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"… you."

Before anyone can process what Future Raiden has said, in an instant their sense of time went to slow motion in a similar fashion to the movie. They looked at the person he was pointing at, recognizing who that person is. It wasn't him, but the person is in the room, in front of them. Akito was petrified, shocked at what happened when his heart is about to stop. Yukito didn't believe him, it can't be Akito--it can't be. "Akito... I'm sorry, in the Eclipse World--you killed Sanju."

Akito stood up with his body frozen in place, and was surprised when he heard his words right on point that he's the one who did it--with his shock written all over his face. "WAIT WAIT WAIT, HOW DID THAT HAPPEN?!" he immediately interject, trying to deny this case that the future proved to be real but it was hard enough for his own self that the one's having a tough time is him himself. "Akito, he haven't done explaining yet--"

Yukito interrupted him for a moment to let him listen to his story which made him silenced, the future isn't set in stone, of course they can prevent this with doing something he suggested but it's not Akito's fault. He probably doesn't want it. "Calm down Akito, let's not jump into the conclusion yet," Sanju reassured him, telling him to keep calm about this. However, everyone were quite worried with this new event and who knows if it is true or not, Future Raiden was shaking a little when he was trying to calm himself. Kinana was patting Future Raiden's back, so he can stay straight. "It all started with a conflict after Althair's death, which led to an accidental murder..."

Future Raiden explained, not to mention the details made them soiled and nauseated--they didn't expect that to be true after all these events happens. "The conflict was heated, so the fight kept escalating and then..." he panted slightly, glancing at the group. "... Sanju was trying to stop you and my past me during a huge fight, you were blinded with anger and didn't hesitate to strike on our backs. Later, when we found out Sanju was slain in your hands--you denied that it was true and went on rampage. But, my past self was too mad at you and instead of him to stop you--but once he tried to stop you... Yukito got killed next by accident."

Sanju stared at Akito, feeling somewhat regretted when his jaw is slightly gaping in disbelief and his fingers were twitching--Akito looked like he wasn't doing okay, his blood started to boil and feeling guilt building up in the inside. "Alright, that's enough. Let's take a break."

Sanju stopped Yukito from him going to him, both of their hearts skipped a beat after the shocking truth of the story was proven with the future he received that the Thunder Raksha from the future was indeed from their future. Senja was holding Akito from trying to attack the future Raiden for his accusation--making sure he would not do that even though he look like he was holding himself. "What is he talking about, Senja? Is what he said is true?!" Akito snapped at Senja, wanting to punch him.

But he didn't want to see Akito raging like this, but the rest did nothing besides listening about it. "No, Akito. Look at you, just like what Raiden from the future said--you better stop yourself from letting your anger get the better of you." Senja clarified to him with his stern tone, he realized he did not mind listening to his future self's warning of the deathly fate of Sanju and Yukito. Karina was holding Yukito from resisting as well, because these two are so eager to hurt themselves when in reality Akito never tried to kill anyone--mostly by his circumstances and possible influences.

"DON'T LIE TO ME!" Akito yelled when Senja held him, Yukito was still struggling while Kanae and Kinana began to hold both of them. Raiden was getting tensed by his future self, before Sanju snapped. "STAND DOWN, BOTH OF YOU!"

This is the first time... Sanju had an outburst in his voice, at least this is calming. Akito and Yukito went abrupt silent before Sanju pushed them to the sides, he have no time for drama. "Wow, that was kinda harsh--" Future Raiden said that made his present self frowned at him, he didn't have the reason to intervene this--it's up to Sanju to settle this and it didn't help because Future Raiden didn't want to hold back anything... even though he just wanted to stop the past from happening. "You know, you have to shut the fuck up sometimes..." Raiden scolded to his future self. Future Raiden pouted but did nothing, understanding that he shouldn't. "Raiden, bring your future self outside. I'll settle this thing myself."

He said which Raiden nodded, gently holding his future self's arm before standing up together, while leaving them. With Future Raiden left, Kinana noticed him nodded at her--before Sanju started with the Kujou twins. "Akito, Yukito... I don't know why you're like that, but I'll trust you both. And you have no idea what it's like, don't blame Raiden when he didn't have the blame on his future self... and himself too," he told them, looking at Akito and Yukito. Senja and Karina released both of them, so does Kanae and Kinana who decided to keep an eye on Raiden and his future self--before things get worse.

