Chapter Text
Yusaku can only hope he can be half the pilar Ryoken's voice was to him. He can only hope his arms wrapped around him are enough to hold Ryoken as he breaks, hopes he can catch all the pieces as the man comes apart in his arms, as everything that has happened finally catches up to him.
He can feel him shaking, feel his breath as it hitches against the top of his head, trying not to let anything else show, but Yusaku hears the moment he fails. A small crack of his voice, a tiny broken sob, that has Yusaku's heart clenching painfully as a dam is broken and Yusaku is tightening his arms around Ryoken to hold him through this.
He would have never thought this would be the end result of all his searching, of all his fighting. Once, he'd thought it'd end with him defeating Revolver and all of Hanoi, attaining his revenge, learning the truth of the incident along with it.
And in the end, he'd learned the truth, but the truth had been everything but what he'd expected. Revolver, Ryoken, the voice from ten years ago. Three things, three people, all connected, one and the same. His enemy had also been the source of his strength, had saved him and all those children.
That person is now being torn apart in his arms by everything that's happened.
There's so many reasons for Yusaku not to be here, to not open his arms and comfort Ryoken, to simply walk away and close this chapter once and for all.
But there's all the more reasons to stay, to give him this chance, this moment, to remind him there's another path ahead that he can walk on. That there's a chance for a different future.
He doesn't know how long they stay like this or how long it takes for Ryoken to finally calm down, slumping a little against Yusaku. He considers pulling away but gives it another minute, gives the other time to compose himself.
“Heeeey, Yusaku--” AI has other plans. “Oh---Ooooooh am I interrupting something???”
It's like a spell is broken and they both pull away, Ryoken taking a couple steps back and turning his back to them, hand rubbing at his face.
“Ignis. I forgot you were here.” Incredibly enough Ryoken doesn't sound angry, but, if Yusaku is to believe his ears, embarrassed.
“For someone that wanted to get rid of me you sure have no problem ignoring I exist ! So rude ! So mean!” AI whines, stomping his tiny foot and shaking his fists, before making a complete flip in attitude and looking amused instead, smirking. “And now you are getting all lovey-dovey with Yusaku !” He snickers, swaying from side to side, holding up a finger in each hand. “They do say from hate to love there's only one step !”
Yusaku huffs. “AI, be quiet for a while.” He mutes the AI, who makes teasing faces and gestures at him before sticking out his tongue and going back into the duel disk.
Yusaku lifts his head and looks at Ryoken's back. He clears his throat. “...Sorry about—that.”
“No—Don't mind it.” Ryoken snorts. “The Ignis has really taken to you, hasn't it?”
“He's annoying.” Yusaku waves a hand, dismissive, but the tiniest hints of fondness creep into his voice. For as much as he claims to be annoyed, he's become used to having AI beside him, has got used to his antics. Maybe he is fonder than he wants to admit.
He takes careful steps forwards, coming to stand beside Ryoken. He looks at him. “...Do you still plan on getting rid of AI?”
Ryoken sighs, shaking his head and stuffing his hands in his pockets. “Not any time soon. It...was my father's ambitions that created it. It was my father who then wanted to destroy it.” He takes in a small breath. “But he's gone, now. Everything is. Whether letting the Ignis run free will result in humanity's ruin or not...we will have to see.”
He eyes Yusaku's duel disk with an unreadable expression. The Ignis is really all that's left of his father's work. Yusaku wonders if the man is thinking of that. “If the day really comes where that Ignis threatens humanity...” Ryoken lifts his gaze to look him in the eye. “I will not hesitate to put an end to it, then. Even if it means fighting you again.”
“Don't worry.” Yusaku holds his gaze, determined, a little defiant. He idly notices the corners of Ryoken's eyes are a little red. “I won't let AI cause trouble. He's stuck with me, anyways. I can easily stop him.”
After a moment of silence, Ryoken smirks, looking forward again. “I'll hold you to that.”
When Yusaku turns to look forward, he's met with the view outside the window. The sun has long fallen, tiny stars flickering in the now dark sky. But that's not what makes his breath caught; it's the ocean, shining brightly, looking as if the stars themselves had come down to light it. He barely registers he's moving closer to the window.
“This is...” He murmurs, fingertips pressing to the glass.
“Stardust Road.” Ryoken's presence joins him by the window, his own hand rising and resting close to Yusaku's. “Have you seen it before?”
“No, it's my first time seeing it.” When he thinks about it, for a moment, he's seen it before, during their duel, before he'd even known what Revolver looked like outside of Link Vrains. But that doesn't compare to the sight before him. “It's...pretty.”
Ryoken hums, voice quieter as he speaks. “I've seen it countless times but...I never tire of the view.” His fingers curl against the glass. “I remember the first time I saw it, with my father. I couldn't look away.”
Yusaku looks away from the scenery and gazes back at Ryoken. Stardust Road's radiance is reflected in his eyes, bright, creased slightly with remembrance, a hint of sadness.
“...A new path, is what you said.” Ryoken speaking breaks Yusaku out of his daze. “I...” There's something vulnerable in his voice, an admission. “I have lived so long focused on seeing my Father's wishes come true, I don't know where I should begin. How I should start walking ahead.” He closes his eyes. “It was perhaps easier when I didn't have to think what to do with myself, once everything ended.”
“...” Yusaku considers his words, turning back to look at the view. Stardust Road. “We can't go backwards. All we have is what is in front of us.” A path carved in stardust. “Not knowing how to move on...is the first step. All you need is the strength to push forwards. To find that new path.”
He senses Ryoken looking at him and he tilts his head to meet his eyes. “You don't have to do this alone. I...” 'I kept wanting to save you'. Yusaku lifts his hand from the glass and reaches out for Ryoken. “I will walk with you. If you want me to.”
Ryoken stares at him, at his hand, bright blue eyes shining in the dark. At the beginning of his search for revenge, Yusaku would have never thought he'd be here, reaching out to who he'd once called an enemy, to the boy whose voice had saved him ten years ago. He never thought he'd see Ryoken's face soften like it is now, as his hand detaches itself from the glass and grabs hold of Yusaku's.
“Is this what you meant when you said you wanted to save me?” There's intrigue in his voice, a small smile playing on his lips.
He finds himself returning the smile. “I told you. I won't go back on my word.”
There are still so many unspoken things between them, so much they don't really know about each other now that they stand face to face, so much uncertainty ahead of them. But they have nothing but time to figure it all out, to carve a path anew, one step at a time.