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For as long as he can remember, Minako has been hugging Pharos. The embrace wasn’t warm in the physical sense, a dead soul couldn't grant that, not truly. But it was comforting, and cozy, and something he couldn't reject.
And that was the problem. Minako held him in Minato’s soul, a bond none of them wanted to break. But Pharos was too big now, if he stayed then he’d tear them both apart.
It would be quick, but it would be wasteful. He doesn’t care about any of that. Minako and Minato are his friends, the only ones he has. So tearing them apart isn’t an option. He has a plan, a wonderful plan.
There’s enough of Mother in Minako that she doesn’t stutter when he reaches out. Enough that she follows when he guides her. He’s gentle, a gentleness he can only show to the deceased. (The living receive a blade to the heart). He leads her back, undoing the embrace that held him in place. Like he’s rerolling a ball of yarn. When he’s done he can still see the ridges of the lines that she was. He frowns. Souls shouldn't twist like that.
He holds her in his palm, the orb that is Minako leans into his hand. There’s a sense of satisfaction, that she takes to him as he did to her.
Now, for the hard part.
He’s not worried about killing Minato. The body had died when he joined with them. But he was inside Minako, who was inside Minato, and they all needed movement. Living boys have heart beats and breaths that go in and out and a stomach that eats and passes. And if they wanted movement they’d need all of it. Pharos Forced Minato into moving.
Ten years is enough time for Minato to pick it up. He’ll keep on breathing, even if he doesn’t have to.
Thankfully there’s enough of Mother in him as well.
Pharos takes a deep breath. (he doesn’t need to, but that’s what humans do when they’re about to do something hard. This might be the hardest thing he’ll ever have to do.
Minako could be unwound. Minato can’t.
Pharos clutches Minako in one hand. Then he leaps.
(Leaping is the wrong term)
He tears a hole in Minato’s soul, flowing out of it. He lands on the ground. He would have spent minutes marveling at being here. On the floor, in the daylight. He can’t. His eyes are closed, and he reaches out to Minato’s soul. He grabs the side of the hole, which is already starting to yawn wide. He Yanks it to the other side before he releases. A pause and the hole is sealed. His soul is upset, shifting around, seeking balance, but healing.
Pharos smiles. Minato’s still sleeping. There’s a part of him that wants to wake him, to tell him about his plan. But he’s not stable yet. Pharos isn’t going to risk it.
He checks on Minako, who has remained in his hand. No worse for wear after leaving their home for ten years. He moves to cup his hands, and Minako rolls to sit in the center.
He needs Taratus, it doesn’t exist right now, but Pharos needs it. The tower will obey him. It will grant him this. It breaks the rules of time. He can push the tower a little harder. Pharos stands up, and steps sideways.
He doesn’t check on Minako when they arrive. He knows she’ll be fine. They’re on one of the highest floors, well out of the reach of any morals. He plods down the hallway, as he walks a menagerie of shadows follow him.
This will do. He twists the walls, two of them grow out. A room the size of their dorm room, a pair of holes, the size of the door and window form. Then a basin grows out of the floor. The hundred or so shadows flow into the basin. They die, leaving only pure shadow. It becomes denser and denser until the last shadow dies.
Pharos cups Minako in his hands. He gently squeezes her, returning the hug. Then he slowly lowers her into the basin. Once she’s in the shadow starts to move, twitching and tightening as its new owner takes it. Minako will twist the shadows into a form she likes. He’s excited to see it.
Living Girls have heart beats and breaths that go in and out and a stomach that eats and passes. Everyone wants Minako to be a living girl. She’ll act like one. She’ll have all of her memories too. Pharos is planning to forget. It’ll be fun!
The walks creak, a face on the wall changes into a shelf. Minako will wake up where she thinks she will. This space will look like Minato’s room by the end of this. By the time the Dark Hour truly starts She’ll be waking up.
Pharos scampers out the window, before the planes of glass form. The shadows on this level are too weak for him. He steps up and jumps thirty floors up. Again he calls to all the shadows on this floor. They flock to him, merging with him. He doesn’t need a basin that will turn into a bed like Minako does. He’ll become a Chrysalis of shadow. He’ll emerge and once he leaves the tower all of his pharos memories will be gone.
He’s even picked out a name for himself. Ryoji Mochizuki. He’ll be a living human, like Minato and Minako. He’ll be their friend, one they can hang out with and get ramen and play karaoke.
Excitement bubbles within him as the Chrysalis finishes forming. Maybe they’d even consider him a brother.