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It was supposed to happen, it was meant to happen.
As for the moment, they didn't knew when, didn't knew how or in what way it would appear in front of their eyes.
The purple eyes of the boy just looked at the sky, intensely while feeling something inside of him.
Pain.
Regret.
Fear.
There was nothing else to do, like his father, like the father of his father, he was born for this mere moment in which he would look up at the sky and see how the dark shadow of the moon started to cover the sun, and everyone who were meant to know about it were ready to start preparing themselves for what it meant.
"This just means that the time to select the young ones who would convey the rite has come. Nothing more." The firm but soft voice of his father reached his ears and he turned around to see him. There was anxiety, sadness and fear.
He was born for this mere reason, what was there to fear? Nothing. He thought.
Whether he was meant to be the Sun or the Moon, there was nothing to fear or to do about it.
"I know, father. But I'm prepared for what I am expected to do."
And those words felt like knifes for his father. He could tell. The expression on his face was enough.
He looked once more at the sky and remembered the reason his family existed.
"I suppose I don't have to tell all of you what is happening right now, but in any case, as the rite requires I shall explain our current situation to all of you who are possibly the future Moon and Sun of our world." There was a woman in front of a large group of what you could call kids, almost. Young boys and girls that were not more older than sixteen but not younger than six, all of those selected from every family that were a branch or even remotely tied to the main house of the Order of the Sun were there, influential or not, rich or poor.
Every kid here was needed in this moment.
"...Our very reason to exist, your very reason to be alive at this moment has come. Centuries, or even thousands of years ago there was a threat to our world that only our magecraft was able to solve, but at a great cost. That very time ago a fake moon appeared in the sky and covered the Sun for six days and six nights, but everything started one month before, a small portion of the sun began to be covered by this fake moon, as if it were eating away our Sun.
There was a mage, greater than the others that saw this and advised every magical family in this kingdom to look out for a way to stop it, but for that very month nothing happened.
When those six days started, the world began to crumble, scientists were unable to know what was happening, even the most knowledgeable of our kind failed at this great task to take back the Sun. But this mage never stopped and gave us a solution: Two young child shall be found, one that has the soul of the True Moon and one that possesses the radiance of the Sun within them. In six days thousands of childs were put under pressure to find the Sun and the Moon, and when they found within themselves the truth of who they were, they woke up.
The rest of the tale is only known by those who have been the Sun and Moon before, and is written inside the temple, but since today, your duties are going to be challenged, every day two hours before the night falls and one hour after it has fallen, all of you shall stay inside the temple, not talking. Not looking at each other. Not doing anything but keeping your eyes fixed at the altar until our new Sun and Moon are able to rise."
It was simple, they had a month to let the altar slowly take away the ones that were not chosen and in the end the two who remained were given their respective roles: To be the radiant Sun or the weak Moon. But they cannot see or hear each other, they couldn't even see the silhouette of the one who was destined to be their partner at the moment of truth, when they took down the fake moon and returned the light and warm of the sun to the world.
The boy was lost in those thoughts until his name was called.
"Ichinose Guren."
"...I am here." His voice wasn't loud, and even if he was lost for a bit, soon he noticed he was ordered to go inside the temple to retrieve the proper clothing before going back home to study for the day until it was time for the ritual. He did as he was told and soon enough found himself back at the mansion where his family lived. Being a direct branch of the main house gave power to his family but he didn't care.
He never cared.
He knew why the family branches existed, because the first Sun and Moon wanted to ensure a way to keep the candidates always within them, within their blood. All of them raised to be ready to give up their life, but once being over sixteen years old every child was treated as an adult and suddenly thrown into the outside world, just as if they were never necessary in first place...
And maybe that's why he never cared. If the reason of why he was born didn't happened, he had to care only about getting older and giving the family another child, his life never being his own and his destiny forever controlled by everyone.
"I don't even care about this world enough..." He thought, saying it out loud while kneeling in front of a table ready to study.
There was not even a single sound in the whole room, all around him were small bamboo walls that were put in order for them to not see or hear each other at any time, even so he found himself noticing how there was a small hole that kept the wall away from touching the ground so maybe something small could pass through there.
It was kind of impossible though, he had nothing with him, when he arrived he was searched carefully as to not bring anything that could interfere with the rite of selection, only a few faint sounds could be heard and it seemed to came from a girl that was screaming that she must have done something wrong. Sounding like she was begging for another chance, and he didn't knew how it was possible that this girl already was being taken away from the selection.
Nothing seemed wrong. He saw nothing happening in the altar...but there were the screams and the pleading of a girl who didn't wanted to bring dishonor to her family.
'It's useless, just give up.' But as he thought that, another sound came to his ears, a soft noise of a paper sliding down the wall on his right. There were words. Then the paper was taken away again and suddenly returned with a small pencil to write with. He doubted about this, nothing should interfere in the rite but he was curious.
What kind of person was beyond that wall?
Why were they writing to him?
How could this person take something like this inside?
'Whatever, just ignore it, Guren.' He said to himself but, the paper was there, and even though he didn't touched it he could read the words written on it.
-It's a pleasure to meet you...or should I said, to write to you?
I'm kinda bored inside here and, anyway, I know I won't be selected. I'm impure.
Would you mind talking with me?
-Oh, sorry I forgot that maybe you didn't had something to write with, take this.
It’s okay if you desire to tell about me bothering you but, at least let me talk a bit.-
Guren had looked away for a bit and suddenly he found himself taking the paper and writing slowly on it, so many thoughts came to his mind. He had never talked with anyone of his age besides the two girls that protected him when, in very few occasions, he decided to go outside for a bit to walk at least.
He knew other kids probably were able to go out and have a normal life.
-I don't know if I'm pleased to be your acquaintance, but I would certainly enjoy a bit of a chat.
I suppose we can at least keep our names as a secret, to not cheat totally in the rite.
You can call me whatever you desire and makes you content.
If I may ask, how did you sneaked this into the temple?-
And so he returned the paper sheet to the owner along with the pencil, his eyes focused again on the altar while another voice could be heard through the room, a younger boy was being taken away and he was crying. Guren started to wonder then, what would happen if he was taken away? Would he cry? Would he try to go back? Looking at the altar he tried to find something odd, something that told him he was the one, he should be one of the two.
He was born for that.
And then the paper sheet slide again to his side. The boy wondered what was happening, someone that wasn't paying absolute attention was bound to fail without doubt but...but this person even said that they already knew they were impure.
