Cruelty

We stand in silence, flooded by the surge of relief and gratification, taking the other's presence completely in and memorising every detail.

Chiye places her chin on my chest and looks up to me, not moving one bit further away from our embrace. "You really shouldn't be here."

Her warm brown eyes gaze into mine, worried and uneasy.

"You shouldn't be here either." 

Her expression turns into a sad grimace, her smile bitter.

"There is a reason for me to be here."

I begin to frown. "What reason could that be? I'm here to bring you back to the earthly realm."

For a brief moment she averts her eyes. "It's a little bit complicated, but I will tell you eventually."

I observe her more closely. Pressing on any further would cause unnecessary distress, so I settle with her vague answer for now.

"Alright. Whatever it is, I'm set on us returning back home." 

Her smile softens up, warmly and tenderly.

"How are you?" I carefully brush some hair strands out of her face. "It must have been difficult."

"I'm okay, just a little bit tired." 

She moves a bit away, trying to inspect my face, gently tracing the side of my forehead, eye and cheek. Her fingertips only touch my skin delicately, barely perceptible yet it sends a prickling sensation through my entire body. 

"You can rest now, Airi and I will take over."

Her eyes widen and she quickly looks around us. 

Airi followed me slowly, leaving Chiye and I space to share this moment of reunion.

She slowly approaches us, ever so gracefully and beautifully. I can sense that she has her powers completely back, her aura is just as strong as when we first entered the in-between realm. Looking at her for too long is overwhelming.

Chiye releases herself from our hug, which I take with a silent grumble and bows before Airi. 

"It is my greatest pleasure to finally meet you, Chiye." Airi reaches out with her hands and grabs onto Chiye's hands. "It would take an eternity to tell you how grateful I am." 

Chiye looks at Airi with awe, completely captivated, which makes me chuckle. I must have had a similar bewildered expression when I first saw her in her real form. 

"No, no, it's me who is deeply honoured." Chiye's voice reflects her admiration and reverence. 

"Let us proceed and have an elaborate conversation after achieving our goals by a cup or two in your favourite coffee shop."

Chiye smiles but shakes her head. "I can't leave this realm. I don't possess a body outside of it." 

With her head she gestures around us, being surrounded by all the formless figures. 

"I won't leave you here alone." I step forward, holding onto her sleeve. 

She looks at me reassuringly. "I can wait for a little bit longer. You don't have to worry about me."

I'm hesitating. I don't want to let Chiye out of my sight, fearing that I would lose her again or fall victim to some other scheme that will force her to the heavenly realm.

At the same time, I feel obligated to accompany Airi in order to conclude her journey as well. 

Chiye looks at me or rather just right through me, reading my thoughts.

"I'll be fine, you should finish all of your business here before returning home." 

"Before we return home." 

She only smiles at me and takes a step back, her sleeve slipping through my fingers. 

Her behaviour gives me an ominous feeling, as if she is undoubtedly sure that she will not return to the earthly realm. I grit my teeth, unsure how to handle it. I'll have to wait until she tells me her reasons, so until then I will continue to believe that we will leave this realm together. For me that's the only available option. If the price I have to pay is staying here, then I will gladly do that without a second thought, if that's what is necessary for Chiye to leave.

She probably knows some information for her to have this pessimistic resolve. Then it's on me to show her that there are also other outcomes. 

My thoughts get interrupted by a sudden loud rumbling across the entire realm. Like thunder, the ground vibrates and the brightness dims abruptly. 

From the periphery of our awareness, spirits emerge with a radiant glow, exuding an air of authority and purpose.

"They are from the solar kingdom." I follow Airi's eyes observing the insignia on their gowns.

Their forms shimmer with a golden brilliance, like rays of sunlight refracted through water. Their voices, resonant and commanding.

With a solemn grace, they approach, their eyes, like pools of golden light, fix upon Airi and me with purpose. With measured words that resonate like ancient hymns, they proclaim the reason for their sudden arrival.

