"𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡"

Chapter 9: Al Hisen Takahashi

The abandoned church was silent except for the faint sound of Suna's footsteps echoing off the crumbling stone walls. As she ventured further inside, she caught sight of a figure slumped against the altar, bathed in the dim light filtering through the broken windows.

Her heart skipped a beat as she recognized the figure. It was Al Hisen Takahashi, her former husband and the God of Lightning. He was drenched in his own blood, his body bearing the marks of a brutal battle. His once-proud stance was now diminished, his strength waning as he struggled to remain upright.

Suna approached him cautiously, her heart heavy with conflicting emotions. Al's eyes, though pained and weary, met hers with a flicker of recognition.

"Where is Thane?" Al's voice was a strained whisper, but it carried an unmistakable urgency.

Suna's eyes narrowed, a mix of surprise and wariness. "How do you know Thane?"

Al, shaking with the effort of standing, replied with a pained resolve. "Thane is my reincarnation, my supposed-to-be Grim Reaper. But I guess he died, didn't he?"

Suna's grip tightened into a fist, her voice hardening. "Any last words?"

Al's gaze softened as he looked at her, despite his condition. "You still look as beautiful as the day I lost you," he said, his voice trembling with emotion. "Your hair, your smile... I feel myself within your presence, no matter how many women I tried to replace you with—Natsu, Louisiana, Fayle... I couldn't find myself in them, and I couldn't find you in them. I still long for you."

He slowly approached Suna, his steps faltering. Gently, he cupped her face in his hands, his touch tender despite the blood and grime that stained his skin.

"I fell in love with you," he continued, his voice breaking with sincerity. "The way you loved me, and the way I loved you. I'm sorry for thinking I was right back then. You were right, I knew nothing. I was in fear, afraid of losing you. The thought of not having you in my arms has always terrified me. I know you may not want me anymore... but if you can, please give me one last chance to love you again, to hold you in my arms once more and show you that I have changed."

His voice grew fainter as he spoke, the weight of his wounds taking their toll. "Suna... my last words to you... I have always loved you. Deem me pathetic if you wish... but I can't imagine you being gone from my life. You took a big part of me. Without you, I fear I will cease to exist."

With those final words, Al collapsed to the ground. His crown tumbled from his head, rolling across the cold stone floor. His body lay still, the light in his eyes dimming as his life ebbed away.

The End