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Soushi has been irritated since the end of school. The whole time Miwa was completely jittery, which is not like her at all. And as if that wasn't bad enough, she's now dragging him behind her all the way to the nearest Alvis entrance.
"Miwa, what are you doing?", he asks in an irritated tone. The New Year's celebration is just around the corner and he has a lot to prepare for it. Soushi doesn't have time to go to Alvis without a reason.
"Just a little more patience, Soushi-kun", Miwa replies good-humoredly.
She quickens her steps, forcing Soushi to follow her to the Fafner's hangar, which makes him wonder even more. There hasn't been a single incursion since the skirmish with Benon a good two years ago. The Fafners have just been standing around gathering dust since their necessary repair. Soushi has only been in the hangar once, after putting Mark Nicht there, and that was just to check that all systems were running smoothly. While doing so, he noticed the two empty cages that were supposed to be occupied. The fact that this thought had occurred to him at all had caused him to storm out of the hangar in a huff at the time.
The closer they get to their destination, the louder the voices coming from inside. For a moment, he's surprised that the Commander and the Twins are in the hangar. Normally they are to be found in the CDC.
"Why are they all in the hangar?"
His question becomes moot as they walk through the door and watch Mark Alles ride up with the cage. His eyes widen as he realizes that this means the return of Makabe Kazuki. After two long years, it is the first sign of life. No matter how many times Miwa has strained to spot Makabe Kazuki and Kasugai Koyo, she has failed. He himself, and he denies this fact to the end of his life, tried with the same result.
"Look who's come crawling home."
"Soushi-kun!"
Miwa looks at her companion in horror. Before she can reprimand him further, the cage comes to a halt and Kazuki appears in front of them without being extracted from the Fafner with the cockpit. Since his departure, the young man has not changed a bit on the outside. If you disregard the blank expression in his eyes that seem to look right through them. The longer Soushi tries to discern something in the eyes, the more he shudders. Never before has he felt like he was facing a festum and not a human.
"Welcome home, Kazuki", greet the two cores, running up to him and embracing him tumultuously.
Surprised, Kazuki places a hand on the girls' heads and gives them a mild expression. They do not receive a verbal response. Instead, the twins press closer to his body and cling to him as if he would disappear at any moment and not come back.
"Did you have a good trip?", asks Commander Makabe, coming closer and looking at his son with a relieved expression on his face.
With a nod, Kazuki answers his father's question, who sighs imperceptibly and leans more heavily on his walking stick. Neither of them demands a verbal answer, and yet they are dissatisfied with what they get. Soushi clenches his hands and immediately goes into confrontation. If no one else puts Makabe Kazuki in his place, he will.
"It would be nice if you returned the greeting at least half-heartedly", he barks at Kazuki as he fixes him with a scowl and walks toward him. "It's the least you can do after causing everyone so much grief."
"Soushi-kun!"
Miwa tries to stop him, but when has that ever helped? Once he sets his mind on something, he follows through. Thus, he dodges her arms and gives her a scowl too. Sighing and with an apologetic look in Kazuki's direction, she gives in.
Instead of answering as expected, Kazuki closes his eyes. In doing so, he is very similar of Kondou-Sensei, who makes the same gesture when Eiichirou has another crying fit or tries to impose his stubbornness. Before he can get any angrier about it, a round mirror opens under Kazuki's feet.
"You want to run away?" asks Soushi with a sneer as he crosses his arms in front of his chest and looks to the side. On the sidelines, he catches the adults draw in their breath sharply before the returning silence is broken by a loud, protesting meow.
"What's that?"
"It's your birthday present. Happy birthday", replies Kazuki in a monotone as he holds the small creature in front of Soushi.
Blue eyes meet gray ones. Both are not exactly thrilled with each other. Nevertheless, Soushi automatically raises his hands and Kazuki gently lowers the kitten. It is a Persian cat, which is mainly white. Only the face including the ears, the paws and the tail are gray.
"A cat?" asks Soushi with raised eyebrows. "And in the middle of December?"
"Pets are important for children's development", murmurs Kazuki absently.
"I'm not a child anymore", bites Soushi angrily out, at which point the cat hisses at him.
"The resemblance is really striking."
Irritated, the teen looks to the side and catches sight of Toomi-san, who has been watching the spectacle from a safe distance. Her words ease the tense situation a bit, as she makes Miwa and the twins laugh in amusement.
"What's that supposed to mean?", Soushi wants to know pouting.
"Welcome home Kazuki-kun." As always, when Maya doesn't want to answer him, she ignores him. "Truly the perfect gift. You'd almost think they were twins."
"I'm not like a cat", Soushi exclaims in horror as he realizes what all the innuendo means. "Besides, he's not my father! What gives you the right to act like one when it was you who destroyed my family? No matter if it was a lie or not!"
No sooner have the hurtful words left his mouth than he bites his cheek. This is not how he imagined their reunion. Especially not, where slowly his memories of the first two years of his life return. But what is once spoken cannot be taken back. With a sinking feeling in his stomach, he tries to withstand Kazuki's gaze. If he thought Kazuki's eyes were empty and cold before, now they can seriously rival the North Pole. Their gazes meet for a moment longer before Kazuki resignedly closes his eyes and turns away from Soushi.
"You're right. Sorry...", Kazuki finally agrees before opening his eyes and dissolving.
"Idiot," Toomi mutters shaking her head before giving Soushi a headbutt.
"Does he really think I won't notice that he mixed up my birthday with the other Soushi's birthday?" he asks bitterly. Even though he's upset about his gift, he gently hugs the little creature to his chest. "I'm not him!"