"Airi, lunar deity banished from the heavenly realm, you stand accused of breaking your exile by returning to the celestial realm without fulfilling your earthly duties." They declare, their voices carrying the weight of divine decree. They turn towards me. "And Azami Yuzuru, mortal companion to a celestial being, you are charged with aiding and abetting Airi in her return to the heavenly realm, thus trespassing the gates of heaven without rightful claim." The spirits continue, their words echoing like the resounding notes of a sacred bell.

The weight of the accusation settles on me, a stark reminder of the unconventional path we've embarked upon.

"You are both hereby summoned to a tribunal where your fates will be judged upon anew."

Their voices send shivers down my spine, the authority they hold and exude almost makes me falter. It is imposing, nearly over-bearing. 

Airi steps forward, standing tall, her presence exuding a quiet determination.

"Spirits of the sun kingdom." Airi begins, her voice carrying a blend of respect and firmness. "I stand before you not in defiance, but in the pursuit of a deeper truth. My return to the heavenly realm was not an act of rebellion, but a response to a scheme that transcends the boundaries of mortal and celestial realms."

She continues, her words measured and unwavering. "Furthermore, Azami Yuzuru has been involuntarily entangled in my fate. Accusations shall not be directed towards him." Airi's defence carries a resonance of conviction, a plea for understanding in the face of celestial law.

"I implore you to consider that our path may not align with conventions, but is driven by a reverence for a greater purpose."

Airi's words linger in the air, the weight of her conviction pressing against the boundaries of celestial judgement. The spirits from the sun kingdom listen, their expressions unmoved, as they prepare to render their verdict. Though Airi has voiced her defence, the inevitability of facing the celestial tribunal still looms.

Eventually they step forward, unfaltering and unyielding. Speaking in an echoing unison. "We are to escort you to the tribunal."

I can see Airi grit her teeth, angrily, but compliant. She turns towards me, with an apologetic expression, her eyes read that there is nothing we can do against the divine summon.

I subtly nod, turning to Chiye and grabbing her hands. I firmly look her in the eyes, filled with distress and worry.

"Please wait for me. I will come back to get you and we will return to the earthly realm together. I don't care what kind of details or information you might have, but I will do everything in my power to show you a happy ending to all of this." I try to put all of my confidence and conviction into my words, conveying my unyielding promise to her.

She returns my gaze resolutely. "I'll be waiting."

I try to suppress the grating frustration and the feeling of defeat welling up inside me. 

This might actually be the perfect opportunity to plead for Airi's case. 

The tribunal's decision is yet to be made, and our fate in this celestial trial is still to be determined.

Reluctantly Airi and I follow the spirits, escorting us away from Chiye, leaving her behind with all the other formless souls. The air grows heavier, and the celestial glow dims, replaced by a subdued illumination that hints at the gravity of our situation. The spirits escort us with a sense of solemn purpose, their movements measured and deliberate.

As far as I can perceive it, we are still at the gates of heaven. 

Rationally speaking, Airi didn't really enter the heavenly realm, but I guess her leaving the earthly realm is enough to be rendered as opposing her heavenly banishment. 

Soon, we arrive at a set of imposing doors. They swing open, revealing chambers that seem more akin to regular rooms than the grandeur we anticipated. The walls are hewn from a material that carries a faint, ethereal luminescence, casting a gentle, diffuse light within.

This isn't a courtroom. Naturally, I wouldn't know what a heavenly tribunal would look like, but this isn't even close to it.

Those are cells.

I look around, taking in the solemn surroundings. The walls seem to hold the echoes of countless stories, and the air carries a sense of anticipation, as if it, too, is aware of the momentous events to come. "What is the meaning of this?" Airi's tone is cold, almost piercing through the air.

"You are to await your judgement. The tribunal shall take place when it will be appropriate." The spirit's reply is unfazed by Airi's displeasure.

Airi and I exchange a glance, a mixture of surprise and resignation in our eyes. It becomes clear that our fate in this celestial trial is to be held in abeyance. We are led into separate cells, each one bearing a profound stillness that seems to echo with the weight of awaiting judgement. The sun spirits leave and the feeling of being treated unjust and prejudiced creeps up within me.

