Chapter 17

CHAPTER TWELVE Back then, Shun had been Shin’s whole world. “Shun? I’m coming in, okay?” The house where they lived had been left to them by their teacher, and there was a room they called the Topside room in a corner of the second floor. Their teacher had conducted his research about the surface there. Shun was particularly fond of that room, and when he didn’t have a duty to perform, he spent most of his time there. “Oh, Shin. I was just wishing I had something to drink.” “Glad to hear it, but…” Shin handed the tea he’d made to Shun, who was reading a book. “When I see you taking medicine, it does make me worry.” “Oh—I’m sorry.” There was a bag of powdered medicine by Shun’s hand. “Hey, Shin. This says they can cure diseases on the surface.” “…They cure them?” “Right. They call this kind of medicine symptomatic treatment up there. Lots of the time, it’s just a temporary stopgap.” Shun washed the medicine down with his tea. “Ahhh. You make excellent tea, Shin.” “I’d be happier to hear it if you weren’t using it to take medicine.” The compliment didn’t make him feel bad, though—just faintly warm. “Shin,” Shun said. “If I went to the surface, do you think they’d be able to cure my illness?” “That doesn’t even—!” Shin raised his voice. “If you went to the surface now, they say you wouldn’t even last a few days, remember?! Shun, please, just—” At least spend the time you have left with me. Those words were still in Shin’s heart, forever unspoken. Shin had remembered that moment, although he wasn’t quite sure why. He was beside his horse, gazing at the sky. Then he thought about what the soldier from Amaurot had said to him a little earlier. “You side with neither Agartha nor the surface. From now on, there will be no place for you to rest.” Shin had lost that ages ago. To him, the only “place where he could rest” had been beside Shun. “You have chosen a life of endless wandering and regret for the rest of your days.” “……” Softly, Shin closed his eyes— “—!” —and then he jumped to his feet. Before, he hadn’t been able to see it—but somewhere along the way, he’d learned how. Just like Shun. He could sense her presence now, even when she was far away. “It can’t be!” Shin leaped onto his horse. Run. If he did still have a place where he could rest… It was— “Asunaaaaaaaa!” Asuna had seen this before. Shin leaped out of the sky and slashed through the arms of the Izoku that was holding her by the neck. Released from its grip, she crumpled to the ground. As she coughed and choked, Shin guarded her, holding the Izoku at bay for a while, but then— He noticed. “Dawn’s breaking.” At Shin’s words… …sunlight spilled over from the eastern sky. When the light struck the Izoku, it seemed to burn them. Frantically, they slipped back into the ground— And then only Shin and Asuna were left. “I’m glad you’re okay, Asuna.” Shin held out a hand to her as she sat weakly on the ground. Taking his hand, she got to her feet. “Shin, thank you for saving me.” She was happy from the bottom of her heart—her joy was at least twice as great as the hurt she’d felt when he’d told her he should have killed her. No, even greater than that. “I never thanked you properly, did I?” she asked. Shin averted his gaze slightly, seeming embarrassed. “My body just moves on its own. Before I can think. I didn’t plan to save you.” “……” Asuna gazed at Shin steadily. “—Wh-what?” He was kind of cute when he was flustered, she thought. “The color of your eyes isn’t quite the same as Shun’s, is it?” “Nope. He was taller, too, and the color of his hair was a little different.” Asuna smiled. “You’re right. Now that I’m paying attention, you’re still just a kid.” “S-so are you.” After Shin’s retort, Asuna paused briefly. “You really weren’t Shun, were you?” She wasn’t looking for confirmation. She just said it. “You’re still saying that—” Shin started to speak, but then he swallowed the words. Asuna was crying. She didn’t even try to wipe away the tears that trickled down her cheeks. “Because, I mean…” Shin remembered what the old man had said: “…Lives become part of something greater.” “Weep freely for them.” “……” Shin watched Asuna sob for a little while, and then— “Don’t cry!” he said, his voice rising. Then he crumpled to his knees. Tears spilled from his eyes. “Shun…” And then, for a while, the two of them cried right out loud. It may have been the first time either of them had really accepted Shun’s death. Morisaki’s feet sank into water, and he set them down firmly. He was no longer on the cliff. He took a deep breath. “Did I…make it?” Suddenly, his strength drained out of him, and he collapsed. That climb would have been impossible for most. His entire body was drenched in the water, even his face— And then he sat up. “Vita-aqua, hmm? …It feels as if my strength’s returned.” He looked around. He was in a strange place, with enormous crystals growing around him. “A Quetzal Coatl graveyard, huh…?” He began to walk. Before long, Morisaki reached a black sphere that floated in empty space. He remembered the texts he’d read in the old man’s library. “So this…is the Gate of Life and Death.” He touched the black sphere—or he tried to. Instead, his arm was sucked right into