Before anyone can stop him, Soushi storms out of the hangar. Along with the rage coursing through his veins like a lava flow, his heart tightens painfully. Suddenly he thinks that Makabe Kazuki sees only the shadow of his predecessor in him. He does not see me. He will never accept me for my sake.
Kazuki appears in front of Rakuen and looks around calmly. At this time, the store seems to be closed because the lights are off and there are no people walking around. Despite his absence, nothing has changed. For a moment he wonders who is now cooking in his place, but as quickly as the thought has come, it disappears just as quickly. The concerns of the island are no longer his problem. They used to be, but now....
The young man turns away and walks the lonely, deserted path along the water until he finally arrives at the beach. Since this is also deserted, he looks for a secluded spot and settles down in the sand. His brown eyes stare out at the calm, inviting sea that gives him inner peace. There are so many memories in this place that both tug at his heart and warm him from within.
Soushi and he have picnicked here so many times in the cool evening air, forgetting time more than once. How many times have both woken up in each other's arms the next morning on this very beach? Countless times. When Kazuki thinks back like that, it was probably the best time of his life.
A shadow falls over him and snaps him out of his thoughts. Even without looking up, he knows that it is Maya who has followed him. Kazuki puts on a small smile for the young woman and waits until she has sat down next to him. For a moment the silence between them continues, then Kazuki lets himself sink back with a sigh so that he is lying in the warm sandy beach and looking up at the sky.
"Despite the winter, it's pleasant here."
"Is it different out in the world?", inquires Maya with interest, pulling her legs to her body and wrapping her arms around them.
"In many regions of the world, there's snow at this time of the year and it's very cold," Kazuki replies before reaching into his jacket and pulling out an envelope. "These are for you. From Koyo."
Without hesitation, Maya accepts the envelope and opens it. As she suspected, there are countless photos, cards, and notes inside. Carefully, she takes out the contents and begins to look at everything calmly.
"It looks like you and Kasugai-kun are having a lot of fun." The young woman smirks as she examines a picture in which Kazuki is surrounded by children who all want his attention. In other pictures, the two are helping to rebuild cities. "Wow, you guys seem to have been around a lot. Where is Kasugai-kun anyway? Did you guys break up?"
"Soushi once said that Japan was destroyed and is at the bottom of the sea," Kazuki begins, absently playing with his hair. "We found the place where the island used to be. There, a volcano created a slightly smaller island. In the middle of a small forest, we found the remains of the Seto-Mir that was used to build Alvis. We have started to make the place habitable, however the region is still unstable."
"That means you will return there?", asks Maya after a short pause. She and Kazuki have been close friends since early childhood, and he can't fool her. The sharpshooter knows that Kazuki's heart has no place as home, but a person, and that person no longer exists. No matter how many times and how long he travels in the world, he will not find Soushi there. Soushi has been reborn with another personality, just as Tsubaki and then Orihime themselves once did. The connection between them is still there, but the bond is very thin and under tension. One wrong step and it breaks for good.
Maya examines the young man next to her and sighs inwardly. In essence, she has already lost him. Kazuki will not stay on the island. This is probably the last time she will see him. While she and all the other islanders will die in the foreseeable future, he will continue to exist. Kazuki will lose connections with the other residents until the island is as much a place to him as any other in the world. A place full of memories, but no one who will wait for him there.
"It's Soushi's birthday," Kazuki replies with a shrug, as if that explains everything. "I'm needed in Neo-Japan."
Maya clutches her hands in the sand and bites her lower lip. She would love to tearfully tell him that they need him here, too. But that would be a lie. And selfish of her. She doesn't want to hurt Kazuki more than he already is. And the daily confrontation between him and Soushi would only lead to Kazuki giving up completely sooner or later, giving up all his humanity just to escape the pain.
"Will you come to Mimika-chan and Mikado-kun's wedding next year? The ceremony is supposed to be in the spring." Maya looks at Kazuki and instinctively senses that her words are not enough to make him realize that he is wanted. Not, after the argument with Soushi. "They both fervently hope that you will attend. The fact that they are alive and able to marry is all thanks to you."
"Huh", comes Kazuki's surprise. He looks at Maya longer before putting into words what is going through his mind. "They're not married yet?"
"How could they? Not all parties are here," Maya reaffirms.
"It didn't stop Kenji and Sakura from getting married either," Kazuki mutters, pulling his legs closer to his body.
"Those were different times," Maya corrects gently. Before placing a hand on his shoulder, forcing him to look her in the eye. "Kazuki-kun, why didn't you ever take Minashiro-kun's name?"
"Ehhh?"
His surprise alone shows her that he didn't even give a thought to making his relationship with Soushi official. Yet everyone on the island knows that the two were a couple. On the other hand, she can't imagine that the two guys ever talked about it. They accepted to be happy with what they could have in the short time.
But maybe the situation with Soushi wouldn't have gotten so out of hand if Kazuki had introduced himself as Minashiro Kazuki and said openly that he was Soushi's father. Or mother. That would have stopped the buildup of hatred between them from the start, which is now difficult to bridge.
"Think about it," Maya says, amused, before rising and tapping the sand off her pants. "I'll expect you for dinner at our house tonight. Commander Makabe will be there as well."
"Hmm."
"Seven o'clock sharp, Kazuki-kun."
"Y-yes."
An hour before he is to appear at Toomi's for dinner, he walks through the streets of Tatsumiya. He encounters a variety of familiar faces, including Kenji and Sakura, who are shopping with their family for dinner.
"Ah, Kazuki. It's good to have you back. Are you staying longer?", inquires Sakura, eyeing her former classmate up and down. "Did your hair get longer?"
"Huh?" Kazuki raises a hand and grasps a stand of hair with his thumb and forefinger, then holds it in front of his eyes. "Oh, I didn't even notice."