As I settle into the cell, I can't help but feel a sense of detachment from the grandeur of the heavenly realm. Here, in this quiet chamber, time seems to slow, and the reality of our situation sinks in. We are left to await the appointed hour, when the tribunal will convene, and our fate will be decided. Until then, we are left with nothing but our thoughts and the weight of uncertainty that hangs in the air.

I sit down on a chair, facing the intricately decorated door. Freedom just beyond the ornate entrance.

I glance at my hands that held Chiye just a few minutes ago. The feeling of her skin and warmth on mine still lingers and I close my hands into fist, trying to maintain that sensation for as long as possible.

The abrupt separation right after just finding each other is harsh, if not even cruel.

I would have loved to tell her everything just then and there. To bridge the gap that now lies between us.

Somewhere inside the back of mind, is a quiet voice fearing that there won't be another chance.

The only thing I want to do is set things right, between us. 

Yet, a louder voice in my head says that there will be a better, more fitting opportunity to do so and that's what I want to believe in. It's a belief I want to hold onto, a hope that buoys me in this uncertain moment. I will strive for that.

I look over to the wall to my right side, in the cell next to mine where Airi is located.

The difference was uncanny. 

Airi being in Chiye's body and Chiye herself. 

It really felt like the deepest part of my entire being just sensed that this was Chiye and although I technically spent a lot of time with her, the fact that it wasn't truly Chiye made a tremendous difference. As if my feelings towards Chiye are in fact rooted in her as a person and not on her looks alone. 

It was easier to distance myself emotionally while Airi was in her body, but when I met Chiye again, it felt like all of my feelings and emotions would just spill out uncontrollably. Like a relentless wave, surging forward, yearning to reach her.

All the more mortifying to have to wait again, after having a taste of the most euphoric feeling - the reunion with the person dearest to you. 

If this is what being with your soulmate feels like, then I would go as far and say that Chiye is mine. That feeling doesn't originate in the fact that some otherworldly puppet master has decided that, but rather that it was the culmination of the time spent together, all the words and thoughts shared with one another, the establishment of our routine, the accustoming with each other, all the small and subtle things and the awareness to not want to miss on this unique affinity. I made Chiye to be my fated partner and not some red threads. 

It's frustrating at the same time, since this epiphany really has the worst timing. I was too busy ignoring and suppressing my thoughts and considerations on love, that I couldn't see the obvious. Bound by my own shackles that I created out of fear and cowardice. 

I gaze upon my hands again, the feeling of Chiye's presence fading. 

If reaching my objective of bringing her back home to the earthly realm results in incurring the wrath of the divine deities and the heavens upon me, then I am willing to carry that burden. 

An all too familiar warm fuzzy feeling creeps up on me from the bottom of my feet. 

It's Airi.

It feels like her aura is brushing on the edge of my consciousness, like a gentle greeting.

I'm not too overly surprised, but this method is new. Maybe it's something in her divine repertoire since her powers are now unsealed. 

I don't know how to respond to her, so I try to concentrate on giving that warm feeling a greeting in return. 

It seems to work as Airi sends a wave of comfort, which I try to return to her as well. 

This spiritual exchange makes me chuckle. It's a reminder that even in solitude, we are not truly alone. It's as if our souls have found a way to bridge the physical gap that separates us.

As the moments pass, I close my eyes and allow myself to be enveloped by the warmth emanating from Airi's presence. It's a strange but welcome form of companionship in this otherwise isolated space. I let my thoughts drift, contemplating the twists of fate that have brought us to this juncture.

Time seems to blur in this quiet chamber. It seems to stretch and contract, as if the minutes and hours are endless. The faint luminescence of the walls plays tricks on the perception of time, casting shifting shadows that dance across the confines of the cell. The distant echoes of celestial murmurs, the soft hum of unseen energies, become my companions. They fill the silence, a gentle undercurrent that hints at the vastness of the heavenly realm beyond these walls.

However, I won't let that weaken my conviction. 

The cells may be confining, but my spirit remains unyielding. Together with Airi, we will face the judgement of the celestial tribunal, ready to defend the choices that have brought us to this pivotal moment in our journey.

