The Bridge Between

Chapter 4: Yuya

Yuya knew that the next time his three counterparts arrived in the Bridge Between, they'd know. Know that he was the missing piece they'd been searching for for the past who-knows-how-many rebirths. (He knew how many. It was his job to know. It just hurt to think about how long he's deceived them. They're going to hate him, he knows it.)

Time passed and Yuya did as he has always done since he became the Bridge keeper. He greeted the souls who passed, helped them accept their deaths, and sent them to their next life. His three brothers arrived like clockwork every time. With their deaths always being just before their 15th birthday, their arrival in the Bridge Between marked the end of the rebirth cycle. It's how he'd been getting away with keeping them longer than necessary. They could have been sent to their next life no more than five minutes after dying, but he kept them here, with him.

He was pathetic.

With the final soul sent, Yuya stood and waited. They'd be here soon. He knew this day would come. Yuri's unexpected questioning was completely expected in hindsight. It was just the beginning of what he knew was going to come sooner or later. He'd promised himself after making that deal with the Ens that when they realized who he really was, he wouldn't lie.

He would tell them the truth. The whole truth.

Feeling the shift in the Bridge, Yuya turned. In the fading light stood Yuto, his eyes already filling with tears.

The grey eyed boy ran at Yuya, throwing his arms around the other in the fiercest hug Yuya had ever received in this and his past life.

"Why didn't you tell us?" Yuto asked, his words tinged with the tears he was trying desperately to contain.

Yuya returned the hug, replying, "Wait until they get here. After that, I'll tell you everything."

They didn't have to wait long.

Yuri appeared soon after, his eyes zeroing in on them as he walked towards the two of them, Yuya still trapped in Yuto's tight embrace. Yuri, too, latched onto Yuya, wrapping them both in a hug Yuya had forgotten Yuri could give.

It's been so long since he'd felt his brother's hugs, Yuya thought he was going to break from joy.

Yugo came last. He didn't even wait until his soul had finished taking shape before he was running, throwing himself at the other three.

Yuya breathed them in. No matter how many times he did it, sending them to be reborn while he stayed here, alone, broke him. Everytime they left, they took little pieces of him with them.

But they were here now. His brothers. His soulmates . They were here, with him.

They knew.

All the joy Yuya felt washed away in an instant.

He'd promised himself that he would tell them. They deserved to know, no matter what happened afterwards.

He'd promised.

Yuya summoned their garden. While he could make the Bridge Between look anyway he wished, this garden was theirs , in a way the other three didn't know. Yet.

The four of them sat down in their favorite chairs. And Yuya began his explanation.

"Before you ask, everything I told you last time was true, just with pieces omitted. The battle with Academia and Leo Akaba really happened and the four of us meeting was the catalyst for the rebirth of the Dragon King, Zarc."

Yuya watched as his words sank in. He could see his brother's memories slowly resurfacing, as was his goal. Yuto looked angry and Yuya guessed it was because his memories of Heartland's destruction had returned. Yugo had a lost look in his eyes, tinged with determination. Rin's kidnapping had hit him harder than anyone could have guessed back then. Yuya then glanced at Yuri, a small, pained smile frozen on his face in an attempt to hide whatever else he was feeling. He never did forgive himself for everything he did in the name of Academia and the Professor.