Impure.
Why?
And that question made easy for him to touch the paper again and turn it around, suddenly taken aback by the words written
-Wow, what's with that way of talking? You sound so formal! Ahahahahahahaha~ I almost laughed, your fault.
If you want to keep our names secret then this is more interesting. I'll call you Sun then, because people tell me I look like the Moon.
But they don't know.
And I bet you probably want to be the Sun.
Nice to meet you, Sun.-
Without noticing it, even without paying attention, Guren was letting a soft smile get into his face and the altar was bright, radiating the Sun's light, even if only a bit, towards them.
-I do go to school but, it's kinda not like the normal school and more like a magic-cult-school...sorry, I don't know how to describe it.
But I guess is interesting, I only got into it last year and it was kinda a challenge because I wasn't used to be around so many students.
I would prefer to study on my own, but you make it sound so sad, Sun.
I wish I could study with you, I guess.-
It was the fourth day of selection and already half of the candidates were out but this strange person stayed there, stayed here and talked with him about anything. He knew that Moon liked sweets, to be alone but somehow not lonely, it was as awkward as him when it came to social interactions at least but with the written method neither of them were too shy or too stupid to make a fool of themselves.
It was a strange feeling, when they were allowed to leave they had to leave in a certain order and alone, completely covered so no one could tell who was who and so he couldn't find Moon even if he wanted to, neither Moon could find him, but it was okay. Because when one of them failed, maybe they could meet outside, and if one of them had to stay, the goodbye would hurt less.
Hurt.
Somehow thinking about that made Guren question his mind, his priorities.
Outside the Sun was getting covered more every day, but he looked forward to talk with Moon every evening at the temple, he wanted to chat with Moon even if it was only with paper and a pencil. The world was, probably, ending and he wanted to talk with this person more than actually caring about the rite.
Yet, he hadn't been taken away, neither Moon.
-I apology if I give you the impression that is sad, I do find it boring sometimes but never thought about it being sad, somehow.
I...must say I've been always trained for a day like this, or a moment like this, only to follow the destiny and accept the choice that rock over there is going to take.
Why do you say, thought and if I may ask, that you're impure, Moon? You are still here.-
His hand pushed the paper forward to the other side slowly and almost without a sound, he returned to look at the altar and admire the rock that was slowly breaking away, something normal.
In the altar there was a black rock, Guren could say it was almost his size but it had no form. With the rite both souls, Sun and Moon, would slowly get connected to it and awaken the power inside the rock, right now it was barely showing the top of a golden Sun sculpture and something that resembled a stand for a sword, but he didn't know why it was that.
Suddenly he almost jumped, at his left side there was some screaming and a girl was...no, wait, that voice was one of the few he did knew and suddenly that wall collapsed with a kick and he looked away almost at the same time, so he couldn't be taken away as well, but he confirmed that the girl was indeed Hiiragi Mahiru.
"Let me go! I AM THE SUN! I MUST BE THE SUN! DON'T TOUCH ME!" Mahiru yelled, kicking around and trying to be free from the people who were in charge. "I am Mahiru. I am the only person who deserves to be the Sun!" She pointed at the rock suddenly. "The thing is broken, it can't be!"
"Miss Mahiru." One of the men taking care of them approached her. "We're terribly sorry that you're, indeed, not the Sun. But we can't do anything about it. You have been tainted already, look at your hands."
And horrifying scream could be heard, and then silence, a sob and crying, Guren felt bad suddenly and wanted to look at her and tell them that, certainly, there was an error because why...
Why Hiiragi Mahiru wasn't the Sun?
But the wall was put back and he couldn't see anything again, he couldn't do anything even though he had meet her years ago, even though they promised that if something ever happened they would be together...but it was a kid's promise, a fleeting feeling that was probably not even inside of her anymore.
And then, the paper sheet returned.
-I'm impure because I wasn't supposed to live.
Do you know what happens when you get rejected by the rite? You get a mark on your hands, they become like mud for at least a day.
My brother already suffered it.
My sister already suffered it.
And they're loved, unlike me. I'm already impure. I know my time will come.-
Guren didn't knew how to reply to that. He could only stare at that paper sheet for the rest of the rite until the very end, where he simply could said
-I am...sorry. But maybe, you're the Sun and you won't have to worry ever again.-
After that, for the first time in four days, he could hear something coming from the right. A small sob.
And it hurt.
Third week and he wasn't sure how many remained, but he was sure some at least remained there because the rock was almost totally broken, the golden Sun was in the top of a big sculpture that resembled two people holding hands, the Moon was at the bottom, or so he thought because he could only see part of the figure turning to silver towards the end of it.
But Moon and he were still there. Still writing to each other and still together somehow, and Guren knew he should have stopped it before because he felt something. Attachment. He cared for Moon. He cared for this person that was only a paper sheet to him all these days.
He cared.
And he shouldn't.
-Moon.
Do you think, or more like, don't you think we should stop this?
We don't know if we both will make it to the end, and if one of us doesn't, won't it hurt? Won't it be painful?
We should stop.-
And it was strange, it was like he was telling the other to die somehow, because he could felt a void inside of him starting to form as soon as he slide the paper to the other side of the wall, and he couldn't stare anymore at the altar, he didn't even heard anything else, just stared at that pure whiteness that was the wall between them but suddenly he realized that his vision was blurred, so he touched his face.
Tears.
He was crying because of the mere thought of the two of them never seeing each other again, but it was ridiculous, they didn't even saw each other yet, they may never see each other and the thought of a sheet of paper disappearing was reducing him to tears and a sadness he never knew he could felt until that mere day, and the sound of the paper coming back broke any ability he had to think, to reason, to anything because he almost threw himself over that sheet of paper to read it.
-I don't know how to answer those questions.
But, maybe you should take a look at the altar.
In the few next minutes you'll know if we will stay together or not.-
Guren raised his head and suddenly the rock at the top of the altar crumbled down, breaking into pieces, at least the small piece that remained, the altar was complete so the two chosen ones were there, and suddenly a sound, someone was being taken away but there was no crying, no screaming, no begging and suddenly he didn't knew what came to him, but he touched the wall and knocked.
A knock came back.
"You...you are still here..." Guren couldn't help it, he wanted to talk with that person, he wanted to see that person, it was the last moment, if any of them were about to be taken away he wished, he desired to at least hear the voice at the other side of that wall.
