Forever

The Arc Warrior died that day.

But my father lived.

Although his life hasn't been easy ever since.

Nightmares almost every night. Waking up in screams. Loud noises startling him.

It was the complete opposite of the Arc Warrior.

However, underneath the frail, nervous wreck he had become—beneath his blank, void eyes—there was a faint spark of light. One that, over the years, slowly grew brighter.

༻──⋆༺𓆩⋆𓆪༻⋆──༺

Hoshina's father retired a few weeks after the war ended. It was as if surrender had turned him into a completely different person. The unshakable wall that once defined him collapsed, leaving behind a timid old man.

Kaji still resented him for everything he'd done, but he couldn't bring himself to hate someone who looked so defeated. It was clear he already hated himself enough for both of them.

For a time, Hoshina succeeded him. Together with the other high families, she set in motion a project to rebuild the destruction her clan had brought upon Kaji's island.

It didn't take long before tensions between the two islands began to threaten the fragile peace bought with so many sacrifices.

So the leaders on both sides agreed it was best to separate the islands before it was too late. The rudders of both ships were broken to ensure neither could seek a fight again.

They'll inevitably start fighting among themselves—I'm certain of it.

But we did everything we could. We ended the war and ensured there would be no more attacks on defenseless islands.

So we can leave them be, and focus on our own happiness.

༻──⋆༺𓆩⋆𓆪༻⋆──༺

TEN YEARS AFTER THE END OF THE WAR…

He runs through the corridor, and finds the light of the exit. Once he gets to it, he's met with a wide, night sky.

"Woah! It's so cool!"

"Kagi! Stop running off. I told you to stay close to me."

"You're too slow, Mom."

Dad chuckles. "You try running on the sand with metal legs, see how you fare." Sis rides on his shoulders as he crouches down. "Come on, Gurumi, try stepping on the sand."

"Nyo! It's scary. It will eat me."

"It won't dear, I promise this is not like the quicksand from that book."

"Nyo. I'm staying on Papa." She grabs his long hair, refusing to go down.

Kagi doesn't get why Dad likes keeping his hair long. He prefers it like Mom's, as short as possible. It's more comfortable.

"Such a thick-headed breadloaf." Mom comments. "I wonder where she got that stubbornness from."

"Geez, I wonder about that as well." Mom and Dad look at each other. Don't they realize they're both stubborn as rocks?

"You're both stubborn like dry poop."

"Bad! Auntie!" Sis exclaims. "Bad words."

Aunt grunts and mumbles. "Even poop is a swear word nowadays. I want my freedom of speech back."

…

A while later, after a tough climb through the tilted forest, they reach the hot springs. Their grandparents are already there.

"Grandpa!" Sis exclaims and extends her hands towards him. Dad takes her off his shoulders and puts her in Grandad's lap, who's already in one of the hot springs.

Kagi will never understand what she sees in him. Grandad rarely speaks, he jumps at the slightest noise, and often seems lost in thought.

At least he smiles a bit when he's with sis. So that's good, I guess.

Kagi goes to hug his two grandmothers, taking care not to be too sudden with one of them, since she can't see him coming.

The grey eyed grandma smiles. A simple, pure smile.

The other grandma stinks, as usual. It's because of those weird drinks that make her head fuzzy or something.

After leaving them with their grandparents, Mom and Dad go on their own.

For some reason they like to get alone to fight.

Kagi could never understand why.

Fights are supposed to be bad, right?

༻──⋆༺𓆩⋆𓆪༻⋆──༺

Sweaty, and exhausted, Kaji lies on the ground next to Hoshina. This 'fight' was quite something.

The night sky is crowded with white lights. They look so close to one another, although the distance between them is unfathomable.

Is separating them the only way they won't hurt one another?

Yet that would force them into eternal loneliness.

And Kaji knows how painful the feeling can be. You end up at a point where you reject others because you are too afraid of getting hurt.

…

So the only option is to accept the good with the bad.

A half-destroyed world in which peace can prosper.

Eventually, as it starts rebuilding itself, it will once again go back to times of war.

Some people will do their best to avoid it, as they should, but once there's nothing else left to try, at least we can accept a happy life, knowing we've done everything in our power to help.

༻──⋆༺𓆩⋆𓆪༻⋆──༺

Hoshina gives Kaji a kiss on the cheek, then gets up and stretches her body.

"Where are you going?" He asks.

"To pay them a visit."

"And what about the springs?"

"We'll go later, when the kids are no longer around. You owe me a rematch for this one."

Kaji chuckles and gets up as well.

…

The wooden gate opens smoothly, barely making a sound.

A clean, firm path, with many flowers at the sides. Some of them are a pretty white variant, though Kaji says they shouldn't be smelled.

Nothing in their way, an easy walk until they reach their destination at the center of the garden.

There, a collection of old statues, most of them unfamiliar, but still worth remembering.

And at the front, a few recent ones.

One man with a tired look, a bag in hand, and his arm wrapped above the shoulder of another, one Hoshina hasn't met. However, she knows how important this other man is for Kaji.

Another statue is a boy with a grin, one that Kaji describes as 'a punchable face'.

And a second boy, scrawny, with holes in his teeth, but a bright, almost radiant, smile.

Of course there's also good old uncle. With his hat tipped in a welcoming gesture. At his feet, a framed photo of the three of them together.

And at the front of all, the smallest statue, the one covered in most flowers. A young girl, the cutest in the whole garden. She's almost identical to Hoshina's daughter, though several years older.

…

They remain like this for a while, simply enjoying each other's presence, and reflecting on the memories of those who helped them get to this point.

Hoshina wishes these kinds of days last forever.

Or, at the very least, until the end of their lives.

"Hoshina, I love you."

"I know, I love you too."

"Stay with me forever."

No words. She answers with a kiss.

Deep. Slow. Warming them in the cold desert night.

…

A big family. One that, after many hardships, found a way to be happy.

In a world of scars.

In a place where the remains of once-revered gods lay.