As his fingers curl around the mirror and lift it away from the other artifacts, the 'present' as it stands in his dream seems to disappear before Kit's eyes. He's unaware of the spell that is cast upon him, and unaware of Emily as she calls upon her demonic helper once again. Even the sound of leathery wings cutting through the air is lost to his ears...for the way she speaks to him and calls his name.
Shuichi.
He sees himself in a hospital. A young boy, a spirit detective named Yusuke, has come with him to see her. His mother erroneously believes they're friends, but he doesn't correct her. She seems so happy to see that he isn't alone, and besides, he is more concerned with prompting her to eat. She forgets to eat so often these days, and if she gives up, she will never beat the illness that has overtaken her body. Already her health has declined so far that it's even a strain for her to sit up in her bed. He worries that if she doesn't get better soon...he might lose her.
Whatever the cost, he mustn't allow that to happen.
In fact, she is the reason he'd stolen the Forlorn Hope from the Reikai in the first place. With its power, and by the light of the full moon, he can make a wish and his mother will be saved. But it will cost him...
...his life.
It is a small price to pay, however. He owes her so much more than that. He stole his way into her life without permission and deceived her for fifteen years. Just by existing he has caused he a great deal of pain. If he can take even a fraction of that away and make amends, then he will gladly sacrifice himself. In a way, it is both an apology for all the suffering he has caused her, and a thank you for all that she has given him, including a second chance at life.
But come that night, the detective doesn't let him go through with it. Not alone. The mirror requests his life, but the other boy opts to share his, thus preventing the need for anyone to die. He is saved. His mother is saved.
And Kit has his answer.
With a breath that deposits him from his memory and back into the present, the three artifacts vanish into a puff of smoke. However, his hand is not left empty. Instead of the hard and unyielding surface of that demonic mirror, a supple and thorny rose lays flat in his palm. His fingers curl around its familiar shape, careful of the flower's natural protection, and as he turns his attention back to his companion, who has taken to dealing lethal damage to those relentless tracer eyes, he lets the rose fly...
Its stem, sharper than any steel blade, pierces one of those bat-like monstrosities, and before it can reach her, it explodes several feet away from Emily.
"I believe there was some truth to your words after all."
but that would mean stealing reimi's thunder
Shuichi.
He sees himself in a hospital. A young boy, a spirit detective named Yusuke, has come with him to see her. His mother erroneously believes they're friends, but he doesn't correct her. She seems so happy to see that he isn't alone, and besides, he is more concerned with prompting her to eat. She forgets to eat so often these days, and if she gives up, she will never beat the illness that has overtaken her body. Already her health has declined so far that it's even a strain for her to sit up in her bed. He worries that if she doesn't get better soon...he might lose her.
Whatever the cost, he mustn't allow that to happen.
In fact, she is the reason he'd stolen the Forlorn Hope from the Reikai in the first place. With its power, and by the light of the full moon, he can make a wish and his mother will be saved. But it will cost him...
...his life.
It is a small price to pay, however. He owes her so much more than that. He stole his way into her life without permission and deceived her for fifteen years. Just by existing he has caused he a great deal of pain. If he can take even a fraction of that away and make amends, then he will gladly sacrifice himself. In a way, it is both an apology for all the suffering he has caused her, and a thank you for all that she has given him, including a second chance at life.
But come that night, the detective doesn't let him go through with it. Not alone. The mirror requests his life, but the other boy opts to share his, thus preventing the need for anyone to die. He is saved. His mother is saved.
And Kit has his answer.
With a breath that deposits him from his memory and back into the present, the three artifacts vanish into a puff of smoke. However, his hand is not left empty. Instead of the hard and unyielding surface of that demonic mirror, a supple and thorny rose lays flat in his palm. His fingers curl around its familiar shape, careful of the flower's natural protection, and as he turns his attention back to his companion, who has taken to dealing lethal damage to those relentless tracer eyes, he lets the rose fly...
Its stem, sharper than any steel blade, pierces one of those bat-like monstrosities, and before it can reach her, it explodes several feet away from Emily.
"I believe there was some truth to your words after all."