"...And you're still here as well...somehow, your voice...is a bit deeper than what I thought, ahaha~" It was another boy, Guren could tell as much, but he didn't care right now, he was happy...
He was able to hear what Moon sound like.
He was able to talk to him.
And when he was about to take down the wall, a voice echoed through the room, alerting the two of them apparently.
"Ichinose Guren. Hiiragi Shinya. You two may come forward and stand in front of the altar as you have been chosen to carry the weight of this world."
Hiiragi.
It was a Hiiragi. A member of the family who have been abusing his own since years ago but, this person had told him that he was impure, that he wasn't well liked by his family and yet, there he was. Being chosen as...
"You're probably the Sun." Guren said a thought out loud, without really thinking about it twice, he just let that leave his mouth and a laugh filled the room.
"You may want to think that again once you see me, Guren." And he was right, once they both walked to the stairs and were able to look at each other he could see how Shinya was nothing but white, he almost looked like the moon itself had descended to the earth and became a being for this mere purpose, against that he was nothing but a mere human who may even be unworthy of thinking to talk to him, or touch him, or see him but he had to be the Sun instead of the Moon, right?
There was no way this person who was so bright, so ethereal, couldn't be the Sun.
"If you keep staring at me like that I might blush, Guren." Shinya smiled at the moment he looked at his partner at the eyes, joking a bit and Guren was taken by surprise by that intense blue in his eyes. "What? Am I so pretty that you forgot how to talk?"
"As-....As if!" He finally blushed and looked away, but those words may hold some truth, he was beautiful and as he laughed Guren felt weak, as if he wanted to hear that laugh more, but sad because something didn't seemed right, it felt wrong yet right, like a choked sob in the middle of what should be a happy moment. "Are you alri-...?" He couldn't finish his question as two masked people approached them, kneeling in front of both of them while offering something that looked like old clothes.
"So is this the proper clothing we should wear now?" Another masked figure appeared and just nodded but seemed to look with what seemed like disgust to Shinya. "I see, so this is the last step to know who of us is the Sun and who is the Moon."
"I...don't understand." He really didn't, but it was fair, the Hiiragi always knew more about the rite than any other of the families as they were always the ones who followed the instructions, as the first Sun was one of them, they always had the Sun somehow, either by adopting more kids into the family or making sure they only married powerful families. "I thought it was obvious who would be the Sun and Moon."
"It may, but the last word comes from this." Taking his change of clothes. "As the Moon will wear purple while the Sun will have the red color adorning them, we both must put these on and see what color these clothes become, after that...well, it's not my place to explain it to you but it's going to be easy." Shinya's smile was something like a mask, Guren thought.
He was radiating with happiness but it looked dull, almost as if he were the true Sun being covered by the moon outside the temple. It was not his place right now to say anything, even if he desired, even if he wanted. Shinya only started to walk to another place and he was guided to another, to put on the clothes that would determine who shall hold what place in the salvation of the world.
He was asked to go into a room that was pure white, with only a small window that was letting him know the fact that it was late, probably around seven in the night, it was dark but even so it was darker than usually, and so he changed clothes slowly, not paying much attention to the outfit more than he was busy with his mind remembering the face of Shinya, those expressions and the smallest sign of wrong he was able to see in him, a twisted smile that was almost forced but moments before it was almost genuine, made without effort like it was something natural, his voice becoming deeper as he talked about what to do next and, as well, being so light and lively when it was just joking.
"...They broke him as well." He said, looking outside the window for a moment, as if looking for answers, for power but it wasn't needed anymore, right? As soon as he became the moon he would hold so much power than only the Sun would be able to surpass him, he was going to be the ally, the support, the...
The...
Sun.
No. This was wrong. Why were his clothes becoming red as he looked at them, why were his clothes becoming so dark? It was almost as if these clothes were tainted with blood.
And Guren screamed, taking his hands up to his head because all around him everything was red, every single corner that used to be white became red in his eyes, red as the blood of a human, red as the blood flowing throw his veins, red as the...
[Red as the blood of Shinya]
Hands stopped him from almost running away and when he looked at those, he saw pure white hands that suddenly pulled him into a hug, and there he was, someone dressed in purple hugging him and caressing his hair trying to calm him, but as he looked around in the room, nothing was red anymore...everything was white once again.
"...Feeling better?" A worried voice made his way into him to bring him back to reality, and Guren looked at Shinya for a brief moment, should he tell him? Would it be better to stay in silence? "I know you saw something. But only I was allowed to enter here to calm you. As soon as I saw the color of my clothes something...told me, maybe, or I may just had a feel...but I knew I had to come here to be with you." He was looking away, as if he couldn't believe what happened as well, but also as if he was scared...
"What did you saw?" It was more of a request that came from the way he cared for Shinya than anything else, but it seemed to surprise him enough for him to drop the mask that apparently he was wearing. "What did you saw when your clothes...became purple, Shinya?"
"Nothing." Really? "But, it wasn't only that, I saw no floor, no walls, just white, just nothing. Nothing at all. I was alone in a place where nothing could be heard." And Guren thought that his vision was nothing compared to that, to be alone, to be completely alone and without anyone that could hear you, see you, even acknowledge you...
"But I am here."
Shinya's eyes became big in surprise, as if he couldn't believe what he was being told, Guren was there, and Guren only saw what he could consider as happiness, a small glint of happiness that eventually reduced the other to tears apparently. He could feel how Shinya held him into his arms as if he were something precious, something that he wanted to protect.
"Yes. You're here, Sun."
They were told to sleep for the night, because the rite probably already took all of their strength, and so they went to a small room at the top of the temple, there was a small futon in the middle of the room that was decorated with all kind of stuff that, as they could only imagine, were from the other Sun and Moon that stayed there before them.
He took the side that was a bit more bright, as the Sun, laying down onto the futon and looking at his right side, watching carefully how Shinya took his place and did the same, looking at him with a small smile in his face which made Guren smile.
He was...worried, a bit, about his family but he knew that they were ready for this sacrifice, from now on they were never allowed to go outside again, to be outside, to have any contact with the outside besides their servants and guides that were there for them and only to obey them, to instruct them until they could take the fake moon away and restore the Sun once again for everyone...but that didn't matter, that was something he would probably care more for if Shinya weren't here.