Sanju wanted to keep neutral, only to see if those two aren't going to waste their efforts into solving this. He saw the look on Yukito's face, it was terrifying and disappointed at the same time--all the emotions were piled up and explode right now when Akito tried to explain to him. "Ridiculous, Akito. This must be absurd, so you decided to kill us instead? Is that it?!" Yukito's resentment still stays even when it comes to this, Sanju rubbed the back of his head and gave him a reprimanded glare which made him flinch. "Shut the fuck up, Yukito. We haven't heard the whole explanation... and please, do the proper insults," he mumbled. 'Great, here we go again,' Yukito thought to himself.

"Can both of you listen for once, I'm not mad at you two," Sanju stated, folding his arms. "... I'm just disappointed with your behavior."

They froze at his remark, making them cringe at their behavior earlier and feels the guilt building up now in their stomach. Yukito didn't know whether to say 'crap' now, but he should learn from the mistakes and has to be on par with their friendship, while Akito was shocked how unexpected his behavior is towards Sanju and most likely... he was reprimanding them. "Look, I know Raiden has it flaws--everyone has it flaws and I have flaws too. But, none of us wants to stay in the way," Sanju stated, folding his arms behind his back. "However, if one of you... committed this, then everyone must calm down and get rid the thought. Because he's from the future, I will not let this happen in this present day--does that sound okay to you?" he asked them, it is his time to speak and say it.

Both Akito and Yukito were rather scared when he was trying to calm down but it sounded like a huge warning, he managed to forgive them but doesn't mean he had to tolerate this kind of offense behavior--Sanjaya Adinata is not playing any games with them, even his inner shadow self. They look down, Kinana and the others glared at them that their behavior right now will lead them both into a painful end to remind them of the problem, before Sanju sighed. "I'll wait for your apology to Raiden, face to face. You two better not fighting to each other as well, all of you are close friends. Treat them like your own family, let alone you too."

Once Sanju finished his lecture, Akito and Yukito do have to own up their mistake and were serious about their behavior. Senja used his fist to hit Akito's shoulder lightly, before he scoffed. "Just to let you know, ego can be problematic. Don't act on impulse," Senja reminded him, the Flower Raksha huffed as he glare at the Binding Raksha. Akito looked away, disappointed that he tried to. "Fine..." he muttered, but Karina reminded back as well. "Don't make excuses, dumbass. Apologize from the bottom of your heart, understand?"

Sanju took a deep breath, before turning to the sliding door. "I'll see what's wrong with them outside..." the Senapati Raksha said, before heading outside.

In the other ryokan room, Raiden watched his future self from the Eclipse World sitting tiredly--he frowned as he sympathize with his condition. He must've suffered a lot in there, so he came here because of a reason. "Hey, uhh... sorry about my friends' reaction. You know, he doesn't like accusation... it's natural for him to get angry--just like an ordinary human being like us," Raiden said, his future self from the Eclipse World shook his head, sighing. "No, it's... partly my fault. I've been through some emotional hurdle as well, I haven't sleep properly since my whole journey started so I'm really sorry..."

Kanae slid the door open as Kinana noticed that Sanju just got back, also Yukito and Akito was there to give out an apology. Senja and Karina are watching them menacingly, sending both of them a glance of threatening and they were a little scared, however... they have to follow the right path and not walk on the wrong one or otherwise their fate will be sealed. "Here they are," Kinana said, while Sanju eyed on his close best friend who was in front of them.

Akito was silent, while Yukito spoke out his fault. "I... I'm so sorry Raiden," he said, which Raiden smiled a little. "No no, it's okay. Apologies accepted, we'll make sure none of this happens, alright?" he forgave them, which both Akito and Yukito brightened at him after an apology--but... Yukito frowns at Akito. "Hey, it's your turn now. You're his rival, that's why you have a 'bad' connection between each other and you can start now to forgive," Sanju said, he had to remind him to make a conclusion.