In the past two years, he has been so busy with traveling, rebuilding, and cooking that he has barely had time to care about appearances. Besides, as an element, he has no use for normal human things like looking in the mirror. The growth of his hair still surprises him, however, as it has never grown past his shoulders in recent years. Now it goes to the middle of his back. Hmm, must be the Seto-Mir.
"How can you miss something like that?", Kenji inquires with a raised eyebrow and concern in his voice. "Come to the clinic in the morning. I want to make sure everything is really okay."
For a moment, Kazuki hesitates. Although his body is human, he doesn't feel that way. From experience, however, he knows that Kenji won't rest until he can see for himself that everything is fine. So, sighing, he gives in.
"Well, you see, that wasn't so hard, was it?", Sakura grins at him, slapping him good-humoredly on the back.
"We're all worried about you. Come home soon", Kenji adds. "The kids miss you, too. They don't understand why you suddenly stopped visiting them."
Remembering why Kazuki has been to the Kondous so many times makes his heart bleed painfully. No matter how much time passes, this wound will never heal because it will be reopened over and over again. Soushi is an adult, so no need to bring the children together anymore. And for himself, it would only bring back painful memories. Therefore, it is better to avoid such encounters. Kazuki is well aware that he can ignore physical pain, but the mental ones are quite another matter.
His friends and father want him to come back home, but home has never been a place. Now there is only one way to return to his home. And with every second he gets closer to his goal, more and more of his tension falls away. All his friends and his father are now used to the fact that he is no longer there. The island is now protected by Miwa-chan and Soushi. It doesn't need him anymore. Also, the low number of active pilots is not a problem because the new candidates are already in training and could be activated immediately in case of an emergency.
"Thank you Kenji, Sakura," he murmurs before saying goodbye to them and moving on. The air is a bit fresh, but he doesn't feel temperature changes anymore, so it doesn't bother him. Instead, he takes a deep breath and looks around carefully. He wants to take this sight with him when he goes back to Neo-Japan. Some people he barely recognizes are going from store to store to run last minute errands. Others take advantage of the quiet hour to walk their dogs.
Since Maya lives on a mountain outside of town with Miwa and Soushi, he must leave the city behind. Just as he puts the last house behind him, a new building that was not there before, his name is called. Confused, Kazuki looks to the right and then to the left, but he can't see anyone. As the shouts get louder, he turns around and recognizes the younger ex-pilots who have been inseparable since the fighting ended.
"Kazuki-senpai, it's really you."
"Kazuki-san, I'm glad you're okay."
"What are you doing here?" The black-haired man inquires, confused. This is now the second encounter that hadn't been planned. If he didn't know any better, he'd suspect that someone had set up all the people he has a closer relationship with.
"Kondou-sensei says he saw you," Sui finally reports.
"Ah." That explains a lot. Inwardly, Kazuki heaved a sigh. His friend really hasn't changed much. He still interferes everywhere.
"Congratulations. I hear you're getting married," Kazuki murmurs to Mimika and Reo. The young lady clutches her fiancé's arm and grins at Kazuki. There was a time when Kazuki was just as happy. But now this sight only triggers deep pain. The wound that has not been closed in all these seven years begins to tear open and bleed again. And yet he can't turn away from the image.
"We want you with us when the time comes," Mimika announces in her boisterous way. "It's because of you that we're still alive."
"We owe you a lot," Reo confirms, bowing slightly along with Mimika and Sui. "That is why we ask you to attend the wedding as our guest of honor."
"There is nothing you need to thank me for," Kazuki replies calmly. He can't understand the feeling of being thanked for something that is a given. That's why they don't have to depend on him for their own future. Each of them should live as it suits them. Especially now that they have peace after all the fights, which hopefully will last longer than just a few years. At that thought he looks at the sky and fixes the red star shining in the firmament. The new core is still small. It will surely take a few more years for it to awaken and they will see if it will once again bring ruin to humanity. "You should do what you want. Regardless of what others do."
"When will you leave again, Senpai?", inquires Rina, who has only been passively listening to the conversation so far. Sui, who has an inkling of what his partner is getting at, looks at his two friends meaningfully. Fortunately, they are a well-rehearsed team and don't need words. Instead, they nod at him with a grin.
"As soon as Kenji is done with the examinations. I shouldn't let Koyo carry the burden alone for too long."
"Then it's decided." Mimika breaks away from Reo and claps her hands. "We're getting married tomorrow!"
"Ehh?"
If Kazuki correctly recalls all the conversations with Yumiko-san and Soushi, a wedding involves a lot of preparation. How can you just decide that a few hours will be enough?
"You're going to be there, right, Kazuki-san?", inquires Reo, looking at the older man expectantly.
"...Yes..."
"Thank you Senpai." Rina bows politely while Sui and Reo clap their hands. Kazuki watch this with a raised eyebrow. Really, he just can't understand these kids. On the other hand, he can't disappoint them either.
No matter how much the thought of a wedding hurts. He himself once dreamed of the most beautiful day in his life. But he was still naive then. The longer he lived and the closer his end came, the more he buried this dream. It would have been unfair to tie another person to a dying man. Soushi understood this train of thought, even though he had insisted on a ceremony anyway. He had even convinced Kazuki to agree if they came back from India alive. In the end, he stayed behind. Just like always. Soushi never showed any consideration for him. He always left him. And now he is in a place where he cannot follow. No matter how much he wants nothing more, he will never see Soushi again.
"We'll tell Toomi-san the exact time so you'll be on time," laughs Mimika, knowing full well that Maya is the only one who can convince Kazuki of anything. The fact that he doesn't disagree says as much. "So, now that that's settled, it's time to go. A wedding, no matter how well prepared, can't be set up on its own in a few hours."