"You're thinking that is okay to not be worried, right?" His surprise was obvious, or so he thought because Shinya let out a laugh, soft but more sincere than before. "Is just, you're smiling a lot, and you keep staring at me...no one has ever done that before, so I thought that maybe you just were relieved."
"I am." He raised his hand, leaving it in the middle of the space that keep them away from each other, just enough for them to be comfortable, apparently. "I don't know what I would have done without you here. I don't even know why, but I'm happy...that you're here with me and not back at home, with those people that treat you badly and make you sad."
"So, you're happy that I'm safe, that's what you're saying..."
"I am."
"Why? You don't know me, I mean yeah, I told you about all sorts of stuff but-..." He stopped because Guren took his hand and pressed it against his. "I..."
"I'm an Ichinose, I think we both know very well how the Hiiragi are, you don't have to fake anything anymore, we have been chosen to carry out a heavier task than anyone else...and I always thought this was my only reason to live, to be part of this or to have a child who could be part of it...that I had no other option in my life but to follow what everyone had already decided in my place, but..." Looking at how their hands were together and how close they were, how happy he was to be with him, he was sure that finally, even if it was something someone else, magical, from this world or not...someone choose for him, this was meant to happen for his happiness. "I met you. I got a reason to live and looking forward to come here, looking forward for something different in my life."
All of this was met with utter silence, but Shinya's eyes showed surprise, as if this was something he never thought of but he saw Shinya come closer, with a smile and just stay a little bit closer to him, holding his hand between them.
"You're my reason to live." Shinya was serious, firm but his voice was soft and felt almost reassuring. "You asked me why I said I was impure...I'm not a Hiiragi, I'm a boy who was sold into the family because I was good with magic since very young, but I never wanted to be part of them, I did everything I could to run away until they had to punish me. They marked me, marked me as a disgrace to the family, if I was outside I couldn't talk, I was told to not talk to anyone in the family unless I was asked to...I was told that I should obey them, let them pass over me if that was what my brothers wanted, because I was nothing." But his voice, even through the sadness, was filled with peace. "I was told I was even under the most pathetic life in this world and once I were old enough I was to be disposed because I wasn't useful." And so, Guren suddenly felt his cheeks becoming a bit hot, because Shinya was even closer, his forehead touching his own, his eyes looking deep into his purple ones and his breath barely reaching his lips every time he spoke. "And I was ready to die at any moment because I had nothing, but I saw a chance to talk to someone who didn't knew me, who asked to not say our names, and this person wouldn't judge me, won't see me and say and notice how less than them I am, how wrong my existence is...and I wanted to live, and I wanted to smile, I wanted to meet you, even if all I was meant to get was only a disgusting look for who I am...but you keep saying how grateful you are. You smile. You say my name as if were something...precious...you're acting as if I deserve to be alive. To be here. To touch you. To hear you. To look at you and dream that I can stay here forever. You're truly the Sun. And I dare to say, you're my Sun."
His smile grew, but he didn't feel truly any hate for the Hiiragi anymore, nor he felt powerless, he was there and Shinya was here. They were above them all and in their own world from now, their own small world...
"I...want to kiss you."
"...I won't stop you, Guren."
"Is...Is it okay?"
"For the Sun to fall in love with the Moon?"
"No-...I mean-..."
"It's not okay. The Sun should never chase the Moon, you know. The Sun is for everyone...so, let the Moon chase the Sun." And before Guren could complain about the word play, they were kissing, slow, and sloppy almost, laughing a bit because it was so...awkward but it felt so good.
And they did it a bit more, maybe too many times, maybe not enough, but they fell asleep easily after that, happy and feeling complete, as if their whole life they, both, were just waiting for the other to come into each other's life to become one, to become a single life that could fight against everything in the world.
When they woke up, or more like, when Shinya made him woke up because he was snoring a bit too much, he saw that they were not alone and at first he was scared because, they were still holding hands and together, very close to each other and basically almost kissing even though they were sleeping but Shinya held him as a way to keep him calm, to make him feel at ease and it worked. Guren was almost scared of how good it worked because what he would do without him?
"It's okay. They say it's fine and it's better this way for what we have to do."
"...Oh. So...we had to...?" He felt almost too shy to ask if they were supposed to fall in love in the first place but Shinya's laugh was enough answer to all his questions. "I guess I'll take that as a yes..."
Soon they were taken away from each other to fulfill duties meant for each of them, he had to take a bath in the morning and just now he realized that the Sun was about to rise, so the bath and the cleansing of his body was to make a connection with the star, he thought, and so he was told to get outside their room and sit down to pray until the Sun was almost out.
But as he was doing this his servants were asked to dress him in golden ornaments, golden jewelry and he shouldn't pay attention, he must keep praying with his eyes closed until the time was over, they wouldn't tell him...he had to sense the Sun, he had to become the very morning star that gave life to the world every day and this was only the first part of the training, they only had a week until the six days and six nights came in which they had to do the vanishing of the fake moon.
He felt something, like a fire inside him, and opened his eyes, looking at the sun, even if it wasn't completely covered by the shadow of the moon, it was about to become dark, and yet it shine, shine enough to make all of his attire reflect the light and bring light to the entire mountain where he used to live. In a sense he understood it was like a replacement, they were being informed that the Sun was there and it will soon come back for everyone.
Such a heavy task.
But he went inside the room once again as was welcome by the sight of Shinya wearing white clothes over his purple attire.
"I almost feel disappointed that you're not covered in silver." He laughed but Shinya seemed to know he would say that. "What? Don't make that face at me."
"Well, I can't go out when the sun is rising, even if I can watch it from here, so I must cover myself until is time for the Moon to rise and then I'll be the one covered in silver and heavy attire...I'm going to look horrible."
"Silver will suit you."
"Not as much as the golden suits you, my Sun." And Guren blushed, hard, almost feeling like his whole face was on fire. "You look beautiful."
"It-...it's not that what makes me-...it's not...why...!" He covered his face. "Why did you said 'my Sun'?!"
"Are you not my Sun?"
"I-...I am!"
"Do you dislike it?"
"I, I guess I don't..."
"What's the problem with me saying it? As much as I'd love to call you my Guren I think calling you my Sun is more fit for such a beautiful existence like yours. Of course, you can call me in the same manner your Moon...or whatever you desire, I only live to make you happy, to see your smile and to fulfill my role, which is being your Moon." And as if that wasn't enough, he walked towards Guren, took him by the chin and kissed him, softly and slow. "Now we need to eat and then we will start our ritual."