Raiden narrowed his eyes, waiting for the proper apology which Akito is nervous when Yukito sigh and give him an applause. "Alright alright, I get it. I'm sorry too..." Akito admitted, which Raiden gasped when he grabbed his hand and give it a slight shake. He knows, Raiden forgive him as much as he wanted to. "I suppose you're forgiven... also, you better pay off my pachinko debt right now," Raiden said, making all of them stared at him in shock--wait... what? Pachinko? They don't know what's he's talking about. "Err, what did you mean? I mean, forgiven and..."

Senja facepalmed before Akito make a silence, his face suddenly darkened as he snapped. "What? You're in deep financial crisis and you borrowed money to play that stupid Pachinko? Great, you should be a fucking dead beat and get yourself a loan shark to kill you."

"YOU TOOK MY MONEY AWAY TO BUY A GOLDEN LUCKY CAT WITH IT?! YOU SHOULDN'T BORROW MONEY THAT I COULD NOT REPAY!"

As those two started to bicker at him for stealing his money, Yukito facepalmed--not for a long ago. "Wait, you played pachinko with Akito?! You two are just the same, gosh! Stop blowing your money!" he argued to him, which leads Sanju chuckling but also pity for Yukito when he have to deal with these two idiots all the time. "Well, I have no idea!"

Now back to Future Raiden, for some reason--he was already cheered up by their bickering... he really missed this, honestly.

Senja pat Sanju's back, noticing his reaction at him. "Sanjaya, you look pretty exhausted as well--which makes them lost their pride and now arguing over pachinko debts. It's alright, you can rest if you want," Senja patted his back, allowing Sanju to head back. "Nah, you know what I said if one of us wants to take their break... we're not done yet," he said, before he pinched both Akito and Raiden's ears for bickering as Yukito looked more irritated. "Ow ow ow, not that again!"

Few hours later...

Future Raiden stared at his pocket watch on his hand for a moment, he was still inside the room when he was all alone by himself. Until he saw the door slide open to reveal his past self, before he bowed at him and goes to approach him with sitting down in front of him. "Ah… past me, what do you want?" he asked, unsure if he was still like that until it changes when he frowned at him. "Sorry to hear about what happened to you, it's really harsh," Raiden murmured, but Future Raiden's expression softened after hearing that--but it'll only temporary relief for a short while. "It's alright… we need to wait until this timeline is not different."

Raiden nodded before he felt a hand on his shoulder, making him look up at him when his future self smiled at him. "It's alright, I used to be like that so I'm pretty much similar to you," Future Raiden said with a smile, despite his face didn't show it. "I feel guilty about what happened to you before, and I'm sorry for this but it's necessary for us to understand what we do to each other. I want you to forgive me, but I really am sorry."

"It's alright, I used to be like that so I'm pretty much similar to you, by the way Akito is outside with them to explain what happened," Raiden stated, releasing his shoulder when he sat up in front of him and Future Raiden narrowed his eyes.

"I see… I decided not to join them because…"

Future Raiden murmured as he look away from him for a moment, it make sense that he truly missed his father Ryoma as he didn't want to be too emotional. "Ah… understandable," he said when he goes back to his futon, sitting while not laying on his back yet. "Also, you said nearly all of us died in there so… that includes otou-san in the future?"

Future Raiden nodded when he rubbed his own shoulder with one hand, since he can't use other one. "So, what do you think?" Raiden hummed, he couldn't be blamed because of his experience in there. "I don't know if we can introduce you to them, I'm feared that they will think… well, strange."

Future Raiden began to think for a moment, before he look back at him. "I think we can, only if you want to… me from the past."

Raiden blinked, before he shake his head that he think it was a bad idea to do that towards them. "No way, they will freak out--trust me, I think it would be the best to meet them later after this," he saw him snorted a little, as if he almost becoming like his old self. "Fine… I guess I have to wait for another time, until those two left first," he said to him with a pout, until he showed the pocket watch from underneath his coat. "This is the key to the Eclipse Gate; the only way to destroy the remnants of the Eclipse, not only you and your friends will save Althair--but you also make sure Karuna is safe. He's his friend and rival after all."

Future Raiden spoke, crossing his legs. "Last but not least, I don't know if there's anyone besides me who came from my world too… I don't know how did I got here… but it feels like I was given a chance to change the past," he explained with a small smile, before he look back at him when he was crossing his legs. "What I did is wrong… but I had no choice… I ended up powerless unlike you," he sighed, thinking what he did is a false move. "Don't be discouraged."