"I'm sure our parents and the Senpais will help", Reo says, trying to reassure his fiancée a bit. Then he turns to Rina, "Would Tatekami-san perform the ceremony?"
"Of course," Rina immediately assures him before turning to Sui. "Do you want to hold it at the same time, or wait?"
"Together?"
"So you're letting me make all the decisions again?" Rina sighs, running her fingers through her now long hair. "Okay, together. It's easier and takes a lot of work off the shoulders of the other two."
With a nod, all four teens agree before bidding farewell to a somewhat confused Kazuki. With a shrug of his shoulders, he continues on his way, hoping that he won't be distracted by anyone again. If he's late for dinner, Maya will be mad at him again. And who knows how Soushi will react. A heavy sigh leaves his lips before he locks all emotions deep in his heart and prepares to be confronted again with the hatred Soushi feels for his existence. Really! That child. Relief spreads through him at the thought. Soon he won't have to feel that hatred anymore. That should make Soushi's life easier. That's all he can do for him.
The road to the Hinos' house is empty. The street lamps light the way and give the feeling of being alone in the world. Every now and then Kazuki stops and looks back at the sea. The wide ocean only intensifies this feeling, even though he knows by now what exists out there. Subconsciously, he memorizes the view. He will not see it again after he leaves.
He is so deep in thought that, unnoticed, he suddenly finds himself standing in front of the Hinos' door. Of course, he could have saved himself all the trouble of walking, after all, he can go from one place to another in a few seconds. But then he wouldn't have been able to visit all the places that had been important to him and Soushi. For a moment he closes his eyes, then opens them again and raises a hand to knock. Before flesh and door can even make contact, the door is yanked open from the inside and a grinning Miwa stands directly in front of him.
"Good evening", Kazuki greets in a soft voice, whereupon the teen steps aside to let him enter.
"You're just in time, Kazuki-onii-chan. Food just got ready", she reports as she leads Kazuki into the dining room.
To his surprise, his father is sitting at the table along with the twins. Maya and Soushi are in the kitchen starting to put food on plates. When he enters and sits down next to his father, he puts aside the newspaper he was reading and examines his son closely.
"Have you been home to say hello to your mother yet?"
"I'll do that later", Kazuki mumbles, not really seeing the point. By this time tomorrow, he'll already be in Neo-Japan.
"Ne Kazuki, how's the world out there? Did you find what you were looking forinquires Sakuya as she takes the crayons from the coloring book and puts them away.
"No", he admits honestly. "I found something else that's just as important as that."
"Are you sure?" asks Kaguya, not looking up from her book. "You'll be limited by it. What about Mark Alles?"
"I'll return without the Fafner. He belongs to the island", Kazuki responds with a small smile on his lips as Kaguya looks at him.
"The Mark Alles is your vessel. It was created especially for you", Kaguya explains. "You shouldn't leave it behind."
"Mark Alles is safer here. If I need him, I can always go get him", assures Kazuki. He ignores the glances of the others who are following the conversation.
"You're going out without the Fafner?" questions Fumihiko anxiously.
"There is peace", Kazuki replies simply. "Koyo and I haven't had any enemy contact since the conflict with Benon. Everyone is busy rebuilding. There's no time for hatred."
"As soon as the reconstruction is finished, the mood can tip again", Soushi interferes, placing the plate on the table in front of Kazuki with more force than necessary. "Without Fafner, you are defenseless. Didn't I tell you not to throw your life away?"
"We have Mark Vier", answers Kazuki calmly before eyeing the food Soushi has set before him. It's a stew with meat, carrots, and potatoes. A dish that Soushi often made when he helped out at the Rakuen. Confused, he lifts his head and gaze at Soushi. He shouldn't have any memories of his other self....
"What? I found the recipe", growls Soushi, turning away and getting his own plate from the kitchen.
Maya, who has settled on the other side of Kazuki to generate enough distance between him and Soushi, leans forward and whispers, "He found the old recipes in the Rakuen and wanted to prove he could cook them."
"Ah."
"You should reconsider your decision," Sakuya advises before they all start eating.
After even the dessert, a simple pudding, is eaten, they sit together and drink tea in a relaxed manner. While doing so, Kazuki tells them some of the things he and Koyo have experienced. He even answers the countless questions from Maya, his father, and Miwa.
"You infernal beast. Come here right now!"
Confused, the adults watch as Soushi chases after the cat, holding his bleeding hand. They've been so engrossed in their conversation that they didn't even notice Soushi grab his pet from the kitchen top. For this action, the cat bit him and then jumped out of his hand onto the floor. Of course, Soushi doesn't want to put up with this treatment from his own pet and runs after it. Every time he gets closer, he gets hissed at.
"Someone finally found a worthy opponent." Maya grins before turning to Kazuki. "Well done. Let's see how he likes his own medicine."
"When I get my hands on you", Soushi continues to curse before turning a withering glare in Kazuki's direction. "Where did you get that beast? All the other cats are much tamer."
"If you take your time, you can tame it", mutters Kazuki, at which he collects a withering look that makes him sigh inwardly.
"I don't have time for that. What a useless gift!"
Maya sighs heavily and massages her forehead, while Fumihiko raises an eyebrow. If he didn't know better, he would think that time has turned back, and he is once again faced with nine-year-olds. Will there never be an end to this hostility?
"Idiot", mumbles Miwa quietly to herself. To her surprise, the twins agree, eyeing Kazuki closely. Both girls seem to know more than they want to tell them. Of course, Miwa could ask or read their minds, but she lets it go.
"Better I go home", Kazuki mutters, rising and making moves to leave the dining room.