Guren thought he was going to die if Shinya decided to act like that the rest of their life. But maybe he'd die even before the week ends because he felt so weak when it came to Shinya and his smile, his way to talk, his touch, his...
"...I...can't....walk..." More like he wasn't unable to think anything else but Shinya, almost as if looking at him made everything lost form, lost reason, only Shinya was important.
"If you keep looking at me like that I'll eat you instead of breakfast."
"...How are you...doing th...?” He couldn't finish his words, Shinya was kissing him again and suddenly he was being held in the air by the other one.
No time to talk. No time to look at anything but Shinya. Not like he wanted to look away or do anything else but to be stripped down by him, to have every piece of clothing on his body being torn apart by Shinya made him feel the fire inside his body become a flame, a flame that was consuming him and leaving nothing, his voice was weak, his breath slowly disappearing but in the middle of everything, while feeling the touch of Shinya and his skin completely exposed to him...he saw tears.
No, it was just a single expression that made him think that Shinya was going to cry.
Even as his legs were wrapped around the waist of his lover he asked, what was happening...why Shinya was sad?
"I'm not sad"
"Liar..."
"I'm..."
"I...I want you to be happy...I want to be with you...I...I love you."
"...Are you sure?" Why, why was he asking such things? Why was he doubting him in this moment? Wasn't him attractive? Did Shinya preferred girls? Was he...doing...something...? "You're not doing anything wrong."
"Why then...I...I want you, I need you. I need you with me. Forever. I can't...I can't do this without you."
Shinya just buried his face into his chest, smiling, but this time...this time he truly felt the tears coming down his cheeks onto his chest, but he forgot, he forgot as soon as his body was met with something new, Shinya was taking him, claiming him and he forgot, he forgot everything while his voice became louder and louder, while his mind became nothing but white, and blue...like Shinya...
His fingers playing with the silver hair and trembling as he moved deeper into his being.
But there was, in the middle of the fire...something wrong again, something that made him felt powerless again, something that even as he could feel his body slipping away into the pure pleasure, was telling him that he should run away.
With him.
Three days into the routine and he was feeling pretty confident that they could do it, he was even told by the great sage that they were the first couple of Sun and Moon to complete the first step of the ritual in the very first day and he didn't wanted to ask what he was talking about as he was sure about what he meant.
He was happy.
And Shinya was happy...or so he thought most of the time.
He came to the conclusion that maybe Shinya felt like he was pushing him into the situations needed for the ritual more than he should, that maybe he was feeling guilty, but he didn't doubt Shinya's love, he was sure of that, because when they were going to sleep, they held hands and smiled, they kissed until they both were unable to do anything else but look into each other's eyes and sleep with that as their last vision.
But in the day, Shinya was different, he just acted a bit cold, a bit sad, a bit like he was faking and hiding a lot of stuff inside of him, so after they finished their prayers for the day, he looked at Shinya and took him by the arm.
"Can we talk?"
"Shouldn't you rest a bit? Today you look a bit pale and you almost fell down the stairs when coming here..." It was true but, he couldn't help it, he was so...so desperate to see Shinya every day, to look at him, to memorize everything from him. "Guren." He came back to reality without knowing when he started to be lost in his thoughts. "Go to sleep a bit, I can do the rest alone."
"...I...can't."
"...Want me to make you more tired?" He finally looked at his eyes and Guren slowly felt like he should...he should…"You want that, again, right?"
"I need...you."
"..." Suddenly Guren's eyes were covered by something, Shinya's hand. "Go to sleep." And when he was able to look again, he could only see Shinya's back, as he was walking away from him. His body was almost acting on his own, decided to following him but his head hurt a bit, and so he decided that Shinya was right, he had to sleep, he had to rest and probably he was just making the other worry even more because he was unable to bear the oh so heavy duty that was being the Sun.
As soon as he was back at the room, resting on the futon he started to notice how slowly his mind became clear and his thoughts became centered on how Shinya apparently was pushing him to do it again, but at the end he backed away. Why?
Why Shinya, when the Sun was out, was completely different than the Shinya he knew at night? It was something that had to do with the ritual, he could guess as much at least, but there was no way to know it for sure unless...
"...There are all the things from previous Sun and Moon, hobbies and diaries as well" He turned around to look behind him, there was a small wooden cabinet and by its side there was what seemed like an unfinished painting, all of that was from the previous Sun, or maybe from and even older Sun. And so, Guren walked to those things and started to look at them as if these could hold any answer as to why Shinya started to act in that weird manner.
He found old diaries, but they were closed in a way he couldn't open them, and if he tried to break the cord keeping them sealed he may break the paper as well, so he keep searching for stuff until he found and very old and forgotten book, raising an eyebrow as he took the cover and started to read as soon as he decided to open the book.
It was neatly written, had dates and lots of notes, but what got the attention of Guren was the very first line written in special characters that no one but the Ichinose would use, almost as if this were intended for him to read.
[For the many Sun that may come after me.
I ask you nothing but one thing.
To forgive me, to forgive my selfishness.
To find a way to break this.
To create an eclipse that will save both of you.]
He didn't understand, but the diary entries were just written like that, like diary entries, describing the ritual for future generations and he could see how is that the procedures were able to stay the same since that time, but there was a part in which the writing seemed to be erratic, almost as if this person tried to tell something but...
"Guren?"
He shut close the diary and hid it into his clothes as fast as he could. Looking behind him was Shinya, a tired Shinya that was almost looking at him with guilty and sadness, and the answers were so close to him but as he raised and tried to approach him, Shinya only asked him to not do that.
"Do you hate me?" He had to ask, he had to be sure...what was the problem...?
"Is not that. I...haven't you noticed already? Everything I ask you to do, you do...I only have to look at your eyes while the Sun is out and you'll only care about me." He...actually was right, and it made sense, because every time he was with Shinya he felt the urgency to be more close to him, to look at his eyes and let him be, because it was okay...if it was…"How am I supposed to act? I'm using you. I can make you beg for me and desire me only by looking at you and yet...at night when you have all the control over me, you don't use it. You don't do the same. You're just asking for me to love you...which I do, which I do with all my heart..."
"But it's not your fault, this is because we are-..."
