Dream [headcanon]
Pairing: some Arieto, a bit of Touken
Disclaimer: This might be a bit OOC since I haven’t fully written Arieto out of frameworks before. Figured it is worth the try. This is for @sikaloolala and @kingkishou, hope you guys enjoy. Also this is written out of the blue so forgive me for any errors and such. 🙂
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Kishou felt his heart beating slowly, and yet in his sight still was a small glimpse of life. What would have it felt like, he wondered, to have had a normal life with Eto? A normal relationship with Ken?
He could easily imagine them going to the bookstore, browsing for titles and exchanging view about certain books. They could also stay at home, with Eto reading seriously as her head rested in his lap while he drank his coffee and just observed her, smiling as he heard the peaceful sound of rain in the background. He would rest his head on a pillow and just close his eyes.
It would have been nice, to just be.
Kishou would have also had a nice relationship with Ken – with him not having to hide as Haise. He could imagine him giving his father some books to read, with Eto snorting on the background on how lame a certain title was and yet Kishou would read it anyway. He could have had fulfilled his role as a father better, more human, instead of just focusing on grooming him to be the one-eyed king. Eto would have made fun of Ken for being such a wuss towards a girl he liked and he would have chucked on Ken’s embarrassed expression.
His life had been nothing ordinary. Unlike others, he didn’t get to stop to smell the roses before he was bathed of blood. He did not get to see the world as it is before his was dictated upon him. His life was short and meaningless, as he kept taking away.
And yet, it was the small moments that made up his life – the time in the garden when he took Hairu’s hand and her face brightened, the time he met Eto and the moments where he would observe as her brows furrowed in concentration while writing her books, sharing books and sparring with Haise – how could he ever forget those?
He could feel his body slowly wilting away now, as the reaper’s cold embrace spread slowly but surely. His breathing felt erratic, his heart beat, unstable.
And so, he closed his eyes.
“What are you doing here, Kishou? You look stupid standing there.” Eto asked, giving him a wide grin as she took his hand.
He could feel the warmth of the light radiating from where he was, eyes squinting hard. He let Eto guide him inside as he wondered where he was and what he was doing here, heart oddly at peace and beating calmly against his chest.
He saw his son, and the people he loved inside a small room, all smiling at him. There was Fura, Shio, Rikai, Yusa and Take. There were CCG and garden people scattered and grinning, even Ui and Hairu. And then, there was Eto and Ken.
Ken made a move forward, carrying a bundle of blue blankets in his arms while he held his wife’s hand. They looked at each other in silent understanding, as Kishou observed how her gaze towards Ken was warm and accepting. He couldn’t help but feel happy for his son. If this was what the future would be, then he would welcome death proudly.
“I couldn’t possibly let you go without meeting him.” He said, and it was the first time he saw a smile so genuine and heartfelt. With a knowing look, Ken transferred the small bundle towards his father, as the latter carefully accepted it. The child was looking at him curiously as he held out his pudgy little fists up in the air. Kishou felt warmth pooling in his stomach at the sight, much more then the child suddenly grasped his finger and smiled.
‘This is a part of my legacy.’
He smiled. In death’s embrace, he was welcomed home.