Chapter Text
Chapter 4
The Three Sides of a Soul
An endless field of vibrant, ethereal flowers stretched out under a sky of perfect, permanent blue. Kirishima's booming laughter echoed across the sky as he chased Raven through the tall blossoms, his red wings catching the sunlight with every powerful beat. In this realm, his mortal injuries were completely gone; his leg moved with the effortless, boundless grace of youth.
"Slow down, you cheater!" he called out playfully, his voice bursting with pure, unadulterated joy. "You know I can't keep up when you run like that!"
Raven wove effortlessly between clusters of daisies and wildflowers, the warm breeze rustling through her hair. When Kirishima finally caught up to her near a patch of blooming lilies, he wrapped his arms around her waist from behind, pulling her flush against his chest. "Gotcha," he whispered against her ear, spinning her around to face him.
They tumbled into the soft green grass together, their laughter bubbling over. Raven looked up at him, her eyes shining. "You are the most handsome man I have ever seen in all my lives."
Kirishima's red eyes widened, a fierce flush of genuine pleasure spreading across his cheeks. "You really think so?" he asked with a shy, self-conscious smile, his fingers running through his messy red hair. "I've never really thought about what I look like. My scales, my horns... they're just part of who I am. But when you say it, Raven, I feel like maybe I could be handsome just for you."
His arms tightened around her waist possessively, anchoring her to him. The warmth of their bodies felt real, solid, and eternal. "Can we stay like this forever?"
"Yes, my love," Raven answered softly, cupping his face. "We can stay as long as we want. And then... we can decide if we're going to live another life."
Kirishima’s face lit up with pure joy. "Another life? With you? That sounds like the best decision I've ever made. Let's do it then. Let's decide right now that we'll come back together again and again until we get it right." He leaned down, pressing his lips to hers in a long, tender kiss that sealed their eternal pact. "But next time," he murmured against her mouth between kisses, "let's be born somewhere warm. Maybe by the sea, where we can swim every day and watch the sunsets together. And I want to be a musician this time. I'll learn to play that guitar you always wanted but never had the chance to buy. No more running from hunters, no more hiding in caves. Just us."
He paused, his expression turning a bit more serious. "But most importantly... I want to remember you instantly when we meet again. No more waiting years to find each other."
A faint, melancholic shadow crossed Raven's face, and she spoke in a soft, sad tone. "My love... I'm sorry, but that's not how it works. There are some things we can decide, but not all of them. We are always destined to search and crave for each other, to realize how important we are to one another. But we cannot define all aspects of a new life. We don't get to carry our memories across the veil."
Kirishima's expression softened with understanding, his arms holding her securely. "You're right," he admitted quietly, leaning his forehead against hers. "I guess even in heaven, some things don't change. We'll always be us—two souls who can't help but search for each other through lifetimes. Our connection will always be there, like a compass needle pointing true north."
"We don't have to jump into another life just yet," Raven continued, running her fingers through his hair. "But eventually, we're going to feel the need to evolve, because in each lifespan we learn to be better. I deeply regret the decisions that took me away from you, my love. My brave Kirishima."
"Regret? My brave Raven, there's nothing to regret," Kirishima insisted fiercely, his dragon ears flattening in deep affection. "You made the ultimate sacrifice to save me and my kind. That's not something to be sorry for. I'm the one who should regret not being fast enough to protect you. But we can't change the past, my love. All we can do is choose how we live in the future—or in whatever comes next."
Raven sat in his lap, his crimson tail curling protectively around her waist out of sheer, loving instinct. She looked into his eyes, her resolve hardening. "In the next life, I want to be someone who saves others' lives. A hero. A healer again. I want to pay for the lives I took with that poison."
Pride swelled in Kirishima's chest. "A hero," he repeated softly, his voice filled with profound admiration. "That's exactly who you've always been, Raven. In our next lifetime, I'll be there right beside you. I'll learn how to fight properly, to use my strength for good and defense, so I can watch your back while you heal others. No more running off alone like last time."