"It's because we are like this that I can't handle it, I can't accept it, I can't just let you keep saying that you can't do anything without me, because..." He stopped, and Guren wanted to know why but there it was, his blue eyes meeting his purple ones and he just...gave in, in seconds, as if just waiting for him to order anything.
"I don't hate you."
"I do hate myself." But Guren was embraced by Shinya, once again, without even caring about Shinya finding the book he had inside his clothes.
Guren was completely lost once again, but this time he was able to look at the window, seeing how the sky became red, dark red...but he felt sad, more sad than never before, raising his hands to cling to Shinya, asking him to promise to be by his side forever, to not leave him never, to stay there forever.
But there was no answer.
They were looking at the sky as everything went pitch black, the Moon couldn't show them their light as the Sun was completely covered by darkness. And so the six days and nights began. Guren took Shinya's hand and held it tight, but Shinya just looked down at the floor before smiling sadly at him.
They went inside the temple again and down to the altar, were they were told that the next part was unknown to anyone, only the Moon and the Sun could be in there for the next days and later they will chose a servant to be with them for the rest of their life.
Shinya took the initiative, as if he knew what to do, taking one of the swords from the altar, the Sun one. Guren was looking at him the entire time but before he could say anything, Shinya only said that he knew what to do. And they were alone. The light that came from the candles around them only made things look even darker, as the space where the light didn't reach looked like black holes that would eat them.
"You have five days to know what to do, Guren." He didn't understand.
"You know what to do, tell me and...and we can finish this and...we can live together in peace for the rest of ou-..." The end of the sword that Shinya held was pointed at him, without him looking or even bothering to move. "Shinya...wait..."
"You found the diary of the first Sun, I found the notes of the first Moon. But it took me less time than you to decode the notes. I know I can't tell you what to do. This is something you can only do by yourself." And the sword went back to his hands, as Shinya only closed his eyes and stayed in a praying pose in front of the altar. "...If I had knew it would come to this, I'd...hah" Guren saw him sighing deeply. "I prayed so much to be able to be happy. But I should had knew...I am not meant to be happy."
"Shinya, you're talking almost as if..."
"Why do you think we are alone? Why do you think we have two swords here?" He took the notes he had found before from his clothes and threw them in the floor, Guren simply got down and looked at these, not being able to connect the ambiguous phrases and the way the first moon wrote down the instructions.
But he couldn't take anything else from Shinya, he refused to speak anymore, he stayed there and Guren knew in the deepest part of him what he had to do and he didn't wanted. He didn't wanted this to be true. Running to the room and taking the diary he started to read, he started to wonder, to decode whatever the Sun had done for this to be the ritual, for this to be the end of them...for this to be more of a punishment rather than a salvation.
Why they had to be sacrifices?
Why they had to give up on happiness?
[My dear Sun. You're only a kid. I know.
I was only a child when I was told I was chosen to become the Sun, the reason life existed in this world of ours.
And I came to know him.
He was special.
But he couldn't talk.
He was chosen as the Moon by the magical spell the most powerful mages in all our world had made. And these spells gave us clothes.
And two pillars appeared in the middle of the palace.
The rest of my entries describe how was life inside this place, I was happy, as I had been born into a family with no name, being sold into slavery.
Suddenly I was praised and treated as if I were a hero.
The boy next to me wouldn't talk but he started to give me notes.
We never told anyone.
We had to pray and slowly find a way to connect ourselves to the stars, I found my way first and I remember screaming.
I know people say and it has been written down that in six days and six nights we had saved the world.
This is not true.
I was eight when they summoned us here, the Sun hadn't even started to be covered by anything by that point, and there was no threat to us.
By the time I became fifteen years old we found out what was happening in this place.
There was a prophecy, that a being with terrible power will raise and become the fall of humanity. It will eat the Sun and the Moon. It will fall down into the earth divided in two pieces of the same life. And if will find a way to become one.
We were that threat. And I told him, we decided to escape, we had already became one in more than one way, he was able to talk with me only by looking at me in the eyes, I was able to talk with him even when we were not in the same room.
I was in love. He was in love. He wanted to marry me. He told me I was everything he had wanted, and I, being a poor slave girl who had nothing else, became devoted to him in all my senses.
But I'm writing this because we failed. Because we ran away and took with us part of the pillars, as these were supposed to be our weapons, and they were, a fine long katana with a handle that was red like fire for me, and a white silver katana for him. We ran, and covered our identities, we covered everything we could.
Suddenly, one morning we saw it, something was eating the light of the Moon and the Sun. A dark shadow descending upon the world and his eyes became something I could not see. By day he had to wear a bandage or suddenly I'd become unstable, I would need him even more than never, I would need him, I would ask for him to devour me, to stay with me.
Eventually his voice too, in my head, became dangerous.
And we stopped traveling by day. But after a month we were found, because in the middle of the darkness itself, we became powerful, we became one and a single form of life that could do anything and we were as bright as the Sun, but we couldn't see it, only other people would see how much light were flowing out of us. And that's how we were cornered by an army, and we fought, and we fought until we couldn't do it anymore, we fought until I was taken down, about to be killed and he begged for my life.
I was tired. I was weak. I never realized how distance could affect us, but most of all, how being unable to keep track of when it was night or day were to weaken me, and he begged, and he prayed, and fought, and kill. Killed until there was no one else in the field but, he knew, he knew people will keep coming, he knew I will need to be taken care of, he knew we couldn't do it.
And the ritual existed. Only the white sword may kill the Moon. But the red sword may never hurt its owner.
We were selfish. We were in love. I was kept inside a temple until this day, I don't know how old I am, I don't know how many days I can keep going on without him, I feel like I'm going to die every time the Sun rises and I can't feel him by my side, I can only see the blood in my hands.
What was wrong? What part of all did we...did wrong?
And I know, we will come back. And suffer, and suffer, and suffer.
Young Sun.
Please.
Don't kill him.]
The book fell down from Guren's hands. But he knew it was true, because Shinya had already took the sword that was meant to be his, leaving him only the option to kill him. Leaving him without any other option that wasn't killing him. Guren cried, because inside of him he could feel all of that, the blood on his clothes, the reason of why the dark red was always following him, why Shinya was always sad, why Shinya couldn't be happy, why since the moment he started to follow the instructions given...Shinya only made sure that things were properly planned out.
It was fine and perfect for them to be in love.
Because then the Moon would never think about trying to kill the Sun, his Sun, the Sun that made his life brighter than anything else.