it. “……” Morisaki followed it in. Inside, he found a sky filled with stars overhead. A sky that wasn’t supposed to exist in Agartha. A grassy plain rolled away endlessly, in all directions. Slowly, Morisaki set out across it. Up ahead, there was a stone pedestal, and he placed the clavis fragment on top. For a little while, nothing happened. However, at length…the clavis abruptly began to glow, as well as the fragment. At the same moment, a shadow appeared overhead— “Shakuna Vimana!” The ship descended slowly, and as it approached, its shape transformed into something grotesque, like a giant on its hands and knees. It landed heavily… …and countless eyes opened all over its body. “So this is the god of Agartha.” As Morisaki watched, the eyes winked and blinked, independently of the others. He heard its voice in his mind. “State my wish…?” Morisaki murmured. He clenched his fists, closed his eyes, and exhaled. Finally, the time had come. “It’s been ten years…” A whirlwind of memories passed through his heart. “I’ve never forgotten you, not for a moment. I did try to get over your death once. But…” Morisaki shook his head. “I couldn’t do it. I can’t find any meaning in a world without you.” Then he made his wish—with all the fervor in his heart. “Lisa! Return to me!” In the next instant, the clavis gave off a brilliant light, and a glowing rift opened in the air in front of the god. Red tendrils of light stretched from the rift, coiling in front of Morisaki. Before long, they formed a vague human figure. Gradually, little by little, it took form. And what appeared was… …the shape of his dear, beloved… Lisa. “Lisa? Is that you…?” He tried to touch her. But she was only liquid—Vita-aqua, in the shape of a person. “Why—?” Morisaki murmured. In front of him, once again, the myriad eyes blinked, and the voice of the god echoed in his mind. “Provide a living vessel to house the soul?” he repeated. In that moment, a dark internal struggle began inside Morisaki. After the children had cried themselves out, they got to their feet, looked at each other, and then— At the solemn sound of a bell, they both looked up. Above them was the ship of the gods, gliding through the sky. “That’s—” “Shakuna Vimana! It’s heading for the Gate of Life and Death!” “Then Mr. Morisaki…” “Did the Arch Angel make it?! Vimana is a ship that carries lives away!” A ship that carried lives away…? Ridiculous. It couldn’t be. Morisaki had said it was a ship the gods traveled on. And yet—Shakuna Vimana descended into Finis Terra, where Morisaki was. It disappeared as they watched, making for the far side of the great pit. “Finis Terra… I thought I’d gotten farther away. I must have been running in circles in the dark,” Asuna said. And then Shin noticed something. “Quetzal Coatl.” A lone Quetzal Coatl was walking toward them. It was shaped like a human but was very large, flesh-colored, and ragged. Shin recognized it—it was the Quetzal Coatl that had made Mimi part of itself. “Asuna, that Quetzal Coatl is—,” he started. Then he hesitated and restarted his sentence. “I think it’s probably come here to die.” The Quetzal Coatl began to sing. The song was lovely and otherworldly, a mixture of sadness and joy. “Before a Quetzal Coatl dies, it pours all its memories into a song and leaves it behind. The song changes shape and travels through everything. It’s transmitted through the vibrations in the air, and it becomes a part of us before we even realize. It’s how they’re remembered forever, somewhere in the world.” A song. She remembered the song she’d heard before, the one that had begun this journey. “What I heard back then was…” Maybe…, Asuna thought. Maybe it was a song Shun sang, just like this. “Shin, I have to go to Mr. Morisaki.” “But that cliff—” “The Quetzal Coatl says it will take us!” It was a curious thing, but Asuna felt as if she understood what the creature was saying. Shin believed it. After all, Mimi was a part of this Quetzal Coatl. When the two of them stood in front of the creature, side by side, it opened its mouth wide and swallowed them. There was no fear. Asuna wouldn’t have identified the feeling as a sort of return to the womb, but she did feel a pleasant sense of relief, like coming home to her mother’s arms. Then the Quetzal Coatl stood on the brink of Finis Terra and slowly leaned in, tipping over the edge. It fell, headfirst, and when it had descended a vast distance, it plunged into a cascade of Vita-aqua. As it was swept along, its body melted into the torrent… And Asuna and Shin, holding hands, washed over the waterfall. At last, they fell into the basin, then crossed a pool of Vita-aqua—the Quetzal Coatl graveyard—and found themselves in front of the black sphere. Shin and Asuna exchanged looks, then nodded at the same time. Let’s go. They walked toward the sphere. Like Morisaki, they were drawn into it… …and arrived on the starry plain. “It’s the night sky…,” Asuna said. “So these are stars,” said Shin. “Asuna?” Morisaki gave a sigh. There was something in front of him—something on all fours with too many eyes to count. “Asuna… I hoped you wouldn’t come.” He was crying—Asuna would never forget that. An intense light flared from the rift in space. The