Raiden stated when he laid down on his futon before he let out a deep sigh, it didn't made him feel better when he think about it. However he shouldn't blame himself for that, he should be grateful that he manage to "change" something in the present day-and he coughed a little. "Also, thank you for saving our future… even if you're not from here… I feared that something bad going to come true if it's wasn't for me," he said with his eyes closed, letting out a tired grunt.

Future Raiden listens to him for a moment which made him smiled a little, he started to feel brighten up after he said that. For some reason, his old self still remain there and does not change even if he was that emotional. "You shouldn't force yourself… you remind me of myself who's like that too," he didn't know why but sleep has been elusive for him, and he just let him sleep for time being despite it was early morning. "You should rest too, future me. I'm still sick even if I'm still able to move around, I don't know about you and…"

Raiden muttered before he opened his eyes a little, before he sat up carefully and stared at his hidden arm. "Don't worry about this, I'll be fine," he said to him that he shouldn't have made him shocked, understanding how his past self went through since he know how he felt. "So, what does Karuna and Althair… looks like in your world?" Raiden wondered if they were like that from earlier, making him nod in response for that. "Well, they're like in your world… just that... Althair died and Karuna becoming depressed because his friend died," Future Raiden explained, which it looks like if they never meet him since he's from the future and a little of what he's going to say sound familiar.

"I believe they have Keys of the Solar Eclipse and Keys of the Lunar Eclipse, that was the trigger after they opened the gate," his eyes widened, he didn't know they're actually opened the gate from earlier. "Also, they opened the gate with those keys and… I saw destruction when they tasked mission to stop it… but it was too late."

Future Raiden can tell that the dreams he had was exactly like his predictions, before he hold his forehead with his hand. "I see… that means, there will be civil war?"

Raiden found that to be the worst case scenario, no wonder it make sense from that dream. As both of them didn't seem aware, that there will be bigger threat incoming there. Now that make sense why it has something to do with his nightmare, he was the reflection of the future to warn the present. Raiden know what he must do with them, and he knew something is not right with them after all. "Is there any remaining people from the future coming here? Or is it just you?"

Future Raiden look away from him, thinking about the name and the person of the future made him stressed. "… how should I say this?" he feel guilty to mention the name, also scared that he have killed all of his friends after they were cursed into part of the Eclipse. "You can tell us, so we can help," he stared at him when he frowned a little, before he folded his legs together on the floor. "Okay… so where do we start this time… future me?"

Raiden grumbled a little bit, although he's in the middle of recovering doesn't mean he will be perfectly fine on his own. "I'm fine… don't worry about me, you should worry about my future me," he laughed a little, seeing how he used to behave. "No… not me, I'm okay y'know," Future Raiden stated with a small smile, he felt like he was having a nostalgic memories when he was with them. Once two of them left, leaving both of the future and present selves of him.

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Although he wasn't belong here, he felt as if it would be the best to meet his father again.

"Oi, Raiden! What took you so long--"

Ryoma was silent when he saw that there's two of his sons in front of him, it made him blinking with puzzled state. "H-Huh? Did my eyes fooled me?" he asked, while scratching the back of his head. Future Raiden was surprised to see his father in this place, since he truly missed his father's kind embrace after this whole event. It wasn't a happy reunion as he thought it would, since he decided to travel somewhere else to find answers. "Otou-san, do you still remember me...?" Future Raiden asked him, which Ryoma cocked his head to the side. Then, he suddenly crawled towards him, causing him to snatch his arm and goes to make him kneel down before him.

"O-Oi!"

Ryoma staring at his son and his future son when he's weeping towards him, he hold his back and look back at his future son. "What happened to you? Did something happened?" he asked as he felt like something bad happened in the future of him, that made Raiden explained what actually happened to him. "You see… he was myself from the future… who suffer unimaginable pain for all those years, he lost everyone in his world… I can't say much of them…"

Future Raiden truly missed his father mostly since he was his flesh and blood, his hand clenching onto his arm while sobbing uncontrollably by his tears. As he cannot control his emotions, it is too much for him that he truly missed him. "I thought this is… just a dream or the samsara I experienced… but not until I come back to my origin timeline, from the future," Future Raiden began crying when Ryoma embracing him into a hug.