"I'll catch up with you later", says Fumihiko, looking at Maya meaningfully. The sniper has started to catch up and develop her mother's work. In the process, she's come up with a few new ideas that she wants to discuss with Fumihiko.
"Take your time, Father."
"Wait Kazuki-kun. I'll walk you to the door."
Maya rises as well and follows Kazuki to the door of the house. On the way there, they remain silent, knowing that any words they exchange would be picked up by prying ears. Only when the front door has slammed into the lock does Kazuki turn to Maya. She is probably one of the few who can still read emotions in him. Therefore, she grabs his hand and squeezes it tightly.
"Don't go Kazuki-kun", she pleads with him. "You've done enough out there. It's time to come home."
"Thank you, Toomi. Please keep watching over Soushi." He disengages from Maya's hand but doesn't immediately let go. "My home... hasn't existed for a long time," he adds in a whisper, hoping Maya didn't hear him.
"That's not true, Kazuki-kun", replies the young woman with faith, though she knows her words won't really resonate with her childhood friend. "Tatsumiya will always be your home."
"Please continue to remember me", whispers Kazuki before closing his eyes and dissolving.
"Kazuki-kun..."
Brown eyes open and look around. It's pitch black around him. But instinctively he knows he's inside Alvis. He just needs to figure out where exactly. Sighing, he reaches out and probes the wall. His fingers begin to carefully search for a light switch, which he finds shortly thereafter and flips it.
When the lights come on, he squeezes his eyes shut for a moment as the light burns his eyes. After a few moments, he opens his eyes again and stares directly at a door. Kazuki realizes that he is in some room and tries to leave it with the help of the door opener. But to his surprise, the door cannot be opened.
"Since when are there locked rooms?", he mutters to himself. At the same time, a completely different question comes to mind. Why did he end up here?
"It's normal to return to the place that gives you the most security and support," Kaguya's voice whispers in his head, causing him to widen his eyes.
With a jerk, he turns around and stops as if rooted to the spot. The room is very sporadically furnished. Directly opposite him is a desk that looks completely empty. But appearances are deceiving, because directly above the desk hangs a single photograph. A photo that is as familiar to him as his left hand. His whole body begins to tremble. The rest of the room is just as clean as the desk. The bed is made. The table and sofa are dust-free and neat. There is not a hair lying around. For a split second, he hates Soushi for his fanatical obsession with order, but that feeling fades as quickly as it came. Instead, he goes to the bathroom with shaky legs. On the shelves are countless small jars of pills, varying in fullness. Set in the shower are the two shampoo bottles he had given Soushi before leaving for India. Everything in the room seems as if Soushi would walk through the door at any moment. Hope spreads through Kazuki that Soushi had no intention of leaving him behind.
"He knew his destiny, Kazuki. He knew he was reborn on the new island. Mama told him." Sakuya's voice echoes softly in his head. She doesn't tell him that to hurt him even more. Nonetheless, her words blur his vision. His breath falters so much that he has trouble breathing properly. It takes Kazuki a while to realize that tears are running down his cheeks. This is the first time he has cried in seven years. And he thought that he had forgotten how to do it.
"Continuing to look for Minashiro Soushi is pointless, Kazuki. He's already here," Kaguya continues talking, appearing next to him and looking at him sadly and worriedly.
"You know that the same person won't come back again," Sakuya adds gently, grabbing his hand and squeezing it. "He kept his promise to you. He didn't leave you alone."
The twins lead him out of the bathroom and back to the bed. There they set him carefully on the edge of the bed and eye him urgently.
"I know that", whispers Kazuki in a choked voice. "I knew that from the beginning. That's why I want to go to him, too. To the other side. I promised him that I would follow him no matter where he went. I've made him wait long enough."
"You are needed here, Kazuki", Kakuya assures him, hugging him. "Keeping so much pain bottled up inside isn't good. Let it out and you'll feel better."
Her words break the last barrier he has built around his own feelings. They crash over him like a tsunami, letting out all his pain and loss. They are not words that leave his throat, but simply sounds that he has kept locked inside for years. Tears run incessantly and in streams down his reddened cheeks. The wet trails are so hot on his skin that Kazuki feels like they are burning into his skin.
Powerless, he lets himself fall to the side. The twins help him put his legs on the bed before leaving him alone. He grabs Soushi's pillow and curls up around it. Though he tries everything to get the tears back under control, it only makes his crying fit worse.
"Sou...shi...I'm sorry...Soushi," he gasps breathlessly. "My promise...I can't...Soushi."
Kazuki buries his face in the pillow that is already soaking wet from his tears and imagines he can sense Soushi's smell. The absurdity of this thought makes him scream and cry louder. How long he has let his feelings run wild, he does not know. Kazuki has no sense of time anymore, just as he has no body heat. He only knows that he is completely exhausted at the end and stares ahead of him.
"Forgive me, Soushi", he mumbles weakly to himself. "I won't be able to wait here. You are my home. I want to be with you. Just like we promised each other." He can barely stop his bloodshot, aching eyes as he stares into the blackness of nothingness. His eyes glow gold. As always, when he walks alone to the horizon between nothingness and existence, only yawning emptiness appears around him. Of his Soushi nothing is to be seen. Will it be the same when he himself crosses the horizon? Will he be as lonely there as he is here?
This unbearable thought causes tears to well up again, which he cannot suppress. All he ever wanted was to be with Soushi. Why can't he be granted that? Not even his child allows him to be near him. There is no reason to hold on to his existence any longer. He will give it back.
"Forgive me, Soushi", Kazuki whispers, his throat is as dry as the desert sand from all the screaming and feels like scratch paper. That Kazuki still has a voice at all is surprising. To communicate, however, he doesn't need it. As little as he speaks, he can do without words altogether. Only here, in this room, so close to Soushis existence, does he feel the need to speak out what is on his mind. "I will continue to wait for you, but no longer here."