As the hours ebb and flow, I am acutely aware of the weight of our impending tribunal. At some point Airi sends a feeling of readiness and preparation. 

I stand up from the chair, anticipating the door to open to be led to the tribunal.

To my surprise it isn't any of the luminous spirits from the sun kingdom that opens the imposing door. "Let me tell you one thing, it was quite the act to find you two." 

In front of me isn't a spirit. It is most definitely a deity.

He exudes a radiant aura that seems to dance with the shimmering currents of the celestial realm. His form is graceful and fluid, mirroring the ebb and flow of the rivers he governs.

His robe, woven from threads of liquid light, billows around him, as if stirred by unseen breezes. The colours shift and blend, reflecting the myriad shades of water, from the tranquil blues of a serene lake to the turbulent greens of a rushing torrent.

His hair, a cascade of shimmering silver, flows like water over his shoulders.

Antler-like antlers crown his head, adorned with delicate water lilies that seem to bloom perpetually. They emit a soft, iridescent glow, casting prismatic patterns on the chamber walls.

As he approaches, the air seems to ripple with a palpable serenity, a testament to the deity's dominion over the element of water. His every movement exudes a sense of calm authority, as if he carries the weight of countless rivers in his very being.

A living embodiment of a river. 

It is Ryousuke, who came to our rescue.

His true form is entrancing, humbling and overwhelming. His voice remained somewhat unchanged, but I could recognise him by his aura. Strangely enough, I could see his true form just fine in every detail. Airi on the other hand was too much for my mortal eyes to look at, I wasn't able to perceive her correctly.

Airi springs up from behind him. "Are you alright?"

Seeing the two deities next to each other is a sight to behold. I'm taken aback by their overpowering presence and splendour. I avert my eyes. 

"I'm fine, but you both are too much to handle for me right now." 

"Oh." Ryousuke sounds surprised and then he laughs. "So that is the reason why you are in this strange half-hearted form!"

"Would you please change?" Airi sounds a little bit annoyed. 

"Your wish is my command." I can hear Ryousuke's smirk in his reply. 

I briefly glance at them and feel relieved. He is no longer emitting his imposing strong aura and his firm took a more pleasant variety for my mortal eyes.

"Now that we have sorted that out, we should get away from here as fast as possible, before the spirits return." Ryousuke points at the hallway that we came through.

As we step into the corridor, Ryousuke leads the way, his form radiating a soft, iridescent glow. The corridor seems to stretch endlessly before us, its walls adorned with intricate patterns that seem to pulse with life. 

We wander through the celestial realm, guided by Ryousuke's steady presence. Each step feels like a revelation, as if we are treading on the very threads of fate itself. 

The colours shift and blend, creating a mesmerising kaleidoscope that seems to dance before our eyes. With each step, I am filled with a sense of gratitude towards Ryousuke.

After navigating us through a seemingly labyrinth of corridors we end up in a small room, tucked away in a corner of the celestial realm. In the centre of the room, a low, circular table stands, its surface etched with delicate patterns that mirror the celestial constellations. Ryousuke takes a seat, his presence commanding yet gentle.

"We should have some privacy here." He gestures to us to join him at the table.

"How did you find us?" Airi sits down and I do so as well.

"After receiving the text messages from him I had the feeling that those pond spirits were up to no good. Especially after finding out that those weren't the real spirits residing within the pond."

Ryousuke leans back into his chair. My eyes widen.

"The shrine maiden's body laid there beside the pond and I took her home back to her temple. Those spirits that you encountered, what was their name? Toki and Nobu? They are imposters, malicious yako kitsune, who sealed away the real pond spirit and took its place instead in order to deceive you. I haven't been able to find them, but at least after having to use up all of my connections and favours, I got a hold of you now."

He sighs dramatically and leans towards Airi, looking at her with adoring eyes and a smirk on his lips. 

She pats him on his forehead. "I deeply appreciate your effort, I'll be forever in your debt."

His smirk turns into a bright smile. 