light pierced Asuna… …and she collapsed, like a marionette whose strings had been cut. “Asuna!” Shin ran to her, supporting her. “Asuna…!” Vita-aqua was seeping from her body. He tried to wipe it away over and over, but it kept spilling out until finally she was completely enveloped in it. “You called a dead soul into her body!” Shin felt his hair stand on end with rage. “Arch Angel! Did you choose this?!” Morisaki didn’t answer. He simply walked toward the two of them at an unhurried pace. “Asuna! Don’t surrender your heart! You won’t be able to come back!” The Vita-aqua was shining. “Asuna! Asunaaa!” As Shin screamed, Asuna slowly sat up in his arms. Then— “It’s cold…” She wrapped her arms around herself. “Where are you… Honey?” Morisaki gasped. “Lisa!” As he broke into a run, the eyes of Shakuna Vimana moved again, and Morisaki’s head snapped backward. His right eye was completely blinded, and blood trickled from his left. The music box fell from Morisaki’s hand, and as he staggered forward, it was crushed under his foot. Morisaki turned back, looking up at the Shakuna Vimana. “So the girl wasn’t enough?!” Had he needed to pay more? But “Asuna” was the one who responded. “Honey…?” “Asuna!” Shin shouted, but she didn’t seem to hear. Asuna went on quietly. The voice was too calm, too gentle to be her own. “Honey, are you there?” “Asuna, snap out of it!” Shin called to her, but she didn’t respond. He lowered her to the ground, then ran at Morisaki. Slowly, Morisaki walked toward Asuna—toward Lisa. “Arch Angel! Change Asuna back!” Shin shouted—and that was when he noticed. “Your eyes. You—” “It’s too late. I’ve paid my dues.” Morisaki walked past the boy. “Lisa… I’m here.” His vision was red-tinged and hazy. Even so, he could see the dear figure of the woman he loved. Her slim arms reached out, and she touched Morisaki’s cheeks. “Honey… What’s the matter? You look older.” Morisaki couldn’t fight back his tears, and they spilled down his cheeks. He clasped her slender hands in his own rough ones. “I’m sorry, Lisa.” Behind the two of them, Shin was still speaking quietly. “Asuna…don’t.” Then he looked around…and his eyes landed on the brilliantly shining clavis. “…There!” Shin ran over to it… …took his short sword… …the blade his brother had given him… …and slashed at the clavis. The crystal repelled the blade easily, and an invisible force knocked Shin flying. But he attacked again. He stabbed it. Over. And over. An invisible wall rebuffed every attack. But he wouldn’t give up… “Asuna! Asuna!” Suddenly, Lisa glanced at Shin. “Honey… I know him. How strange; my heart…” Putting his hands on her shoulders, Morisaki smiled at her gently. “Lisa, you stay here.” Then, taking a knife from his pocket, he turned around. “I’ll be back soon.” He started toward Shin. “Asuna!” Shin was still attacking the clavis, again and again. “Asuna! Asunaaa!” The tip of the blade finally chipped. Even then, Shin attacked again and again with the sword his brother had given him— And then he felt a blade against his neck. “Enough. Lisa’s done nothing wrong.” Breathing hard, shoulders heaving, Shin shook Morisaki off. “What matters is the people who are still alive!” As he screamed, he stabbed the clavis one last time. There was a blinding flash of light. Just then, Asuna felt as if someone had called her, and she turned. She was in a quiet room somewhere, sitting at a table. Shun was in the chair across from her, smiling. “Shin’s calling me…,” she murmured. Mimi leaped onto Asuna’s shoulder, circled her neck once, then jumped onto the table, where she sat down primly in front of Shun. “You’re leaving now, aren’t you, Asuna?” Shun said mildly. Asuna nodded. “Uh-huh. Good-bye.” Shin’s sword finally shattered the clavis into pieces. “!” Morisaki whipped around to look at Lisa as she staggered back. “—Lisa!” Running to her, Morisaki caught her, and she crumpled onto his lap. “Lisa!” She reached out, touching his cheeks. “I’m sorry, honey.” Even though she’d done nothing to apologize for. “I couldn’t protect you.” Vita-aqua flooded from her body. “Lisa! Don’t go! Lisa!” But the liquid didn’t stop until it had covered her from head to toe. “I love you! I love you! —I loved you!” he cried. Lisa gave a troubled smile. Then, finally… “I’m so glad.” …with those words as her last, she closed her eyes. The next moment, the Vita-aqua burst… …and all that was left was Asuna’s body. As Morisaki broke down and sobbed, behind him, Shakuna Vimana transformed back into a ship. Shin let out a long sigh. His legs gave out, and he dropped to his knees, raking his fingers through his hair. “Kill me,” Morisaki rasped tearfully. “Please, kill me.” However, Shin shook his head. “My brother spoke to me.” Had he heard because they were inside the Gate of Life and Death? “He said to embrace loss—to keep on living.” The sky had turned a clear blue, and Shakuna Vimana was flying away, between the clouds. “That is the curse of being human.” As Morisaki’s tears fell on her cheeks, Asuna slowly opened her eyes. “But I’m sure…” As Shin spoke behind her, Asuna gently hugged Morisaki. “…it’s a blessing as well.” As he watched them, Shin spoke to her. “Asuna… Thank you for coming into my life.”