Maya is leaning against the door to Soushis old room when Kazuki leaves it the next morning, completely with red eyes and with his hair sticking out. The uniform he is wearing is a little too big for him, but Maya says nothing about it. Instead, she gives him a sincere smile and leads him to the treatment room inside the Alvis.
"Mimika called." Kazuki nods in understanding. The teenagers already told him something like that last night, so he's not surprised at all. "Do you want to dress up festively for this? Your father has a suit, he told me to tell you."
"The white uniform should do," he replies, looking down at himself. Subconsciously, he has already grabbed and put on the white uniform meant for special occasions. For a wedding and a return to Neo-Japan, it is appropriate.
"You're really not a fan of ceremonies." Maya sighs good-naturedly. She shakes her head and opens the door of the infirmary for Kazuki. There they are already awaited by Kenji, who examines Kazuki closely. He opens his mouth to say something, but a sideways glance at Maya silences him again. Instead, he clears his throat.
"I need a scan from you."
"Okay."
Kazuki leaves the room to put on the blue Yutaka used for medical examinations in the next room. Changing his clothes, he goes to the adjacent examination room with the scanner. He lies down on the metal bench and remains still as the scanner passes over his body.
In the treatment room, Maya observes his behavior while Kenji enters commands into the computer. For a few moments, only the clacking of keys can be heard before Kenji breaks the silence.
"We won't see him again after this?" Even though it's phrased as a question, they both know it's a statement. Maya's silence only confirms that. "I take it Soushi was no help."
"In his simple-minded way, he only made the situation worse." Maya sighs. "He doesn't even realize what his words have caused."
"And by the time he realizes it, it's too late." Kenji agrees with a sigh. "It's like when we were clueless teenagers."
"While Kazuki-kun has been trying to understand Minashiro-kun, this kid isn't even making the effort. Miwa-chan is trying to get him to, but it's hopeless."
"Like you used to try to make Soushi see reason?" laughs Kenji. "Miwa-chan is too kind-hearted."
"That stubborn kid is way too set in his ways", grumbles Maya, expressing her displeasure with the whole situation for the first time. "Two years and a few small reminders are not enough to change the thinking of several years."
"It's really hard to watch him drift further away from us", murmurs Kenji, looking up from his computer and peering through the glass pane into the examination room. "Haven't we lost enough friends already? Shouldn't this sacrifice stop with the end of the conflicts?"
"We are not enough to deter his course of self-destruction. All we can do is support him as best as we can and show him that it can be done," Maya explains. She crosses her arms in front of her chest and stares at Kazukis prone body. "We've all lost important people in our lives. Still, we've found a reason to live."
"He has Soushi-kun. Isn't that enough?" asks Kenji in frustration, turning away from the glass and instead skimming the data he received from the scan. "It was enough for the first two years, wasn't it?"
"Soushi-kun rejects him. That they can both be in the same room together and Kazuki-kun isn't immediately bombarded with hateful words is progress. But just that." Sighing, she turns her back to Kazuki and looks at the monitor.
"We just can't force him," murmurs the doctor, his brow furrowing. He calls up Kazuki's earlier data and finds significant changes in brain function, chromosomes, and stem cells. Even some organs have changed. While all Fafner Pilots from the first generation on, are able to have children naturally, it is different with Kazuki. His normal body temperature of 13°C has also dropped, falling to 0°C. His lungs and digestive tract have also deteriorated significantly. That he is still alive at all is bordering on a miracle!
"His Festum Factor level is unnaturally high, even for a hybrid", Maya states aloud, leaning over Kenji's shoulder and reading along with the data. "Call up the readings from the twins, Orihime-chan and Tsubaki-chan. And Miwa-chan's as well."
"Already on it."
Startled, they both draw in a breath. They realize that it's not the Festum Factor that has risen, but the Mir Factor. A factor that is only present in cores.
"How can that be?" asks Kenji, burying his face in his hands. "Did he say anything about his travels?"
"Not much", replies Maya, letting her eyes wander over the data and statistics. "The Mir factor is unstable in him. Wherever the Mir is that's responsible for this, he needs it, otherwise his life will be in danger."
"Even if he returns, he won't have long", says Kenji incredulously. As an Element, his life should be safe. Kazuki should be alive forever! But in the two years he has been away from the island, his nature has changed again.
"Is there nothing we can do?" Maya wipes her wet eyes and takes one deep breath. "We shouldn't let anything get to us."
Kenji agrees with her, nodding, before calling Kazuki back into the treatment room. They talk to him openly about their findings, but not about the fact that his end is near. They don't have to, because Kazuki knows his body well enough. Afterwards, they go to the shrine together to participate in the festivities of a wedding.
The ceremony is simply and over quickly. Much to Kazukis relief. He wouldn't be able to stand a long, romantic ceremony. It's enough that Mimika and Reo, as well as Sui and Rina, make him realize what he can never have. He keeps swallowing hard and takes the first opportunity to leave that comes his way.
He closes his eyes and lands in the hangar, right in front of Mark Alles. With a gentle, almost affectionate look, he examines the machine before reaching out a hand and touching the cool metal. The Fafner is his other self. It's hard for him to leave without it, but in Neo-Japan, the Fafner is not safe. Here, on Tatsumiya, there are enough staff to take care of the Fafner. No one is power-hungry and could kidnap him just like that.
"When the time comes, I will be your Pilot again. Even if it takes years," he whispers to the Fafner. "Mark Nicht has waited years for Soushis rebirth. You can do it too, right?"
"Are you stealing away like a thief?"