She returns his smile warmly, earnestly. "I'm really grateful to you, Ryousuke."

He sighs again now in joy, nestling his head into her hand.

"However, you two are in great danger. Or rather, you are now fugitives." His tone gets more serious.

"There is a bigger plot behind it, far greater than we thought. The idea that your banishment onto the earthly realm was part of a scheme, isn't that far off. Though, the overall scale of this is more extensive and therefore, we have to be more cautious."

Ryousuke sits upright on the chair and leans over the table, resting his head on his hands.

"So far all the information points at the sun kingdom. I also have some more spirits, besides the weaver girl who are willing to testify for your innocence. We should meet up with them, in order to prepare for your plea."

I'm surprised at the effort that Ryousuke put into this, but at the same time it isn't a surprise either. His infatuation with Airi is remarkable, the lengths he is willing to go is exceptional. It makes me doubt if I'm truly the one tool that Airi is supposed to help. Wouldn't he be the better choice? Well, who knows what's behind all of this anyways.

Airi stands up, confident and serene. She looks at us with a firm gaze, smiling determinedly. "We shouldn't hide away, we didn't commit a crime. Let's go and bring the truth to the light."

Ryousuke grins, joining in her enthusiasm and laughs.

I smile as well. "Thank you for helping us." I pat him on the shoulder, a little bit timid, since his true divine form is more intimidating than his human look. 

He turns to me, grinning even more smugly. "I have to thank you, Yuzuru. You are the first mortal who was willing to come this far for my beloved Airi. With that my true potential to assist her finally came to light." He pats me back with a powerful slap, which takes away my breath for a brief moment. 

Leaving the small chamber, we step back into the corridor, the celestial patterns on the walls seeming to guide our way. Soon, we arrive at a junction where the corridor widens. In the middle of it, on the pristine floor of the celestial realm, lies a spirit. We approach the motionless spirit and a chilling sight meets our eyes. 

The spirit has the form of a small girl, her limbs contort at unnatural angles, bearing witness to the cruel atrocities. Strands of her celestial robes, once vibrant and flowing, now hang in tatters, their threads frayed and torn. The celestial patterns on the walls seem to dim in response to the tragic scene before us, as if mourning the loss of one of their own. The air carries a palpable heaviness, a solemnity that hangs like a shroud over the junction.

Airi gasps and Ryousuke, usually calm and playful, frowns with a sorrowful cast.

"It's the weaver girl." His voice sounds aghast, revolted. 

The unfamiliar tone sends shivers down my spine. His anger echoes through the corridors like a wave.

Airi kneels down, holding the girl in her arms.

Her small hands, delicate and skilled in the art of weaving, are marred and bloodied, the tools of her craft now cruel instruments of her demise.

Ryousuke and I stand beside her, our hearts heavy. Who did this?

A sudden shift in the air alerts us to the presence of others. With a sense of foreboding, we turn to see a group of spirits emerging from the shadows. Their auras burn with an intense, searing light, marking them as emissaries of the sun kingdom

Upon seeing the grotesque sight they draw their bows and aim their arrows directly on each of us. The sharp tips ablaze. It's a chilling sight, an extreme contrast to the usually serene and harmonious atmosphere of the celestial realm.

Ryousuke, Airi, and I stand frozen in the wake of this sudden confrontation. The fallen weaver girl's body lies in Airi's arms, a silent witness to the tragedy that unfolds.

Airi's presence radiates with a newfound intensity, her aura a fusion of determination and divine power. She steps forward, after gently laying the weaver girl back down, a beacon of unwavering resolve, her eyes locking with the leader of the sun kingdom spirits. There's a silent exchange of threat and defiance that passes between them.

Ryousuke, too, stands firm, his presence commanding and authoritative. His aura intensifies again. 

The air crackles with tension, the hum of unseen energies palpable. It's a moment poised on the precipice of conflict, the outcome uncertain. 

The leader of the spirits steps forward, their voice resonating with a steely authority that cuts through the charged atmosphere. "You stand accused of trespassing into the heavenly realm and of harbouring a banished soul within your midst." Their tone is unwavering. 