And then he saw the sword by his side and someone standing near him, he looked up and refused, he won't take the sword. He won't kill Shinya.
"...We can't do anything else."
"...You can kill me." No, of course not, neither of them could. "I won't take that sword."
"I can kill myself."
"...Why are you so...so...ready to leave me?! Why you think you can only say so and think I'll be fine with it?! I...we have time! We can find another way!"
"How many of us...how many of...us have been here before? How many times have you cried already? How many times have we had this problem? We're here once again because we're supposed to bring humanity to an end and we can't. You can't. We are not-...."
Guren raised to his feet and took Shinya by the collar of his clothes, crying, screaming. "We don't have to do that! We only have to make sure this stops here!" And he looked away, thinking, wondering. "Give me the five days, wait five days. I'll find the answer, I'll find a way."
"...And if you don't?"
"I'll kill myself with you."
"...You think I will let you do that?"
"Five days."
"We can have a lifetime and there won't be any changes." But he accepted, even so, Guren took the white sword and kept it away from him. "Five days."
"Stay with me..."
"You know what happens when I'm near you when it's day time and..." A kiss silenced him, a kiss followed by a hug, and eventually becoming a need, a need for both of them to stay close, to stay together as much as they could, to be together until the end, to be...with each other even if the odds were never in their favor.
Guren cried, Guren said it wasn't fair.
But the only thing his Moon could do was...to caress his hair and promise him that he will stay close, until their time was over.
There was Guren, his face buried in his hands, trying to keep himself calm, trying to act like he didn't keep track of every single morning and night, acting like there was still time to figure a way for the both of them to get out alive, but there was none, and Shinya knew this very well by the moment he approached Guren, almost as if he wanted to at least be the shoulder his Sun could cry on for a moment, for the few next hours before their time ended, and he held Guren against him, playing with his hair, kissing the top of his head before mumbling sweet words into nothingness...
They tried.
But it was to no avail and, even so, Guren didn't seemed about to cry, he looked more like angry, like he was being consumed by frustration and Shinya could understand but at the same time, he just wanted Guren to keep going and forget about him, he had the wish of going back in time and never talk to him, maybe then...Guren wouldn't had to suffer for him, for someone that was meant to die since the very beginning of his life.
But even as they stayed like this, suddenly, Guren just sighed and asked to be near the window for the few moments.
Shinya took him there and they sat down, holding hands and keeping each other as close as they could.
"Somehow...I feel like this is the most fitting end for both of us." Shinya looked at him confused. "We both never really...expected nothing from life, we both just accepted things as they came...following that was our only purpose."
"In the end, I guess we only had one path to follow, that's what you're saying, right Guren?" He laughed, but he paid extra attention to how his lungs were filled with air, how his eyes were able to perceive things, how everything felt when he touched something. "Don't worry, I'm ready for this."
"Are you?" Guren asked, looking in the distance. "Are you truly ready to do anything I ask?" That...was something Shinya didn't expect. "I told you. If you're going to die I'm going with you."
"I'm not going to let you-..."
"Let's end this here. Let's be the last ones." Guren suddenly looked at Shinya, firm but sad, scared but determined, almost as if he was deciding to go down with more people than each other. "We may not end the world today. We may not be able to stay together. We...may not even be able to hold hands again or see each other when we wake up. But we are going to end this torture...because this is something no one before us thought about." And so he pulled Shinya closer, to kiss him. "Give me my sword."
"...This is low." But he couldn't refuse. "You kept the count and knew when it was night, and when it was morning."
"I am not killing you for the sake of others."
"Why?"
"Because I don't love others the way I love you." As if it were simple, but it wasn't. He was saying the truth but only in half, he loved him, he would never be able to destroy, to give humanity because of one person, because he had people he cared for, he wished for a place where they both could live and be happy.
But it was true that he hated someone.
He hated.
He despised.
And so the temple was engulfed in flames suddenly, when he took the sword and let it consume everything, the ritual, the clothes, them.
But they couldn't die by this fire. They were able to walk through it, as long as Guren held that sword close to him, and so he did, walking out by the back of the temple, making a hole in that room where he put on the clothes for the first time. They both walked, hand in hand through the forest and towards a palace, an old palace that was Guren's house. He had a plan, a plan that would kill both of them, he was sure of it, but if it meant to die together or to kill the one he loved, he decided to go with the one where he would be able to feel the warm of Shinya's hand until the very end.
And end with all the families that knew how to stop the end of the world.
By the time they were both dressed in clothes more fit for what they were about to do, Guren could hear all kind of movement in the house, but no one for sure would be able to know that he was back, of course, probably everyone would suspect he was inside the temple, inside the fire that no water would stop.
"Your family is also part of this."
"I'm aware."
"You won't kill them."
"Why would you think so?"
"Because I know you, even if for a few days or weeks, I know you. I know Guren better than Guren himself." And he was right. "What's the plan?"
"Sometimes you only have to have faith that the people you care for will understand you." He smiled at Shinya before taking his hand again. Shinya could felt Guren trembling, he knew he was just as scared as him and probably even less ready than he, but they were together. "Show me how to get inside the Hiiragi house."
And so, the plan was that, to destroy everything that could stop them next time they meet, next time they needed each other, it was the moment when they could take destiny by their own hands and decide what they truly wanted, so Shinya just nodded, and both of them were out of the house in a few moments, walking slowly in the darkness, covered by normal clothes that didn't allowed the light they could let out become too much of a bother. Guren wasn't sure about that but he thought that at least it was sure they couldn't use the attire given to them, because it would shine just as bright as them.
There was a giant staircase, and at the top the Hiiragi house looked as calm as ever.
"I've been wondering something."
"How can we see even though it's pitch black?" Guren didn't said anything, just let out a small smile. "I guess that's what happens when you become a star or something."
"Can you read my mind?" Shinya laughed. "I will take that as a no."
"I just feel I know you enough so I can assume what you'll say." He turned to his left to look at him, using his thumb to caress the back of his hand. "Let's put an end to everything right now."
"Wait."
"What's the matter? We can't stay here a lot, they will probably notice we are not in the fire and-...Guren?" Shinya could see his lover take something out of his pocket, and offering it to him. "What..."
"It's...It's something to make it easier for us to get to each other next time." Even as he said it, Guren looked completely flustered. His face was red as an apple, his eyes evading Shinya and he could only look at the present he was given. It was a necklace with a pendant in the form of the silhouette of a cat. "Just...keep it near you and when we meet again...make sure you have it on you."