Kazuki closes his eyes in agony before lowering his hand and exhaling inconspicuously. He puts on a neutral expression and turns around. As expected, Soushi is facing him. Since this is the last time he will see his child, he scrutinizes him closely. He notices fresh scratch marks on his neck and cheeks, clearly coming from his new pet. It doesn't look like the two have become friends. The plasters on his fingers and the back of his hand, which in all likelihood cover bite wounds, only confirm this impression.
Unlike him, Soushi wears a black suit that fits him like a second skin. Once again, Kazuki must realize that Soushi is an adult. Nothing is left of the child he carried on his back across Wadatsumiya. The worst part of the situation is that with each year that Soushi grows older, he becomes more and more like his former self. All that differentiates the two is the scar Kazuki gave his Soushi as a child.
"Is it stealing away when everyone knows I'm leaving today?" inquires Kazuki disinterestedly, turning away from Soushi again.
"You could at least say goodbye", Soushi growls, walking up to him and grabbing his arm, pulling on it.
It would be so easy to give in and let Soushi do whatever he wants. But that would be wrong. Kazuki would force the young man to deal with him. His own emotional world is far too troubled to be in Soushis presence for long. Not to mention that he can't face him. Therefore, he snatches his arm from Soushi and simultaneously takes a few steps back. There is something symbolic about this gesture, as it heralds the end of a connection that had been firmly rooted in him since his own birth.
Shocked, Soushi turns to Kazuki and stares at him for a moment before starting to express his displeasure. This time, however, Kazuki beats him to it. With a gentle expression in his eyes, he fixes Soushi.
"Sayonara."
Then he dissolves. Left behind is a teenager standing open-mouthed in the middle of the hangar, unable to comprehend what just happened. His heart tightens convulsively as he feels he has lost an important part of himself.
"Welcome back." With a smile on his lips, Koyo greets his friend as he appears in the center of the crystal forest. "You've been gone longer than I expected."
"Kenji insisted on examining", explains Kazuki with a shrug.
The two men walk through the forest together, then stop at a viewing platform. From it, they can see the small town that has sprung up at the base of the volcano over the past few months. They both know each resident, having personally helped with the reconstruction.
"Will you stay here?" asks Kazuki, breaking the silence and eyeing his friend. "Or will you return to the island?"
"We've been together for the last seven years. I won't leave you alone there now."
"Thank you."
"One day we'll return to the island together", promises Koyo, eyeing Kazuki out of the corner of his eye. Then he looks out to sea, letting the cold evening air play with his hair. "Until then, I'll protect you."
Kazuki turns away from the city and the sea, eyeing the crystal forest. The green Gordian crystals go up to the first branches before the entire crown turns red. It is truly a breathtaking sight and so completely different from the crystal forest they passed through on their way from India. Amid this forest is the Seto-Mir, which is unstable without a core and has caused several volcanic eruptions. To protect the forest and Neo-Japan, Kazuki will unite with the Mir.
"The residents have prepared a feast in your honor. They want to say goodbye to you and welcome their new protector at the same time."
"I'm not really leaving", murmurs Kazuki, putting his hands in his pockets. "It's better if the residents aren't there when I unite with the Mir. They're traumatized enough by all the Festum and Human Army attacks."
"Then we should do it now, before they send out a search party", suggests Koyo amused. Then he turns serious again and looks over his shoulders once more into the city, which is brightly lit by lanterns. "They are planning to set up a military base. In case of emergency, they want to be able to defend themselves."
"I'll make sure these forces aren't abused", assures Kazuki, who can certainly understand why people have a desire for security. Peace is easily broken and therefore volatile. No one should rely on it to last forever.
"I'll do the same", promises Koyo, who pushing away from the railing and slowly walks back to the center of the forest. Kazuki walks right beside him. "I'm sure you'll see Soushi again on the other side."
Kazuki stops as if frozen before slowly turning his head and looking at Koyo with moist eyes. The latter just smiles at him knowingly. After all the tears he had shed during the night, he would not have thought it possible to burst into tears again. But the hot tracks running down his cheeks are the best proof that he was wrong.
"You've had to wait long enough." Koyo takes Kazuki in his arms until he calms down. "I'm sure Soushi will receive you and praise you. You have no reason to think otherwise."
"Thank you, Koyo. For everything," says Kazuki in tears before wiping his face and then giving him a soft smile. He breaks away from the embrace and they both continue their way. The two men stop in front of the green crystal floating in the center. They exchange glances with each other one last time, then Koyo steps back. Kazuki stretches out both arms and places his palms on the pulsating surface of the Seto-Mir before closing his eyes.
"Let's be reborn together."
The green crystal begins to glow before breaking into small green crystals, covering Kazuki and the entire clearing. A pulse goes through all the crystal trees of the forest before the Mir crystals disintegrate, revealing a pillar with a baby floating in a green liquid.
"Welcome to this world, Makabe Kazuki", whispers Koyo, stepping up to the pillar and placing a hand on its surface. "Grow into a strong core that will protect the island."
In the hangar on Tatsumiya, the Mark Alles seals itself by encasing itself in green crystals, covering the entire hangar. It is no longer possible to enter.
The twins, Miwa and Soushi, who have been playing volleyball on the beach together, look together at the north where they have felt the changes.
"What has that idiot done now?" asks Soushi in a biting tone. Inside, his heart races madly and an uneasy feeling grips him.
"A new core has been born", Miwa replies, her eyes wide. She can't speak to him because of the distance, but there's something familiar and warm about him. A sense of security and sacrifice that she only knows from another person... "Kazuki-onii-chan."
"Yes," the twins confirm in a sad tone.