Their words hang heavy in the air, carrying with them the weight of judgement. The accusation reverberates through the celestial corridor, echoing the gravity of the moment.

Ryousuke's expression remains composed, his gaze equally unwavering as he meets the sun spirit's eyes. Airi stands beside him, her presence a beacon of divine power, her resolve unyielding.

"We seek only the truth and justice for the fallen weaver spirit." Ryousuke responds, his voice calm yet resolute. "Her untimely demise demands answers, and we will not rest until those responsible are held to account."

The sun spirit's aura flares with an intense radiance, their stance unmoved. The tension in the air escalates, as if the very currents of destiny hold their breath, awaiting the resolution of this moment.

The ones behind the entire scheme must have killed her, trying to frame us with her murder in order to bring more evidence for our affronts and against our standpoint. Someone has been trying really hard to hinder us ever since the encounter with Toki and Nobu. 

The puzzle pieces slowly come to place. My thoughts are racing inside my mind, trying to bring some sense into this perilous situation.

Until now all the key moments were ultimately delaying our arrival here at the gates of heaven. 

First, we were deceived to follow the fraudulent pond spirits into the in-between realm, where Airi and I weren't supposed to be in the first place. That stopped us from entering the gates of heaven from the very start, where the witnesses would have joined us to unravel the conspiracy that revolves around Airi. 

After finally arriving here, we were almost immediately taken away, being accused of breaking Airi's banishment and my intrusion into this sacred realm. 

We would have probably stayed inside those cells for another eternity longer, if Ryousuke hadn't found us. And now after all of this ordeal, when wanting to meet up with the witnesses, our key witness, the weaver girl spirit, is found murdered. Coincidentally, we are at the scene, when the spirits arrive here, naturally assuming that we did that gruesome crime.

This all falls too conveniently into the hands of the schemer. 

The sun spirit's gaze remains unyielding, their aura pulsating with a fierce determination. They speak with a voice that carries the weight of celestial authority, breaking my train of thoughts. 

"Justice is the cornerstone of the heavenly realms. The laws of the sun kingdom are absolute, and those who defy them must face the consequences." Their response is unfaltering, rooted in a steadfast belief in the sanctity of their realm's laws.

Ryousuke remains composed, but his aura burns with determination. He responds with a measured tone. "We do not seek to challenge the laws, but to uncover the truth. The weaver's death is a stain on the celestial realms, and it is our duty to ensure that justice prevails."

"It is not your duty to ensure justice in this realm." 

"Then name our motive. Why should a mere mortal, a lunar deity and a river deity murder this weaver?" Ryousuke's voice drips with indignation, reflecting his divine authority. 

As far as I can understand the hierarchy of the heavenly realm, Airi and Ryousuke stand above these spirits. 

The spirits remain in their position with their arrows pointing at us.

"This is not for us to find out. The tribunal shall bring judgement upon you."

Ryousuke slowly positions himself in front of Airi and me.

"Get ready to flee." He whispers to us, without the other spirits to be able to perceive it.

"If you are not willing to comply, we will have to force you to come with us or bring judgement upon you immediately." The spirits draw their bows firmer, steadfastly aiming at us.

Ryousuke cracks his knuckles and builds himself up in front of us.

The tension reaches its zenith, a sudden eruption of chaos shatters the stillness of the celestial corridor. In a blur of motion, Ryousuke's form undergoes a breathtaking transformation, his figure elongating and unfurling until he stands before us in his true, awe-inspiring form—a magnificent dragon, scales gleaming with celestial light.

With a resounding roar that reverberates through the corridor, Ryousuke launches himself into the fray. The air crackles with energy as arrows of searing light rain down upon him. Each projectile meets its mark, only to glance off his shimmering scales, leaving trails of stardust in their wake.

Ryousuke' wings beat with a thunderous rhythm, sending ripples of energy through the air. He counters with graceful sweeps of his tail, swatting aside arrows and sending shockwaves through the celestial realm. His presence is a testament to the raw power that courses through the veins of the heavenly realms.