"There there, don't worry—I'll be here for you."

Raiden helped his future self to stand up, but he couldn't bear looking at what happened to his right arm under his cape--he refused to take it off when he want to stay. "Raiden… you have gone through so much, I'm sorry to hear that and…"

He did noticed something under his coat, until his eyes widened at the sight of his missing right arm under his black cape. "Did your right arm… what happened? Why isn't it here? What happened in the future... I mean, from your world?"

Ryoma asked him in fear, Future Raiden look away for a moment--before he looked back at him with a sorrowful expression. He showed his missing right arm, making his past self Raiden in the present and his father Ryoma horrified of what he saw. "When you say world… I wished I can bring yours back… I lost them, I had to survive in those ruins and was captured by those enemies… they tortured me to near death, before leaving me to be forgotten."

His past self Raiden gulped hard, he felt uncomfortable now that his past self see his right arm that was cut off. "It's okay, it's fine," he said and wiped his tears with the sleeve of his jacket, Raiden immediately covered his missing right arm with a cape--not wanting to stressing his future self. "Raiden… of the future."

Ryoma saw him looking at him with a teared eyes, before he smiled at him when he helped him stand up and Raiden did as well to follow them up. "Do you want to join us for a bit? I understand that this is not your world, but you and past me look similar."

"Of course, I'm okay if I visit for a bit before leaving for my real mission," Future Raiden said, which Ryoma nodded and understand what his plan was and decided to help both his past self and his future self.

Future Raiden adjusted the black cloak that around his shoulders and covering his entire clothing with his left hand, which frustrated him when he was using one arm. However, he finally ease down his mind from everything in the past, even if it's just for once he calmed down once he find out the two leaders are not in here. "Are you alright?" Raiden asked when he was walking beside him, he nodded when he smiled a little warmly at him. "I'm alright, it's not a first time I always lose hope…"

Raiden hummed when he think about it before he encountered Sanju in front of him, he was surprised to see them walking together in person and seeing that Raiden's gotten much better after accepting the reality before his eyes. "So, what do you think? Do we look like twins now?" Future Raiden comically blinking, before cocked his head onto the side at him. "Are we…?" Sanju twitched his eyebrows when he listen to his question, making him shaking his head a little. "Technically he's you, Raiden. You're you and he's you, but all that matters are that you're better... less better than me," he responded, before he realized something. "Oh, that sounds weird, if that makes sense."

Future Raiden laughed a little that he was actually a softie from inside, similar to Raiden that although he's known as an energetic and confident youth; he has a soft side for everyone he cared the most. "Oh come on, don't you think we have differences here? Not only how we look you know," Raiden continue to make fun of Sanju by teasing him, often making a teasing joke with him without offending him. "Well duh- don't look at me like that!"

Sanju snapped with embarrassed face, before looking at Future Raiden who's quite entertained as he smirked a little. As he decided to went along with his teasings, he does missed his moments with him. "I mean, my past self is not wrong though," Sanju's eyes narrowed that he knew this will be much worse, until he saw someone coming up to behind Future Raiden's back.

They decided to hang out together in the town with Raiden's future self, they also had to leave the town for detour and returning to Tokyo. This made him grown to be interested and cheering himself up afterwards, all of them also left the inn with their luggages. Future Raiden seems to admire the view of the city as it has been a while since he lived in Japan, his homeland before permanently staying in Indonesia because of his friends and also has college.

Now they are in the road of the festival that has been started tonight recently, he wondered when will this moment lasted although he wasn't from here. Sanju watched him from the distance when Raiden was standing beside him, he could see him seems to be worried of what will happened to him in the future.

'He really missed his friends from his world, I think he'd probably won't going to be here for a long time…' Raiden thought when he was observing him for a while with all wisteria petals falling in the nighttime, not all of them but few are falling across him when he look up as he teared up a little. "You're good?" he jumped a little when he heard his past self asking from beside him, he turn around to look at him as he stared at his boots that he wears most of the time from his world. "I'm good, just having nostalgia coming into my head," Future Raiden said with a small smile, before using his one hand to wipe away the tears from his eyes.