Immediately, Soushi jumps up and clenches his hands into fists. With a mixture of disbelief and anger, he looks at the girls, who all avoid his gaze.
"How dare he give up his life", he nags at the girls before stomping off. "I'll get him back home, no matter the cost!"
"Don't, Soushi. The people he sacrificed himself for need him", admonishes Kaguya with a firm tone.
"Then let's relocate them! Makabe Kazuki belongs to Tatsumiya", calls Soushi to the cores, who shakes their head.
"He doesn't want to return. At least not yet." It's Sakuya who speaks out what they all know.
"I don't care. Nobody asked me either", growls Soushi before running to the closest Alvis entrance.
"You won't find the island," says Miwa, because she feels a fog settle over the new core's presence. "If he wants to be found himself, the protective curtain will come off."
"I'll find him, no matter the cost. And then I'll bring him back to the island where he belongs." With these words, Soushi disappears inside Alvis.
The blackness of the horizon welcomes him as Kazuki appears there and slowly sinks toward nothingness. He opens his golden eyes and slowly looks around. A disappointed sigh leaves his lips as he sees nothing but blackness ahead.
"Are you really angry with me for breaking my promise?" whispers Kazuki to himself. "The future will carry on my promise."
As he crosses the line and fades into nothingness, warm arms wrap around his body. A warmth envelops his body that he had to do without for nine years. A satisfied smile creeps onto his lips as he nestles against the body behind him.
"You did a good job", whispers the long-missed deep voice of Soushi, making Kazuki shiver. "Welcome home, Kazuki."
"Soushi!" Kazuki turns in the embrace and looks into the face of his other half. They both have smiles on their lips. "Don't ever leave me again," pleads Kazuki with Soushi.
"I never really left you."
"Hmm." Kazuki agrees with him. After all, he has heard Soushi's voice from time to time. "Can we leave the future to the other two?"
"Have faith."
Kazuki snuggles tightly against Soushi before they both break up. Now that they are together, they have no reason to linger further in nothingness. They are one now and will remain so for all eternity.
Stomping up the mountain, Soushi stops in amazement in the middle of the crystal forest. He has only seen something like this in Alvis' Keel Block, but never in nature. Fascinated by the resonating trees, he forgets for a moment why he was furiously climbing the mountain, and instead places a hand on the nearest tree trunk.
"I wish I could explore you more," he murmurs, impressed. Then he takes his hand away and continues his way into the center of the forest. The closer he gets, the unnaturally green it glows, until he finally comes to a stop in front of the core. "I've finally found you."
What he finds, however, leaves him speechless. Both the core of Wadatsumiya and the twins of Tatsumiya have all been at least ten years old when he encountered them. This core is an infant. In fact, it is only two years old. All his anger is blown away at that moment. How could he be angry with a baby? As if the baby noticed his change of mood, he opens his golden eyes and smiles at him.
"I'll take you back home," says Soushi, thrusting his arms on his hips and leaning forward slightly. "You've done enough mischief! And you don't have to worry about the people either. This island will be connected to Tatsumiya."
"Aren't you being a little too strict with a baby?" asks Koyo, suddenly appearing behind Soushi and giving him a heart attack.
"If I'm not strict now, then he'll never learn", defends Soushi himself.
"Kazuki already has you wrapped around his little finger the moment he opened his eyes to you", smirks Koyo, shaking his head.
Soushi raises an eyebrow before staring at the Element, stunned. "You're all the same! What is it with you guys and names? Why does he have to be named the same as his predecessor?"
"Because he is Makabe Kazuki now. Just like you are Minashiro Soushi."
"That's not logical. We're completely new people," contradicts Soushi, crossing his arms in front of his chest.
"If you say so."
"Yes, I do say that!" Soushi then turns back to the core and considers how they will manage to get this pillar to Tatsumiya. "Fine, then I'll stay here and wait until you can get out of this thing."
"Oh, have fun with that. I'm sure it'll take some time." Koyo puts a hand on Soushi's shoulder before laughing and heading back to his house.
"Just you wait and see. You'll be different from Makabe Kazuki!"
"Never!" Large, golden eyes look sadly at Soushi. His lower lip begins to tremble and his head lowers in disappointment before he hears a loud, surrendered groan. "Oh, don't make that face, Kazuki. Give me that headband!"
Satisfied with the answer, small children's hands hold out the hairband with fox ears. With a hasty wave of his hand, Soushi grabs the hairband and puts it on, grumbling in front of him. Then he turns his back on the five-year-old child.
"And, satisfied?"
"It's not looking good with the ponytail," the boy mutters, curling his fingers into his orange T-shirt and looking sheepishly at the floor.
"What, more wishes?"
"Now don't be like that, Soushi-kun." Miwa chides the young man, amused. "Take out the ponytail and carry Kazuki-chan to the clinic. You don't want him to be late for his checkup, do you?"
Cursing, he pulls at his hair rubber until it's in his hand. He slides it onto his wrist and then squats down in front of five-year-old Kazuki. The latter just looks at him with big eyes.
"Come on my back."
Shyly Kazuki dodges the gaze of Soushi before hesitantly walking up to him and letting Miwa help him onto his back.
"Was that so hard?", Soushi grumblingly wants to know, whereupon Kazuki snuggles up to him. Not wanting to waste any more time, Soushi runs as fast as he can through the streets of Tatsumiya. He doesn't want to upset Kenji, since he has the leverage with his sharp objects like syringes and scalpels.
"Can we use a tail next time with the hairband?"
"What? No way", yells Soushi out loud. "No way in hell. Over my dead body!"
People out shopping in the streets watch the mundane spectacle and chuckle to themselves. Soushi, knowing they are laughing at him, turns bright red and quickens his steps, cursing the whole time.