The War I Loved

Light And Darkness

"Cosmo." Keith called out.
It was over.
Pan was gone.
Tanaki was holding Cosmo in his arms. All of them were anxiously waiting for her to wake up.
Time was not on their side.
Athena was on her way to destroy Izanami's soul.
"You have to wake up, my beloved." Tanaki whispered.
"What will happen if she doesn't wake up even after Pan sacrificed his life for her?" Dania panicked.
"Dania, don't worry. Everything will be alright." Keith held her hand and smiled.

Just as they were talking, Cosmo mumbled something.

"What? Cosmo, you're awake? What did you say?" Tanaki shouted in relief.

"Pan." She called out again.

Everyone looked at each other with sad eyes.

"What's wrong guys? What happened here? Why are all the Gods here?" She asked.

"A lot happened and we do not have time to explain." Tanaki replied.

"Where is Pan?" Cosmo questioned.

"Sorry but he is gone. .... Gone forever." He replied.

"What do you mean?"

"I can't explain everything that happened after you passed out but he sacrificed his life so that you could continue to live and also most importantly kill me and set things right."

"What do you mean? All of this is confusing me."

"Cosmo you died right after you collapsed. The only way to bring you back was through Pan's sacrifice. He would have disappeared anyway, he was controlling both his and Izanami's power that's in you. Listen we have no time for all this."

"What do you mean no time? Don't I have any right to know where my fragment is? What happened and why will he never come back to me?" Cosmo cried out in despair.

"Listen Cosmo, you've heard about the ancient scribbling on the realm's floor right?"

"Yeah. The Light shall meet the darkness?" She said.

"Yep, that's it. The prophecy. You're the darkness and I'm the light. Izanagi the creator is the light and Izanami who became the Goddess of the underworld is the darkness. Only the darkness can kill me. Only you can kill me and you must hurry because Athena, is out there in the underworld looking for your soul so that she can destroy it and kill you forever."

"Why do I have to but?" She yelled.

"This is my sin." Tanaki smiled as tears rolled down his cheeks.

"What-"

"Because I fled away so much from the real world to the extend that I  created this world. I lost the chance that was given to me, to forget my past life and start anew but I only wanted to escape from the light and meet the darkness. So, you see I met you darkness, but you did not swallow me whole. I did when I intend to destroy it all, destroy the darkness completely for my selfish desire. I didn't realise that without the darkness, the light cannot exist. That was my sin and the only price is to destroy me so that this realm can vanish."

"But what about you and the rest of us? Will you return to the real world?"

"I don't think so, but even if I make it to the real world alive, I'll remember nothing because that way, the realm would disappear. That's my punishment."

"But, but-"

"Do it Cosmo. Pan sacrificed your life so that everyone and everything can be saved. Don't make him regret it by losing this chance and only making Athena succeed."

Cosmo moved towards Tanaki.

"Activate lightening spear."

"Lightening Spear Activated."

"Is that the legendary lightening spear?" Dania asked Zues.

"Yes. Only Cosmo has the power to summon it using all three of their powers. Hers, Izanami's and Pan's." Zues replied.

"What's that thing suppose to do?" Keith asked Dania.

"It's the spear that has never been used in history but everyone has heard of. It is called the lightening spear, but the lightening it gives out while hitting something or someone is not bright and yellow but is rather dark and black. I suppose that's the only thing that can take down both Izanagi and this entire realm."

Cosmo was in tears.
She smiled.
"I'm sorry Tanaki. I couldn't spend so much time with you, but even if you don't remember the memories we had shared, I will. Forever. It was more than fun being with you, fighting next to you was the best thing I did in my life. I've never had any friends in the real world, but you are my friend right?"  She tried her best to smile more than the tears that seemed to flow down her cheeks.

"Of course, Cosmo." He whispered.

"And Izanagi, I'm sorry that I couldn't make your Izanami fall in love with you again. I didn't give her enough time."

"That's okay. Izanagi loved Izanami but when Cosmo was around, Tanaki loved her too. Thank you for making me understand better through your darkness and helping me from making the same mistake again." He smiled.

"And yeah, this is a message from Pan."

Tanaki whispered something before closing his eyes.

Cosmo struck him with the spear while she cried in sadness.
She cried as loud as she could. Her tears were flowing continuously, with no intentions to stop.

"I will love you time and always. Sayonara, my beloved." Tanaki said as he gave her the warmest smile any man could offer.

"This is not goodbye. I will find you someday." She yelled as she saw him disappear slowly into the light that seemed to be coming from everywhere.

Before Cosmo could look back at the others and say it was over. She was back. Back to her room, her apartment.

She rushed outside to look if she was really back.

"Hello, there. Have you made up your mind?"

It was Cosmo's landlord. It was like nothing had happened.

"Um, can you tell me the last time you asked me this?" Cosmo asked.

"Huh? You mean, the last time I asked what your name was?"

"Yeah." Cosmo replied.

"Didn't I just come by to your place to ask that some minutes ago? You seemed to be taking your time in the bathroom so I left." She said.

"Oh."

Cosmo ran to her room.

"My, my! I wonder what is wrong with this girl." She sighed.

"Hmmm.... the documents must be here. Now, to check what is actually my real name. It really is strange that I don't remember anything even if I am in the real world now."

"Ahh.. found it! ..... what?"

She ran again, to her window and saw her landlord from above.

"Hey! Lady landlord!" She waved at her.

"My name? My name is Izanami. Eto Izanami, but you can call me Cosmo." She smiled.

"Right Pan?" She said as she gazed into the clear blue sky.

"I'll find you too, Tanaki. After all you delivered the precious message Pan left."

Note: The following lines that Pan left for Cosmo is an actual quote from Peter Pan. The lines Peter Pan said to his beloved.

Tanaki had whispered, "Pan left this message for you - You know the place between sleep and awake, the place where you still remember dreaming?
That's where I'll always love you.
That's where I'll be waiting."