"You're quite emotional, aren't you?"

Future Raiden didn't like to admit that he was incredibly and particularly like this, after everything he went through he felt like this was his fault but they were glad that he did the right thing in here. As he hoped his friends in the future will forgive him, which is his wish whenever he meet them again. "Don't say that…" he stated, looking away that he didn't want him to see this side of him and he tried his best to do so. "I just missed my friends, that's all…"

Raiden hummed with a frown that he understand how he feels about them, he can't argue with him about that because he's not from here. "Also, there's something that you should keep if they're around," he handed the pocket watch to him from his coat, he slowly received the pocket watch from him with a smile.

"This is for Sanju, right?" Future Raiden smiled a little, before he laughed a little to the side as he close his eyes. "Not only for him, all of you will do this after you're able to defeat the enemy of the world. And, I believe not only one can be a hero, but all of you are heroes."

Future Raiden opened his eyes when he said that to his past self when he was covering his head with a hood, he observed at his right hand for a moment before he look back at his covered limb. "Yeah… but do you find it strange when I'm talking to myself? Well, you and I are the same although you're from the future," Raiden felt like it would be odd if he was talking to his future self, which he saw the reflection of himself but opposite of what happened in his world. "I had similar thoughts like you, but…"

Raiden saw him smiled a little despite the emotional glint from his expression, he slowly reach out his hand to hold his hand and raising it up to intertwine his fingers by his own. "What are you…" he felt the gentle touch of his past self that was warm and has delicate touch, it was his right hand that touch his left hand. "When you meet Sanju from the future, be sure that he will hold your right hand once you get it back there," he said as he smiled at him, before he released his hand and decided to show Kurikara to him. "K-Kurikara… maru…?"

Future Raiden watched the dragon appeared from his shoulder and goes up to his side, nudging his cheek that he reconsider his words before he narrowed his eyes with a slight frown. "You really know yourself quite well, huh?" he said with the tearful laugh, before he petting the dragon in his arms and the creature purred.

"Take your time, at least that cheer you up right?"

Raiden knew he can't cheer him up but he tried his best to make him feel good even if it's not enough, however he seems to enjoy it when he watched him and Kurikara returned back to his current master's arms. "Yeah, thank you my past self," Future Raiden thanked him, before he rubbed his own shoulder because he need to adjust his coat. "I'm much better, for now."

Yukito and Akito didn't know why but Future Raiden never left the group that he wanted to visit, however... he can't show his right arm at all. If they see that he was not a normal person of this world, then it will be a disaster. After all, he is from the world that's different than theirs as the dimensional walls were being destroyed by the enemy of the world. "By the way, Raiden... from the future, why did you hide your other arm?"

Yukito asked him, it did made sense from that as he wanted to let him reveal it to them so it'll be easier to explain. Future Raiden looked down a little, before he told them without showing. "Well... I lost it," he answered, looking away as Raiden raised an eyebrow. He didn't answer this, which only have that to explain about the whole problem. "You lost it? What happened?" Yukito asked once again, Future Raiden huff before he cross his legs and looked away. "Well, Future Akito cut my arm... sorry for mistakenly referring you, Aki..."

"No, it's fine... I can guarantee that I won't chop your arm in the present, unless..." Akito said, looking at Raiden who was trying to make fun of him again. "... unless if your past self is trying to kick my ass later."

Akito felt like his stomach twisted when he saw him cackling in front of him, Yukito didn't see a big deal but from his laughs--he was being playful with him again.

Karuna was informed by Sanju and Akito about what happened, which made him surprised to see Future Raiden for the first time. He decided to visit him, making sure that he was still here. “Alright, what do we got here?” he asked, which surprised Future Raiden when he saw Karuna and his daughter Vanya are here. “K-Karuna…? Vanya? Are you guys…?” he whispered, thinking that they’re doing fine. “It’s alright, I understand your situation… I wanted to apologize if I did some bad stuff on you.”

“N-No, it’s not your fault… it’s just something’s going on in my world and… it hurts me a lot.”

