Kagami.

Her voice rang like a glass bell, grasping him from the lull of death.

Kagami.

How long had he been here this time? How long had he endured this pain without even a hint of protest? Noticing him awake, the fire bird that embraced him cried like a new born baby, blowing out what was left of his eardrums. Blood leaked and then evaporated.

Over and over, he desired nothing more than to hear her voice. To embrace her once more. Hearing that voice made his eyes hot with tears.

If only he could wake up from this nightmare.

The flames were like the sun itself. It was unlike any flames he’d faced. It melted deeper than his bones, deeper than his soul. No matter what, he wouldn’t yield a protest of pain.

In the space he inhabited, there was a mirror as tall and pointed as a spire that scrapped the heavens.

He did not see his reflection though. He saw what he truly wanted.

His dear wife.

Kagami.

The pain vanished, as if the flames had been doused with cold water. He was still on fire, still embraced by the fire bird.

But her voice became his strength and he stood tall, enduring it all. The fire bird turned its head in amusement. The flames grew much hotter and whiter. This pain meant nothing as long as he could meet her once more. As long as he could embrace her within his arms again.

His melted finger reached out to touch her reflection and she mirrored his movements to do the same.

At last, after enduring it all, he woke from the nightmare and into another nightmare. From the frying pan and into the fire. One where she was not there, and he was someone else.

Luke had gone back to his wall. His eyes closed and his breath serene despite the blood soaked battleground that Kagami come back into. Kagami scratched his head, trying to remember if it had already been eight times. If Luke was resting, it must be.

Kagami rose to his feet, and Luke opened his eyes slightly to peek at him. He closed his eyes immediately.

“Still not dead. Worthless. You can’t even do that right.”

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“I guess I didn’t live up to our fight then.” Kagami shook his head, looking down at his fist as if it were glass. “It was pathetic. I thought I got stronger too.”

“At least you know.” Luke smiled in triumph. “You’re a weakling Cedar.” He always called him that name to try and annoy him. Kagami never really cared. He was the owner of this body. “You’ll always be.”

“I don’t think so.” His neck felt stiff, so he cracked his neck with a satisfying pop. “I’m not strong yet, but I will.”

Luke looked as if he had bitten a lemon. His mouth turned into a snarl, and his vivid with unknowable hatred for the man whose body he inhabited.

“Childish!” He spat. “None of it is based on reality!” He pointed a shaking finger at Kagami. “You think you get to talk like that? The damage you caused! The grief you caused! How can you say that with a straight face? The only reason you’re alive is because you keep on reviving!”

No matter how strong that flame of hatred was, Kagami could not understand. He folded his arms, gave an empty stare that only made Luke shake harder with hatred. The words he said might as well have been a rusty knife digging into his open wound.

“It’s not my fault,” he said those words. “Even if it was me, I don’t remember.”

Kagami was certain that Luke would attack him. He prepared himself for a ninth round. But, to his surprise Luke didn’t even lurch. His face turned purple, his vein on his forehead popped, and the way he stared at Kagami was one of the most hateful and haunted look he’d ever seen.

It was only because of that he realized the man was injured.

The way he clutched at his chest should have been a dead giveaway. Kagami reached out to check. The man slapped his hand aside as if it were hot iron.

“Don’t you dare touch me!” He screamed.

Kagami didn’t let that stop him. “You’re injured. How?”

Luke chewed his lips. “A bear attacked me.”

Kagami didn’t think that was true but he let it go, giving Luke a confirming nod. Then, he walked past him and pushed against the boulder. It took a good while, but the boulder moved enough for him to slip in. He was out of breath, and his legs were ready to give in when he was done. He gave a parting glance to Luke before he walked into the Sanctuary.

He would ask Walnut to bring the spearman some medicine to ease his pain.

Then, after several more minutes of pressing himself against the boulder, he placed it back in place.

#

Once the boulder came to a screeching close, Luke finally gave in. His legs fell right underneath him as if they were cooked noodles. The pain that radiated from his chest was quite unbearable. He had actually blacked out when he was waiting for Cedar to revive and was glad that the man hadn’t caught on that he was the reason for his pain.

That punch from the first round had struck his chest like lightning. It had hurt, but it was the second punch that did him in. Hitting the same spot with pinpoint accuracy, his chest had cracked like brittle ice. He should have stopped it right then and there, but he had enjoyed killing Cedar.

All of the hatred and anger at him had unleashed upon the prince. The first match might have been more formal, but the second, third, and onto the ninth might as well have been torture sessions. His chest got worse, and his breathing wheezed.

But he didn’t care.

As long as he was able to kill Cedar over and over again, he would bear this pain like a badge of honor.

His vision wavered, and he heard his spear clatter somewhere far from his reach. The last thing that was picked up in his gaze was the inky stairway.

He hoped that in his heart nothing would attack him in his sleep.