Chapter Text
October 6, 1986
He accidentally opened his eyes. ……And when he did…… the witch was nowhere to be seen. The Golden Witch had vanished…… like a dream or an illusion. ……And… so had the single ingot they had carried with them.
Battler considered jumping into the ocean, so he could see the witch again. Yet he didn’t. He couldn’t just throw his life away, he had to return home. His beloved little sister was waiting for him, after all. He intended to return home as quickly as possible, but the ocean was not keen to allow that to happen. As he traveled to Niijima, the weather worsened and a rogue wave crashed over the boat Battler rode on. It pulled him into the water that he had decided against entering. He struggled to reach the surface. He felt his consciousness fading as his body screamed for air. As he passed out, his thoughts remained on Ange, waiting for him at home.
Battler eventually did reach the shores of Niijima. He had no memory of how he arrived there. He had no memories at all. After some time spent wandering alone, he came across Hachijo Ikuko, an author who lived nearby. She took him in and let him stay with her while he recovered. His body recovered as the years passed. Still, his memories did not return. In spite of that, he kept holding onto hope that he would remember. He couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something really important he needed to do. So he continued to wait until the day his true self returned along with his memory. That belief proved to not be futile. One day, Ikuko mentioned something that caused his memories to come flooding back.
The Rokkenjima Explosion Accident. The many disquieting rumors surrounding it. The scheming of the relatives after Ushiromiya Kinzo's vast wealth and the hidden gold… And the truth? Ushiromiya Eva, the sole survivor, said nothing. Eventually, the granddaughter… Ushiromiya Ange… who escaped harm because she was absent on that day, would inherit everything… It all swirled around in his head. The events of that day on Rokkenjima. The family he lost. The family that lost him. Ushiromiya Ange… All alone… Waiting for her brother to return home… Waiting for him to return home…
October 5, 1998
Ange was ready to start making preparations to begin her new life, when she received a call. She was told that someone wanted to see her. Someone that she would want to see. She was hesitant at first. She wasn’t informed who this person might be. At the back of her mind, there was a glimmer of hope that she didn’t dare allow to rise to the front. She pushed those thoughts back, not wanting to set herself up for disappointment. Their meeting time was set for later that day. If it was something unimportant, then she wanted to get it over with quickly. If it turned out to be something important, then getting to it quickly was the best move.
The meeting spot was decided to be a local park. When Ange arrived, it was almost completely empty. Except for one man. Sitting on a bench, waiting for her. After all these years. She couldn't believe what she saw. But she wanted nothing more than for it to be true. Her heart was beating so hard that it was all she could hear. On impulse, she reached out for him. “Onii…-chan…”
The man turned to look at her when he heard her voice. As soon as she saw his face, it was undeniable. Right in front of her… Was Ushiromiya Battler. He looked older than she remembered, but it was undoubtedly her brother. “Ange?” He stood up when he saw her.
Ange had spent over a decade waiting for Battler to return to her. Now he was finally here. She was so overwhelmed with emotions that she felt like her heart would explode. Unable to control herself any longer, she threw herself into his arms. “Onii-chan!” She clung to him with all her might. As if he would disappear again if she let go. “I… I missed you.” It was all she could to say. So many feelings were overflowing out of her and she didn’t know how to express them. She buried her face into his chest and continued to call out to him. “Onii-chan… Onii-chan… I missed you so much.”
A small smile fell on Battler’s face. “I’m home, Ange.” He returned her embrace. “Sorry for being so late.” As she cried into his chest, he began to stroke her head. “It’s okay. Your big brother is here now. I’m not going anywhere.”
Despite Battler’s reassurance, Ange’s hold on him didn’t loosen. The two siblings embraced each other like they were trying to make up for their twelve years apart all at once. Ange should have been desperate to know where Battler had been. To know what had taken him so long to return to her. But at that moment, she didn’t care about any of that. The only thing she cared about was the fact that he was here now. She sobbed into his chest, barely able to gather her thoughts, let alone speak them. “Thank you…”
Battler caressed his sister’s face gently. She looked up at him with tears streaming down her cheeks. He wiped the tears away. “Don’t cry.” She looked into his eyes and tried to stop herself from crying more. Explaining everything would take some time, but he wanted her to know that he cared. “I never gave up on returning to you. Even if it took longer than expected.”
“I kept waiting… for a miracle. I thought it would never happen.” Ange had spent the past 12 years waiting for this day. When it arrived, she had no idea what to do. Battler’s hand on her face both comforted her and made her heart race even faster. Of all the emotions swirling inside her, the one that she felt the strongest… was love. An immense amount of love was pouring out of her. Love for her long lost brother. Love for the man who was holding her in his arms right now. She put her own hand to his face. Then her other hand. She pulled his face to hers without thinking. Ange was surprised at herself, but when their lips met, any doubts she had melted away. She didn’t care whether or not it was right. She loved Battler and she needed to get that love through to him.
Shocked, Battler pulled back. “Ange… You shouldn’t-” He was cut off when she pressed her lips against his once more. His mind was reeling. He didn’t have a clear idea of how she would react to seeing him again, but this was the last thing he expected.
Ange wanted to keep enjoying the warmth of Battler’s lips on hers forever. But she pulled away for a breath. “Onii-chan. I don’t care what I ‘should’ or ‘shouldn’t’ do. I love you.” She went in for another kiss. This time, it was reciprocated in full force.
Battler held Ange tightly as their lips embraced. After being gone for so long, he couldn’t refuse her feelings. And he was only able to become himself again due to his love for her. There was no point in denying it. He pulled away for just a moment. “I love you too, Ange.”
Ange was overjoyed at his response. She threw her arms around him and nuzzled into his chest happily. Her years of pain and loneliness were being washed away. It didn’t matter how many years they spent apart in the past. Now they could spend the rest of their lives together. “I’m so happy…” Battler’s strong arms around her gave her a feeling of comfort that she’d been denied almost her entire life. After so much time spent alone, she finally had someone who would stay by her side. She had been ready to start a new life all on her own. But she didn’t have to do it on her own anymore, she could do it with the one she loves most.