Destined To Die

Epilogue - Not Alone

-Epilogue-

-Not Alone-

Akane sat in the roughly hewn cot, thin blankets gathered underneath him as he stared into the fireplace. Each of them had been provided private quarters in Gaia's realm, a great feast was being held in honour of the return of her son. Akane had quietly decided not to attend, and nobody seemed to be brave enough to confront him about it. Maddy had passed out a few hours ago, exhausted from the day's efforts. Even now, she found new ways to surprise him every day. Her grasp of magic was uncanny, and she didn't even realise what a prodigy she was. It was probably better off it stayed that way, keeping her vigilant for what was to come.

There was a soft knock on the door, and he turned his gaze from the fire momentarily to look over, saying nothing. None of the other inhabitants of the temple complex, followers of Gaia's Garden, had been game to approach him for more than a quick glance. He said nothing, simply staring at the door and waiting. There was a pause before it opened slightly, Abigail's bubble-gum pink hair poking through, the cheap dye already half washed out. Instead of her half-torn clothes she now wore a simple robe of green fabric.

"Hey," she said softly, "Just wanted to check on you, yeah? You doing okay?"

"I'm okay," he said, voice barely a whisper, staring back at the wall. His armour was half off and thrown around the cot, deep gouge marks of blades through wood and stone carving across every surface. His swords were by the fire, driven into the wooden floor side by side.

"You know, you're missing a hell of a party," Abigail said, dipping her head to try and meet his gaze, "Sabbath got drunk, turns out they've got some pretty great wine here. Not much in the way of spirits, unfortunately."

He gave no reply, simply dropping his head into his hands, rubbing his forehead and trying not to think about anything, emptying himself of thoughts.

"Where's Hana?" Abigail asked, leaning against the doorframe.

"Gone," Akane replied simply, not looking up, "Crossed over, let herself go to the other side. She waited for eight hundred years to talk to me, and now she's gone. I don't think I'll ever be able to see her again."

He heard footsteps along the floor, a shifting as Abigail sat on the bed beside him, putting two sizable mugs of deep red wine on the floor at their feet. He could feel her arms wrap around him, her head pressed against his shoulder.

"I'm sorry, big guy," she said softly, her voice muffled by his shoulder.

"It's okay," he muttered, feeling her bony arms stretching around him, her breath on his back, "At least this time I got to say a proper goodbye."

"Well fortunately for you, I brought drinks," she said dryly, reaching down for one of the jugs, "Certified sorrow drowner, money back guarantee."

Akane nodded slowly, reaching for other jug, taking a deep swig of the crimson wine inside. The taste filled his mouth, rich and sweet, washing down the lingering taste of blood from the earlier fight.

"Are you okay?" Akane asked quietly, looking over to the witch that was now laying with her back against the wall, drinking deep from her own jug of wine.

"No," Abigail said, her voice oddly calm, "Apparently everything I've been doing all my life has been leading up to the end of the world, can you believe that?"

"Funny story," Akane replied, "Apparently I'm going to be the one that starts it all."

Both couldn't help but give small, grim laughs at the situation. The smiles faded quickly, the gravity of the situation setting in.

"What did she say to you?" Abigail asked, "You guys were off talking for a while."

Akane winced slightly, leaning back against the wall beside Abigail. "It's complicated."

"I'm sorry," she said quickly, "It's personal and I shouldn't have asked, I just never had siblings, you know?"

"It's okay. I just... I can't talk about it."

A long, uncomfortable silence passed between them. The fire crackled quietly, each drinking deep from the jugs of wine.

"Do you hate me?" Abigail asked quietly, looking over at him.

"Hm?"

"Do you hate me?" she repeated, "I mean, I was the one that pushed you down this path, back in Japan. I was part of it all, even if I didn't know everything. And now, all this... I'd understand if you did, I wouldn't hold it against you."

Akane paused, giving a small smile. "Abigail, you worked under Kento for years. You've done awful things, and you're probably the least functional human I know. That's why I trust you."

She opened her mouth to say something in response, but turned to him, a confused look on her face. "Huh?"

"You know what it's like," he said simply, turning to face her, "You know how it feels to be a gear in the machine. I owe you my life a dozen times over, annoying as you are." His voice dropped low for a moment, "I feel like you're the only person that can see me, the real me. Not some monster, not some tool, not even a good man; just me, as I am, beneath it all."

Abigail's eyes welled up with tears as she turner her back, reshuffling to lay back against Akane's chest, keeping her face turned away as she wiped away the wetness around her eyes.

"I'm scared, Akane," she breathed, her voice barely even a whisper, the wine held loosely in her lap as she leaned her head back against his shoulder.

Akane looked down at the witch, felt her bony back and shoulder blades pressed against him, the smell of cheap hair dye and woodsmoke hanging heavy on her. He reached an arm around, holding her close, leaning down and pressing his lips to the top of her scalp in a soft kiss. Both felt each other's skin softly in the silence that followed, fingers running absently over the imperfections of the scars they shared.

"I'm scared too, Abigail."

-End-