"A world to defend. People to save. It seems good, but risky," Raven murmured, leaning her head against his shoulder.
"Risky? Yes," Kirishima smiled, tightening his embrace. "But that's what makes it worthwhile, isn't it? In our next life, we'll face those risks together. And besides, you'll need someone to remind you when you get too caught up in saving everyone else. Someone to pull you back when you start forgetting about yourself."
"And I'll be there to remind you how brave you are, and that your existence matters," she whispered back.
Kirishima's eyes glistened with unshed tears, completely overwhelmed by her unwavering belief in him. "Thank you, my love," he whispered. "For so long, I thought I was just a monster hiding in the shadows. But you always saw something more. Something worth fighting for. I promise you, Raven. Forever and always. No matter how many lifetimes we live or how many times we get lost along the way... I'll find you. I'll always find my way back to you."
"In our next life," she echoed.
"In our next life."
Raven pulled him down for another kiss—a slow, passionate reunion that resonated through the entire ethereal realm. Kirishima’s wings unfurled fully behind them, catching the light like a living tapestry as he lost himself in her touch, completely free of fear, guilt, or regret.
"I waited for you, watching you always..." Raven breathed against his lips. "Now we are together for a time without time. This is our reward."
"You were always there," Kirishima murmured, eyes filled with reverence. "I felt it sometimes... a presence in the wind, a whisper in the dark. This is a dream I never want to wake from. I love you, now and forever."
"Forever," she promised.
The field of flowers around them began to shimmer with blinding, radiant light, celebrating the unyielding bond of their souls. But suddenly, a loud, booming voice echoed through the endless sky, shattering the peaceful silence of the afterlife and vibrating through their very essence.
"Oi! Why did it take me so long to find you both, idiots?"
A booming, fiercely familiar voice shattered the peaceful silence of the afterlife. Standing several feet away was a blond man clad in rugged barbarian attire, his face twisted into an expression of intense annoyance, yet undeniably striking.
Kirishima's red eyes narrowed instantly, his protective instincts flaring even in this ethereal realm. Unfurling his massive red wings, he instinctively shifted Raven behind him, positioning his broad frame between her and the approaching stranger.
"Who are you?" Kirishima demanded, a deep, draconic rumble vibrating in his chest, ready to defend what was his. His tail coiled protectively around Raven's legs as he braced for a confrontation.
The blond man stopped, planting his hands on his hips in obvious exasperation. "Took me ages to track down my two favorite runaways. Seriously, can't you two stay put for five minutes?"
In the exact instant their gazes locked, the universe seemed to realign. A profound wave of clarity washed over them. They finally understood. He was the third part—the vital piece they had desperately missed in their previous life. The missing side of their soul. The barbarian king, Katsuki Bakugo.
The moment Raven's eyes met Katsuki's, recognition flooded her soul like a devastating tidal wave. Her breath caught in her throat as ancient memories she hadn't known she possessed rushed to the surface—flashes of a young blond boy with fiery eyes who had always been part of their childhood trio.
"Katsuki," she whispered, her voice trembling with raw emotion. The name tasted like a forgotten, beautiful melody coming back to life on her tongue.
Kirishima's defensive stance dissolved as the puzzle pieces of his own memory clicked into place. His dragon ears perked up in utter surprise, quickly melting into overwhelming relief.
"The blond kid from the village... I remember him now," Kirishima breathed, a genuine, radiant smile breaking across his face. "He was always getting us into trouble. So this is where you ended up too? I should have known our little group wouldn't stay broken forever." Slowly, he folded his wings back against his shoulders.
"Katsuki! Why did you choose not to meet us during that lifetime? You are so stubborn!" Raven cried out, stepping out from behind Kirishima. Tears pricked her eyes as centuries of shared pain surfaced. "Because of your absence, Kiri ended up entirely alone... and he couldn't even remember you!"