Future Raiden stammered, feeling like he want to cry but he stopped when he saw Vanya smiling at him. His past self patted his shoulder, telling him that he’ll be okay and the event won’t occur because they know what happened. Jaemin observed everything, before he paused when they sensed something by the distance, making them look forward from where it came from.

“What was that?”

Akito observed them from the distance when he was standing beside Kanae, he hoped that his future self will be alright up there. After everything he went through, he thinks that he always been alone--but when his friends are with him; he gained his trust to them and no longer lonely in his life even with his work. “Hold on, let me check what’s going on,” Karuna grumbled, looking around before he, Vanya and Jaemin went to search for the source.

Until he sensed an aura that deemed unfamiliar from across them, he knitted his eyebrows together as he look back at them.

“Sorry to break it to you but... something’s not right here.”

Senja knitted his eyebrows together after he mentioned it, the moment that supposedly calm and well was meet with tension. Kirana was present as well with her father, Rayhanda also grew suspicious after they and Karuna came here.

Sanju nodded before he observed them for a moment, mostly the group of people in the distance. “Huh… did you sense that, Kirana?” the Sound Raksha nodded when she heard the two figures’ voices from the distance, she wasn’t sure who that was but she has a bad hunch about them. “I heard the voices of two figures from the distance… I think it’s familiar, they don’t look like they came from here. It’s similar to Future Raiden’s…”

Raiden nodded when he goes to prepare his newly-forged Brahmastra, the katana that obeys his commands by the law of thunders. “Stay with me,” his future self nodded when he told him, seeing the people running from the two visitors who were harmful for them. The ADVENT members began to prepare their weapons, sensing the incoming presence from the two individuals.

“Well well well, it’s been a while.”

There was a mysterious young man with the white short messy hair with black strands on his bangs and his mullet, his eyes are black with red highlights and having pale complexion. Wearing a black expensive suit with the black bodysuit underneath and black pants tucked into his knee-length white and dark gray-lined boots, in addition of the white overcoat with black furs around his collars. With red ruby earring hanging on his left ear, he appears to wear a metallic prosthetic arm on his left limb.

The other mysterious man was cloaked with black overcoat with a white furs, the overcoat seems to be burned and ripped from below that indicates the fire-like tailcoat designed on the attributes. It’s unknown what’s underneath his hood that covered his face, but it is highly and likely someone familiar but has undetected energy that concealed his true identity while folding his arms.

“Who are you people?” Sanju questioned, he sounded serious when these two strangers has scared the civilians here. “We came from the world that has been tormented by several tragedies, chaos and natural disasters because of those figures who caused several casualties.”

There were clicking sounds of his arm became eerier by the second they heard it, knowing it came from his own and the sound of those made Future Raiden shivered by that familiarity of that. “That cost one of our limbs, none other than my left arm. We were searching for the person who have a last key of the gate, to the two projects of these people making on.”

Those people he referred are already obvious of who that is, which they won’t ask any further but… how did they know? Who are they? Raiden remained guarded with his stances. “You know those two right?” the cloaked man asked while keep wearing his mask on his face, his real voice concealed by the mask that changed his voice with deeper one that remained undetected; strangely enough he seems more than humane he appeared before their eyes.

Yes, we know who that is, and how did you know them?”

The white-haired man with black streaks chuckled with a chilling smile which seen to be slightly eerie, before he made a movement of his prosthetic fingers with a sound of clicks and crackles on it. “It’s a prophecy my old friend, to those who wanted to know the mysteries of Phantom Samsara; they will be exchanging their lives for the truth to be exposed. They will create chaos once they found the gate, the Eclipse’s Gate that is; where thousand Phantom Beasts will create the cataclysm.”

Sanju found that familiar after he mentioned the tragedy from the Old World, which drove him a thought of someone before examining his appearance. “Are you going to stop those two?” he asked which made the mysterious man tilted his head to the side, folding his arms when he look back at one of them. “Of course we will help you to stop them, but… there will be someone who was responsible for interrupting the progression, considered as a threat after what he’d be doing to the future."

They were getting impatient by them, so Kinana scowled at them. “Name that person then.”

Yukito taunted him when he was getting impatient with his cryptic statement, appearing across Senja and Karina while the others were far from where they are. “Oh, now you want to know?” the man smirked when he dared him to say the name, before he rose his hand in front of them and narrowed his eyes. “One of them should be one of your friends, and I have known him for a long time. I didn’t expect him to steal something that is important in our mission,” he clenched his teeth, he knew who that was when the other man hummed.

