They finally managed to escape. They had been on the run for three months now. The two were just walking back home during the sunset, finally having time to talk, to just be together without fear. But that all ended when it happened.
He heard the slipping noise and looked up. A truck had slipped and was coming their way. Before he had time to react, Hakuryuu had pushed him aside, their promise forgotten.
Tsurugi watched, horrified, his eyes wide open, how his loved one was smashed by the truck, the blood that he had seen so many times before dying everything a crimson red. The truck, the road, his face. Kyousuke felt Merith trying take over his body, telling him to move. Tsurugi ran towards Hakuryuu, finally able to move again. He took him in his arms, and noticed he was still breathing. He grabbed his hand. "Haku.. ryuu..?" The boy opened one eye. "Damn, we've failed.." Tsurugi recognised the manner of speaking. "..Lunn?" The other looked up to Tsurugi with a tired smile. "He really did.. love you, ya'know?" Tsurugi felt tears streaming down his face. "We're.. sorry.. K-kyou..suke.." The hand he was holding trembled and then laid still. "Haku..ryuu..? ..Lunn..?" Dead eyes stared at the sky. Tsurugi was shaking. Suddenly the smell of blood, mixed with gasoline, filled his lungs and it became too much for him. He couldn't believe it, he didn't want to believe it.
He let his consciousness fade. Maybe this was all just a bad dream...
It had not been a bad dream. He opened his eyes and saw a white ceiling. when he looked around he recognised it as a hospital room. At his right he saw yuuichi in his wheelchair, staring out the window. When he blinked he felt tears on his face. "Is he really..?" Yuuichi turned around at the sound of his voice. "Kyousuke! You're awake!" Tsurugi covered his face with his arm. Kyousuke, huh...? That had been Hakuryuu's last word, said with his dying breath. He knew it had been Hakuryuu, his lover, who said it. The others never called him Kyousuke. Yuuichi, who was now at his bedside, took his hand. "I'm sorry... " Tsurugi sat up and wiped the tears away. "I know. He's dead, isn't he. Gone." He didn't wait for Yuuichi's answer. "What happened to his body?" Yuuichi hesitated. "I'm not sure. But I'll try to find out so we can arrange a funeral." Tsurugi closed his eyes. "Thanks."
He stared at the coffin with empty eyes. White flowers decorated the wooden coffin. Inside laid his lover, dressed in one of Tsurugi's shirts. Hakuryuu once stole it from him and never returned it. The big oven-alike doors closed and Tsurugi wiped the last tears away. He remembered the promise they once made. They had made a lot of promises at God Eden. All for just one goal; to escape that torture island alive. His freedom had been short, he deserved so much more! But it was impossible now, and Tsurugi would never see him again.
A few days later they received the ashes. Tsurugi looked at the pot, a white flower was attached to its lit. The name of his lover was written on it in fancy letters. Tsurugi placed it in his room, next to the photos of them together. The bed was still as Hakuryuu had left it. Tsurugi had no desire to clean it. He laid down on the bed with a sigh. Would he ever stop seeing the nightmares? I hope you can finally rest, my love. Hakuryuu, for you, I'll live.