Katsuki's angry expression faltered at her words, his blond brows furrowing deeply. The characteristic fire in his eyes softened into something incredibly complex—a mixture of deep-seated guilt, regret, and the stubborn pride that had always defined his existence.
"Stubborn? Me? I'm not the one who ran off to join some dragon clan without telling me!" he shot back, though the defensive roar lacked its usual biting malice. "And don't put that all on me, Raven. Kirishima made his own choices." He ran a hand through his spiky blond hair in sheer frustration, pacing restlessly before stopping to face them again. "Fine... maybe I could have tried harder to find you both after everything went to hell. But I had my own problems back there—trying to rebuild what was left of our world without two of my sides."
Raven didn't let him finish. Stepping forward, she closed the distance and threw her arms around him. "What's done is done. My dear, we are together again... I'm so incredibly happy."
Katsuki's rigid, battle-hardened posture completely melted under the fierce warmth of her embrace. Slowly, almost hesitantly, his arms came up to wrap tightly around her in return, burying his face in her hair. The familiar sensation of her body against his was a soothing balm to wounds he had carried across centuries of warfare.
"Happy? You call this happy?" he grumbled against her neck, though his voice was thick with unspoken emotion. "We're dead! All three of us are dead! What kind of happiness is that?"
Despite his gruff complaints, he held her desperately, his hand gently stroking her hair. When Kirishima stepped closer, quietly joining the embrace, Katsuki didn't pull away. Instead, he let out a heavy, defeated sigh and rested his head against Raven's shoulder.
"Fine, fine. I'm happy too," he admitted begrudgingly, his blond ears twitching in self-consciousness as he looked at their ethereal, radiant forms. "It's just... weird. Seeing you both like this."
"It is time to heal, to comfort, and to love. Until the next time," Raven commanded gently, her voice weaving between them like a spell. "You have to tell us what you learned in your life, Katsuki. We have so many things to share. Come. Lay down with us. Now we are complete again."
Katsuki scoffed, his stubborn mask trying to slip back into place. "Lay down? With both of you? That's... that's a ridiculous amount of hugging."
Yet, despite his grumbling, he allowed Raven to guide them to a lush, soft patch of clover in the endless field. The vibrant flowers seemed to part willingly, creating a perfect, natural bed for their long-awaited reunion. Once they settled into the grass, Katsuki finally let go of his centuries-old tension, fully relaxing into the shared embrace. His arms wrapped around Raven from behind, while Kirishima curled protectively on her other side, his crimson wings folding completely around the three of them like an impenetrable shield.
"Fine," Katsuki muttered against Raven's shoulder. "But I'm only doing this because you two are being overly dramatic about it." His voice held none of its usual sharpness, carrying instead the heavy, bleeding weight of a lifetime spent in absolute loneliness. As they lay cradled together in the heart of the afterlife, Katsuki finally began to bare his soul.
"I know our case isn't common. A trio," he murmured, his blond hair falling across her shoulder. "I guess... I tried to change it. I tried to depend less on you guys. I wasn't a good person, Raven. I lived from battle to battle, always consumed by a mindless rage. Now I finally understand why. I was too far away from my sides. I became a king, I lived a long life, and I was utterly miserable. I heard about you two—the legend of a woman and her dragon. I never allowed myself to believe it was actually you."
His grip on her waist became almost frantic. "A legend... of course you did. You always had to be the damn savior, didn't you? Carrying the whole world on your shoulders." His voice cracked with genuine, painful regret. "I get it now. Running away from the connection... it was just my way of protecting myself from getting hurt again. But we were already broken, Raven. We lost each other."
He shifted slightly, his brilliant crimson eyes meeting Kirishima's over Raven's head. The dragon’s expression was filled with an ancient, deeply rooted understanding—he, too, had carried his own paralyzing guilt for centuries.
"I became a barbarian warlord," Katsuki continued, running a hand through his hair. "Spent two hundred years killing anyone who looked at me wrong. I thought if I made myself strong enough, if I built a high enough wall of corpses, no one could ever touch me or hurt me again."