"...I don't think we can take items like this across the time." But Guren looked totally sure that he could keep it, and that he would be reborn with it on his hand or something. "But, I guess it'd be easier for you to see me." He leaned forward to kiss his cheek. "Thank you." The pendant was safe inside of his pocket and they both gave each other a small nod before starting to go upstairs, towards the Hiiragi house.
As soon as they could see the entrance, they also could see people waiting for them in the front of the house. Both of them took their swords and, never letting the other's hand go, they went head on into the people, determined to burn down the entire place and destroy everything and anything they could in the name of their love.
Even as cliché as it could sound. Even if it was something they didn't really wanted to do, because the blood was too much, because their grip into each other became weak for moments, because even their vision was blurred sometimes, they keep going inside, not watching behind, not wanting to see what they left, how the bodies were being pulled one on top of the other, they just wanted to read the center, the main place where everything was being protected, where every single record of the rite was written down.
And so they did.
It was the end, Shinya covering his back as he had the sword in flames pointed at the front of everyone, there were at least fourteen archers and three guards with actual swords, so Guren had to be careful to not let any of the arrows lay onto them, it'd be easier for him to just let the fire consume everything but he would lost his only way to protect himself and Shinya.
"It was foolish of you to think that you could ever, even with all of this, come in here and try to get rid of the instructions left by our ancestors."
"That's yet something you have to prove-..."
"It's already a fact, because these arrows can kill any of you, as they are made from your swords." What. Guren didn't had time to react properly to such information and when every single archer fired, he tried to burn all of the arrows, pushing Shinya back so he could be protected, but the guards were already in front of him, and so lots of blood suddenly appeared all around the room as Shinya pressed on, letting go of his hand and covering him, making blades appear from all around the room but...
"Shinya!" Guren held him, everyone else was dead, but Shinya had collapsed as soon as the room fell silent, Guren looked at him and noticed with horror how there were some arrows inside his body. He moved his hands fast to try to take them out but Shinya stopped him, smiling. "Wait, let me take these out...once I take them..."
"It doesn't matter...in the first place, they never went ahead to try to kill you...these were meant for me." But then why would he jump in front of him to protect him? Why would he jump, even if he knew Guren would be alright? "I did it...because I was scared...that I was wrong for once."
"Stop reading me...stop talking-...just, let me try to..."
"It's over."
Guren suddenly felt something hot on his cheeks, and even if his vision wasn't completely blurred, he knew he was crying, he was desperately crying and wishing for a better end, for a different result, he knew he wasn't ready to let him die and that he went to this extreme with a small desire that they both could live on.
Shinya knew that but, he just raised his hand to wipe away the tears from Guren. Smiling as he felt everything inside of him slowly stopping, but somehow clinging to life only for the sake of the person he loved so much.
"...Stay with me...until I finish this..."
"...I will."
Guren raised his sword and pushed it through the floor, cracking the rock, everything under them before letting the fire consume everything, the fire will consume and end with everything around them.
"We....we....we will just..."
"We...are going to sleep, okay?" Shinya spoke with a soft voice, so tired, so unlike him, and Guren didn't want to look at him because he could see the light, the light around them that was so different from any other source of light. "Look...at me." And he did. "At my eyes." But as soon as he did so, tears came again. "Silly, we're just going to sleep. When we wake up...you have to find me."
"...I will...I will....I don't want though...I don't want to sleep...I want to do so much more..."
Shinya couldn't reply to that, so he just pulled him with a hug, and they both stayed like that. Guren cried until he felt his own energy vanish along the crumbling house around them and he wished with all his heart for another chance, another ending, a way for them to be happy even if that meant to suffer another entire life, anything, anything he could give, he would give it for him.
The hours passed.
The days passed.
And Guren woke up one day, in the middle of a place that was nothing but green all around him, the rests of the Hiiragi house were buried within the earth, and the plants that suddenly grew except for the spot where he was.
Where he was there lied a small pond, that he followed and noticed how that place was the only one to have any source of form of life around, all around was death, burning homes, burning people, piles of bodies resting all over the place and he knew he had made it through the fire, that Shinya vanished from this place.
Along with his screams and tears, rain came through the sky and finally put an end to the fire he started.
Five Years Later.
"I'd like that cake and...how much is the latte?" A young man with black hair and purple eyes could be found in a small town. He was dressed like a normal day to day businessman and had just got out of work but as he accustomed, went directly to the most near coffee shop and bought a marmalade cake with coffee before going back to his apartment. "Alright, thank you, have a nice night."
He got out of the store and walked with the cake in his right hand, slowly drinking the coffee, thinking about nothing and at the same time looking at the sky while he waited in the corner of the street to cross. The moon could be seen already before the sun was completely set for the day and...he smiled.
'I had a good day at work today, you know?' The man seemed to talk to the moon with his thoughts. 'Even if there are a lot of people asking me why I am still single...I don't think I can tell them the reason.' The loud beep made him come back to reality and see how the traffic lights turned green for him to cross.
It was like that every single day of his life.
But as he approached his apartment, just turning around the corner in the next street he could hear some mumbles, some high school girls were laughing and others were talking out loud about a man...
"What's he wearing? Is that something his girlfriend gave to him?"
"Who cares?! He is so handsome! And he probably just likes cats! Go and ask him!"
"No way! What if he is a psycho?!"
The young man didn't had time to process all of that before noticing someone in front of them, but what caught his attention immediately wasn't his blue eyes, or the hair that was silver, not even the skin pale as the moon.
He had a pendant, a cat pendant.
"Don't you think it's a bit childish to make me wear this and not noticing me?" The voice of this man was soft, but filled with care, with love almost.
And Guren dropped the cake as soon as he heard it, hugging Shinya in mere seconds before crying because this idiot couldn't even choose a place where they could be alone. Shinya laughed a bit but held him softly.
"Where the hell have you been?! I...I thought...I thought I was alone!"
"I don't know, bout...I'm glad I could finally come back to you...but you haven't changed a bit, still crying and clinging to me...I'm glad my Sun is the same as always."
He just hugged him even more tightly, thanking the gods, thanking anything that was able to hear his wish in the last moments they had together. Because living without Shinya was a torture...and now he could finally live in a way they both could choose what to do with their life, until the end of their days.
"Welcome back.”