Lost & Found

Good End - We Are Free

Aoba opened his eyes as he returned back to reality, panting as he caught his breath. In the real world time had not passed any further, a mere second what for them was an eternity. The once brainwashed young men stopped their struggling, greeted by friends and strangers alike. Some began to cheer, ever so grateful, while others began to cry, not believing what they had just gone through. Aoba turned to face Mink and Koujaku, looking at.

"...guys?" Aoba asked. He waited, holding his breath in anticipation. Koujaku reached his hand out, causing Aoba to flinch before landing gently against his cheek. Aoba looked up at Koujaku's eyes, the warmth and light returning to them once more.

"...thank you, Aoba." Koujaku said. Aoba's eyes widened, smiling as he turned to Mink, who was smiling at him as well.

"Thank you." Mink said. Soon Noiz hurried over, hugging Aoba unexpectedly.

"There you go again, helping us out." Noiz hummed, nuzzling his face against Aoba's shoulder.

"H-Hey! I want to hug him too!" Koujaku said, quickly hugging Aoba as well.

"Aoba!" Clear cheered, hurrying over followed by Ren, who also ended up hugging Aoba. All eyes then turned to Mink.

"Come on Mink, you're the only one left." Ren said, a smile on his lips.

"Here I even made a space for you." Koujaku joked. Mink couldn't help but to smile happily before more than willingly joining the group hug.

"Ehhh you're squishing meeee!" Clear whined.

"Guys you're gonna suffocate Aoba!" Ren added.

"Oh, and you're not contributing to that?" Noiz said.

Aoba couldn't help it, bursting out into laughter. His laughter ended up inciting the rest, having them laugh as well, even though they had no idea what they were laughing about. They were just so happy. They were ok. They were alive. They were together, and they survived despite the odds. Their laughter was interrupted by yelling. The group slowly let go of each other and turned to see Virus and Trip being held down by the large group of people. The group tensed up at their sight.

"I'm going to kill them." Mink hissed, only stopped when Aoba held his arm from going any further. Mitsuki stepped up, looking back at the group.

"We'll take care of this one. You guys should head back home." Mitsuki said.

"Wait, what?" Ren asked, confused. Mitsuki smiled softly.

"Like I said. They underestimated the hatred that they've gained. All of these people have been affected directly or indirectly by them, and lots of them want some payback!" Mitsuki said, pointing back at the large crowd that was glaring at the two who sat, for the first time in a long time, without any control of the situation around them. For the first time, their fate was beyond their control. "Trust me. It'll be fine." Mitsuki said, giving a reassuring smile. "We'll make sure that they don't cause anymore trouble."

The group looked at each other, before looking back at the Mitsuki, and then back at the blondes. They were still ever so defiant, despite the hostility of the crowd. Koujaku nodded at Mitsuki.

"We'll leave it to you, then." Koujaku said, before turning back to the group. "Lets head home." They nodded in agreement, slowly turning, looking back one last time before walking away from it all. Virus and Trip screamed in defiance, but soon enough the screams of anger turned into screams of fear and pain as the large crowd surrounded them. Despite every temptation, they never looked back. They moved forward.

Should to shoulder.

Hand at hand.

...

-MONTHS LATER-

"You guys better eat something before leaving!" Aoba yelled, helping Clear serve breakfast the the table. 

"I'm taking mine to go! Got appointments to get to!" Koujaku said as he strapped on his shoes and hurried to the kitchen.

"I told you you should of woken up when I did." Ren said, reading the newspaper as he sat on the table next to Mink, who ate breakfast quietly while he watched all of this unfold, much like every morning. Suddenly the front door opened up.

"I'm back!" Noiz called as he entered, wearing his suit and carrying his suitcase behind him and a bag in his hands.

"Noiz!" Clear cheered as he ran at him, hugging him. "You're back from Germany!"

"I was only gone for a few weeks." Noiz hummed, though he hugged Clear back with a smile. He reached out into the bag, taking out a snow globe. "I went to France while there." He said, handing Clear a snow globe with the Eiffel tower inside of it. Clear's eyes widened as he took the snow globe.

"Another one for my collection! Thank you so much Noiz!" Clear squealed, hugging him again before hurrying up the stairs to add it to his shelf.

"Here you go. Careful when you cross the street." Aoba said as he handed Koujaku a bowl with hot breakfast.

"Thank you." Koujaku said, kissing Aoba on the cheek as he hurried off. "Hey Noiz."

"Woke up late again?" Noiz smirked.

"No time for your sass!" Koujaku said, waving goodbye before heading out. Noiz went ahead and kissed Aoba on the cheek.

"Going to take a nap. I haven't slept for 10 hours." Noiz said, heading up the stairs. Aoba looked at the clock, quickly cleaning himself up.

"I'm going now. Got to stack some stuff on the shop before we open." Aoba said.

"We'll see you later." Ren said. Aoba kissed Ren's cheek, and then Mink's cheek.

"Careful out there, Aoba." Mink said. Aoba nodded.

"I will. See ya!" Aoba said, hurrying out the door, heading to Haga's shop for a new day.

It's been months since the incident. No one has heard of Virus or Trip, and when asking Mitsuki, he simply insisted that they were taken care of. From then on, they've simply moved on, as if they never existed in the first place.

They would never forget what happened. But they refuse to allow it to hold them back. They have survived and persevered. They no longer were chained to the past. Instead they had grown their wings, and the sky was the limit. They have a lot to learn still...and a whole life to live. But no longer will they live it caged.

For now, and forever more, they are free.