Forever yours

Chapter 29

"Yes, I am dying."

Kagutsuchi smiled sadly at me as Aomine helped him up into a chair which he nodded his thanks to. I swallowed a lump in my throat and blinked back tears. Kise rubbed my back while Aomine grabbed a glass of water to give to my father.

"How? Why?"

I managed to squeeze out, my heart aching.

"I have been the only phoenix in existence until you were born Tetsuya. Only one person can exist on this world with so much power. Control over the elements and the ability to bind ones will or existence with runes are too powerful to have more than one person able to wield them."

"This is because I was born? You are dying because of me?"

"That's not what he is saying Kurokocchi!"

"Actually it is Kise."

"Aominecchi!"

I stared up blankly at the dark haired demon who leant against the counter, his arms folded and a frown on his face. His lover glared up at him as he held my hand.

"I have to apologize sir I knew about your meetings with Akashi and the truth behind this all."

Kise's scowl turned to a puzzled look and Kagutsuchi shook his head, a wry smile on his face. He nodded to the dark skinned man who turned to me.

"It is true what you said. Your father is not long for this world because two phoenixes cannot live in conjunction with each other. Your grandfather and father was the same. When your father was born he unconsciously drained the power from his own father and with that your grandfather passed away."

I felt my heart constrict and the tears threatening to fall. Kise continued to rub my back and squeezed my hand in comfort but I was numb to it all.

"You should know he was happy."

It was Kagutsuchi who spoke next, his eyes closed but a faint smile on his face.

"My mother died giving birth to me, she was a demon. With that my father lost his partner and all he had in life so when he realised my life was leading him to his death he gladly accepted it. That way he could see his wife again."

His breath became laboured and Aomine stepped in again.

"When you're mother was pregnant with you Kagutsuchi told her what the future would hold. He worked out though that if he was in hibernation it would not happen quickly. So after your mother's death, grieving and weak he went to sleep for many years until he awoke at your death. It was at this time he could live and use his powers freely. He took to hunting down Haizaki and finding Akashi, the man you had loved. When you were reborn he tracked you down and led Akashi to you before going back into hibernation. The circle continued, each time he awoke he was a little weaker and now we are here."

It began to make sense. The reason my father never returned to my side, why I had no memories of him was because he was always asleep when I was alive.

"But why aren't you asleep now? You don't have much time left!"

"I was biding my time for this. The time you would unlock your memories and your powers and I could leave this world knowing you would be okay."

"No!"

I jumped up, shrugging off Kise's hand and rushed over to my father's side, kneeling beside his chair.

"This can't be the end! I don't want to say goodbye after just remembering you again! Don't leave me alone!"

He reached out a thin hand and soothed my hair.