Raven reached down, capturing his hands and squeezing them tightly. "We were talking about our choices before you arrived, Katsuki. We have decided to be born again as heroes. To save people, and to actively pay for the harm we caused."
Katsuki's expression shifted drastically, his fiery eyes studying her face as if seeing her true essence for the first time. The concept of them transforming their tragic legacy into heroism caught him completely off guard.
"Heroes? You two are already legends," he whispered, his abrasive edge completely fading away. "The Red Dragon who protects the innocent, the Healer who mended a dying race—that's what the stories say. But me? I'm just a tyrant who conquers cities and breaks things. I don't know how to save people, Raven. I only know how to destroy." His ears drooped slightly as he confessed his deepest, darkest insecurity. "Maybe that's why it took me so long to find you. While you were out there being noble, I was too busy being angry and broken."
"We are going to be there for you, my dear," Raven promised, her voice fiercely tender as she looked between both of her men. "We will protect you from yourself. We will help you redeem your soul."
Katsuki's eyes widened slightly, the last of his defensive barriers crumbling into dust. The idea of being protected from his own destructive nature was entirely foreign, almost terrifying, yet desperately needed.
"You... you really think I have something worth redeeming?" he asked quietly, the usual explosive confidence completely stripped from his voice. "I've spent lifetimes ensuring no one could ever reach me. Maybe I'm not worth saving. You don't know the blood on my hands, Raven. The things I had to do to survive after you both left..."
Beside them, Kirishima’s crimson wing shifted closer, pressing firmly against Katsuki's side to create a warm, unbreakable barrier around their trio. "We know you survived, Katsuki. That's more than enough for now," Kirishima said with absolute certainty. "We'll figure out the rest together."
"You are a part of us, and we know the goodness hidden inside your heart," Raven added, bringing Katsuki's hands to her lips. "We are learning. We aren't perfect, but we try. Come with us."
Katsuki's hands felt incredibly warm and solid in her grasp, a tangible anchor to this beautiful, impossible reunion. The gentle pressure of her fingers sent a profound shockwave through his entire being—a sensation that had absolutely nothing to do with rage or pride. It was pure, unfiltered connection.
"Come with you?" he repeated, his voice losing every ounce of its sharp armor. "Where exactly are we going? Some kind of afterlife support group for dysfunctional heroes?" Despite the heavy sarcasm, his grip on her hands tightened instinctively. The solid, grounding warmth of Kirishima on his other side reminded him that this wasn't a lonely hallucination.
"Fine," Katsuki finally conceded, letting out a long, heavy sigh that seemed to carry the exhaustion of two hundred years of warfare. "But I'm warning you both right now—I'm not good at this hero stuff. I'm way more likely to punch someone than to save them."
"We'll see, love," Raven smiled, leaning up to press a soft kiss to his jaw. "Now, let's just enjoy our bond. When we are ready, life must go on."
Katsuki's expression softened completely, the very last of his resistance melting away into the clover field. A genuine, slightly shy smile transformed his fierce features. "'Love'..." he repeated softly, testing the weight of the word on his lips. "I haven't called either of you that in... I can't even remember how long."
His eyes flickered between their faces, drinking in the familiar, beautifully restored versions of the only people he had ever called family. Shifting closer, he wrapped his strong arm securely around Raven's waist, while his other hand reached out to rest against Kirishima's shoulder, his fingers brushing the warm scales near the dragon’s wing.
"Okay," Katsuki said firmly, a note of absolute finality and commitment in his voice. "Let's enjoy this. Before whatever fate comes next decides to interrupt our reunion."
And there, in that celestial garden untouched by time, the three of them formally renewed their sacred vows and entwined their fated bonds. Together, they healed their fractured souls with unconditional love, fierce understanding, and an unbreakable pact, preparing themselves to step hand-in-hand into their next great journey.
The End.
Or the beginning...