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There was only nothingness. No sight, no sounds. He was sure he would become nothingness too, given enough time.
Contentment settled within him. He had sealed Nyx, and humanity was saved. Now it was time to rest. He could fade away, and maybe he would.
His mind grew fuzzier.
........
Voices…?
They were far off, and too quiet to make out any words, just tiny smudges on the edge of his consciousness. But they latched onto him, stopped him from disappearing. Kept him holding onto something, even if he wasn’t sure what that something was.
There was something else he had to do, wasn’t there? His mind waded through possibilities, trying to grasp onto whatever it was that he was forgetting.
A promise…
Somewhere nearby, someone hummed a familiar tune. He focused on that, letting himself sink into the melody. It wrapped around him, and his thoughts grew clearer.
That’s right. He had been fighting all alone, but not really, because his friends’ voices would always reach him. But he had left them, when they had promised to meet again.
And then-
Minato opened his eyes.
He was lying in an expanse of pure white light. Somehow, he knew that this place was like the Velvet Room, although not the same. Somewhere between mind and matter, dream and reality. Was this… the afterlife?
As he gained more awareness, he noticed his head was resting on someone’s lap. When he looked up, he found Death watching over him.
“Ryoji,” Minato whispered. He couldn’t stop the elation at seeing him again. It had been so long since New Year’s Eve.
“Minato.” Ryoji’s smile was warm, and his voice sounded like home.
Minato cracked a smile. “You really should stop watching people sleep. It’s creepy.”
Ryoji laughed, light and effervescent. Minato’s heart sang in tune. “You never used to complain, you know.”
One of Ryoji’s hands rested on Minato’s chest, while the other lay behind his head.
Minato hadn’t felt this complete since Pharos had left. Ryoji was here, and Ryoji was his. This wonderful piece of his soul that had been carved out and reshaped into someone so loving and gentle. Nyx could be damned, she could never have him.
“So you really did it, huh?” Ryoji said.
“Yeah,” Minato breathed out.
“You can’t come back from this. This is the end.”
“I know.”
Minato wasn’t scared of dying - hadn’t been since that fateful night on the bridge ten years ago. He had lived within Death’s embrace ever since the accident. So maybe that was why he felt so safe in Ryoji’s arms.
The other members of SEES had tried to hide it, but Minato could tell that they were afraid of Ryoji. Minato couldn’t really blame them, to be honest. He was a walking - if not living - reminder of their own mortality. How could you look Death in the eyes? But Minato loved him - had always loved him - no matter what he was.
Ryoji shook his head. “You have the kindest heart I know.”
Minato still didn’t think that was completely true, no matter how many times Ryoji said it. But he let the thought linger in his mind a little longer this time.
Suddenly, the voices from beyond grew louder, and scraps of sentences began to float towards them.
“…out there… I know…”
Who was that? A name slipped just out of Minato’s reach.
“…refuse to… that you’re gone!”
Yukari?
This time her voice rang out, louder and clearer. “Answer me! I know you’re listening!”
“We’re here!” That was Aigis. “Say something! Please!”
His friends…
He tried to sit up, but his body suddenly felt incredibly heavy. His thoughts grew sluggish as he tried to reach back to the living world. But he had to do something. He owed them that much.
“I’m okay,” Minato forced out of tired lungs. And he was. He was just… so exhausted.
Ryoji took over, explaining to the others what had happened. Minato closed his eyes as he spoke, listening to the soft cadence of his voice.
“He’s found the answer to life’s greatest question.” Ryoji’s hand brushed his cheek, and Minato could hear his smile.
His friends were confused, but they would understand, eventually. He was at peace with his decision.
When Ryoji stopped speaking, Minato opened his eyes again. Ryoji was looking down at him with nothing short of pure adoration.
“Are you ready?” he asked.
Minato paused, and then shook his head. “I can’t go yet,” he said. “We promised…” He trailed off, hoping Ryoji would understand.
He always did. “I see.” Ryoji closed his eyes. “No one can escape death, but… maybe I can delay it a little.”
Suddenly, the fatigue lifted from Minato’s body. It wasn’t completely gone, but it was enough for him to keep his eyes open, for his limbs to not feel so heavy.
Minato knew what a gift this was, for Death to stay its hand, even for a brief moment.
“Thank you,” Minato whispered as Ryoji opened his eyes again. He thought for a moment. “Graduation Day. That’s when we said we’d meet again.”
Ryoji caressed Minato’s face. “Then I’ll come get you when it’s done.”
Minato reached up and hooked his fingers in Ryoji’s scarf. “Come with me,” he said.
Ryoji’s eyes darted away, his face sorrowful. “I can’t… I’m sealed away here.“
Minato looked down, expression falling.
“Minato.” Ryoji reached for Minato’s hand, intertwining their fingers. “Even if we’re apart, our bond can never be severed, remember? I’m always with you, no matter what.”
After a pause, Minato looked back up, a small smile on his face. “Did I ever tell you how creepy that was, too?” he teased.
Ryoji laughed again, and his eyes were so starry, it was like they contained the entire night sky.
Minato continued. “But… thank you. I haven’t forgotten.” He paused. “The cherry blossoms will be in bloom soon. You would’ve loved them.”
Ryoji only smiled at him. “Then I can’t wait to hear all about it.” He squeezed Minato’s hand. “Live, for both of us.”
Minato nodded. “I’ll see you soon, Ryoji.”
The light grew brighter, Ryoji becoming more indistinct.
“Minato?” Ryoji’s voice was fading, but still audible.
“Yeah?”
“Thank you.”
And then Minato was enveloped in a flash of white light. He reached out to the voices of his friends, heart brimming with love. He’d spend his last days with them, until Death came to claim him.