The sun kingdom spirits, faced with the formidable might of Ryousuke, find themselves pushed back, their arrows proving ineffective against the dragon's impervious scales. The corridor becomes a maelstrom of celestial energies, a clash of forces that defies the bounds of earthly comprehension.

But as the battle rages on, a subtle shift in the air signals a grim turn of events. The arrows, once radiant with celestial light, now carry a sinister, iridescent glow. "Ryousuke!" Airi screams, jolting forwards, her face distorted with horror.

Ryousuke fights valiantly, every movement a testament to his indomitable spirit. Yet, as the arrows pierces through his celestial form, his strength begins to wane. With each beat of his wings, with each strike of his tail, I can sense the toll it takes on him.

Airi's aura intensifies, burning with rage and temper. She steps forward to assist Ryousuke, but with a subtle gesture he stops her, forcing her to stay back. He briefly glances over to me, requesting. I understand and hold onto Airi firmly, stopping her from getting any closer. The adrenaline rushes through my veins, the sight in front of me is overwhelming and I feel so helpless. Neither am I of help against the spirits, nor in any other form. I'm just a human with no extraordinary power, dependent on the mercy of the gods and heavens. 

"Ryousuke!" Airi's voice echoes over the sounds of the fight, filled with terror and frustration. She tries to unwind herself from my grasp, but I try my best to stay unmoved. The mortification numbs me.

"Yuzuru! Let me go! There is something wrong with these spirits! I have to help him!" Her plea is almost heartbreaking and the power of her words is imposing, but I stay unwavering, since Ryousuke asked me to do this.

In a final, monumental effort, Ryousuke unleashes a burst of radiant energy, illuminating the corridor in a dazzling display of celestial light. For a brief moment we are blinded by the brilliance. As my eyes adjust to the light, the sun kingdom spirits have disappeared.

But as the light fades, a solemn stillness settles over the junction. Ryousuke stands, his once resplendent form now dimmed and fading. He looks at us, a knowing sadness in his eyes.

He returns to his human-like form and collapses on the spot, holding his left side.

We run over to him, Airi carefully supports his upper body on her legs. Tears are streaming down her face, not harming her beauty in the slightest. She gently caresses his face. "Why did you do that?" 

He grins weakly. "They wouldn't have let us go away and they didn't plan to bring us to a tribunal either. That was the only way to ensure your safety."

I look at his left side. An arrow pierces his body.

Ryousuke follows my gaze. "You have to use this arrow as evidence." Suddenly, he pulls the arrow out with a suppressed groan.

"What are you doing?" Airi's voice panics, her hands now pressing on his open wound.

He laughs. "I will not survive. The arrow is imbued with poison." He holds the arrow up and places it into my hands. "Be careful, the tip is deadly." 

"What is poison against a deity?" Airi shakes her head, the tears falling onto Ryousuke's face.

"That's the key evidence now. The poison is an impurity, quite rare in the heavenly realm. Tracing back the origins of it might reveal the true culprits behind all of this."

He glances over to me. "You saw through it, didn't you?" 

I nod slightly. "It's a delaying tactic."

He smiles affirmatively. "Sooner or later I would've probably died anyway." 

Airi gasps. "Don't say that."

Ryousuke turns towards her, lifting his hand and caressing her face. "There is no greater honour than to die helping you return to your former glory and freedom."

She sobs. "I don't need any of that if it means your sacrifice."

He shakes his head. "Don't say that." He grins. "I will be reborn, so please find your way to my humble river and tell me about the noble deeds my first life did for you."

With a final, graceful movement, Ryousuke's form dissolves, leaving behind a luminous trail of stardust. The celestial patterns on the walls seem to shimmer in acknowledgment of his sacrifice.

Airi and I sit in reverent silence, our hearts heavy with the weight of loss. The junction now bears witness to the valiant sacrifice of another noble spirit. In this solemn moment, Airi's cry resounds through the entirety of the realm. Bloodcurdlingly. 

Even in this sacred realm, a place of ethereal beauty and serenity, the cruelty of the one can turn it into such an agonising stage.