“One who have caused several interruptions in our world, and that is…”

The mysterious man’s eyes dilated that he opened his mouth, mentioning the name of the person. “… none other than you, Amagiri Raiden!”

The Thunder Raksha was wide-eyed with a horror and dilated eyes, filled with terror that he was frozen in his spot before he witnessed the fire-like dark red blast formed on his right hand that has gauntlet on it. “I… I did that…?” he thought he was at fault, distracted by his words when he shouted at him with a loud venomous tone. “That’s for stealing the final key after you crushed four keys in total, after several hardwork we have kept those for the projects!”

Raiden look up to see the blast that was about to went straight his chest, until that moment…

… he saw his future self went to shielded him with arms around him, all of them were shocked with the horrific sight of his ultimate sacrifice. Future Raiden’s arms almost releasing the grip after he was fatally wounded by a blast pierced through his back to his left chest, before the weight could no longer hold onto him and made Raiden fell back and onto his thighs. “What…” he was in disbelief when he witnessed his ultimate sacrifice for his past self, so that he won’t die in his arms and he didn’t want him to suffer the similar fate like him.

“RAIDEN!”

Sanju was horrified that he was emotionally struck by the attack, the sacrifice that his best friend’s future self made impacted them. As he goes to check on him, he was shaken by the horror that he couldn’t heal himself. “What… are you doing…?!” he yelled, kneeling in front of his future’s dying figure and began to hold him in his arms.

“Raiden, are you okay?!”

Akito yelled when he approached him along Senja, Kinana and Karina, even much to Yukito’s horror of what he figures did. “How come…?” he didn’t want to think longer because he need to make sure he’s alright, it wasn’t entirely his fault because he didn’t know this will happen at the first place. Raiden was horrified, before he stuttered at his future self. “What… what are you thinking? Why… why are you protecting me, future me?!” he snapped, terrified of what will going to happen to him if his future self was killed by him. “Your wounds are deep…” Sanju said as he tried to keep the bleeding stop, he was shocked at how fatal his wounds are.

Raiden was emotionally struck with tears when he cradled him onto his arms, it made him flinched by the fatal wounds on his chest. “I can’t let… my past self die, you know…” Future Raiden said as he coughed up blood since he cannot regenerate, he was just an ordinary human since he’s no longer a Raksha. “Besides… I’m a Raksha no more, I sacrificed my power… remember?” he reminded him, before he hissed by the painful sensation running through his veins by the attack.

“L-Listen to me… it is true that… I did it, I didn’t want them to create… more destruction…they were corrupted, by the Eclipse... Althair of the future has… becoming like this, after his death...”

Future Raiden explained while looking at the two of them who stood silently, merely watching them without reactions. “You have to make those two stop right now… they’re not actually leaving Japan…” he hissed by the pain of his wound, but he couldn’t help it when he forced himself to speak. “Don’t speak! You need to be healed, I don’t want you to force yourself, Future Raiden!”

Raiden insisted, but his future self shake his head a little. “I’m sorry… my past self… there’s no way you guys can heal me… it’s impossible…” he said with a weak smile, believing it was impossible. “I’m not Raiden that you guys know… I came from… the future… I’m a different one.”

Future Raiden implied, that made him emotional even from his past self. “I’m sorry… I’m not the same person you think it should be, the past and present, even future… it’s not likely similar,” he look back at his past self, before he tried to reach out something with his one hand. “Raiden… may I hold your hand, the right one?” he asked with a weak smile, somewhat made him even more sad to see this.

Raiden hesitantly thinking about his favor but he did what he told onto him, before he slowly hold his hand and carefully clenching it. “I always wanted to hold my future best friend’s hand with this… just like what you said, so please… stop them. I beg you…” he look back at Sanju who was struck with trying to hold back his emotions, it’s obvious that he was angered and determined to stop the two.

“Sanju… please stop them…”

Future Raiden pleaded as he glanced at him, seeing his horrified and shocked expression. Then, once he took a last breath...

... his vision blurred as he slumped into his arms.

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