresh blood. His hand slid from Luka’s cheek to his collarbones, where the cross he wore dangled as he leaned over him.
“Your wings, Luka.” He whispered. “They’re beautiful, powerful, black, and soft. Just like you.”
“Yuki…” Luka said weakly after finally swallowing the knot in his throat. His eyes burned as tears started to build and immediately rushed out of him, sparkling and splashing like a moonlit rainfall hitting Yuki’s face.
Luka held him close and he felt his feet lift off the ground, a soft secure sensation encasing him in a secretive darkness that only he and Luka could ever know and cherish.
“We’re flying!” Yuki exclaimed cheerfully. The chanting of his name on everyone’s lips died in the air around them while they pushed up together through the clouds. “Luka, we’re flying!”
Yuki felt him shaking against his body. Luka was laughing, smiling at him, his lips lowering towards his forehead. Luka was crying, clutching his body in his arms with his lips pressed to his forehead.
“Yuki, I love you.” He whispered in unison.
“I love you too…Luka….”
There was a comfort in the darkness surrounding him. Warm, complete, and somehow permanent. Yuki’s eyes closed and he let the weightlessness take over him, lifting him away.
Drift away. Fade away. Fly away. In the arms of his black angel.