Goodbye, for now.

"So cool..."

Akira would always admire Cal, the man was a lot of what Akira wanted to be. Even though their ages were so similar Akira looked up to that man. Crazy, really. "Thanks for understanding. It really means a lot--" He notices Jericho approaching, and instinctively he hugs the young man. One leg and all.

"Brother, I'm sorry man. I am- I am going to be leaving soon. I need to be a much better guy than what I am."

It hurt so much to say this thing.

He had ran out of things to give. His leg was gone, given to his sister. His body was given to his friends. He sadly had nothing left to give to Jericho. Except the shirt off of his back. And so that's what he gives. He pulls away from the hug, removing his Gi and tossing it over Jericho's head.

"Don't forget me, I want my shirt back man."
(Akira Kurokaiyo)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[01:09] He hugs his brother right back, with all of the strength his body could muster. The boy doesn't say anything right away - because it isn't important to express the generic sentiments. Akira knew how Jericho felt about him. He knew it was tighter than blood with them. That they shared a bond that transcended familial ties - that they'd die for one another if it came down to it.

Jericho doesn't question the lack of a leg, or well...much of anything. Such is how he was these days. In a kind of tranquil state, where he was very relaxed with everything. The boy seemed to have reached a state of zen, where everything was just...okay.

"Stay safe. I know you can accomplish anything you set your mind to."

Around him during this hug, wisps that shone like the splendorous shade of platinum blond that his hair was emit from him. That drive to protect, that unconditional love...

Maybe his father had engineered them to only destroy. Had pit them all against each other - only the mightiest could inherit all that he'd left behind. Only the strongest deserved his love. But against all odds in that circumstance, against all the hate the world leveraged at him...

Jericho refused to stop loving.

"When you look up at the stars during those long nights on the road ahead...know we're looking up at the same sky. Let that remind you to come home, and tell me all the things there are to tell."

This is goodbye...

For now.
(Jericho)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[01:09] {Item} You picked up Shonen Gi - Black. Dropped by Akira Kurokaiyo. .
[01:18] "Stay safe?" He shakes his head. No. "Safe will keep me alive, yea, sure. But if I really want to grow I've gotta push myself to my breaking point and then bounce back even stronger."

It was exciting.

The idea of being born anew. He was going to devote his time to become a better son, brother, and friend. He would no longer be idle while his friends fight and die. He'd be the one to save them all. His current self, this pitiful, dependent, useless boy couldn't do that.

Finally. It was his time to man up.

That hug from his dear brother rivaled even Yami. He knew that there were two he could always rely on, even if all else fails. Blood or not, Jericho was his brother bound by soul. A love that couldn't ever die.

"I'll be an open book, if there's a way to update you on my progress. Best believe I'll learn it and send postcards."

With all that said Akira would just hopaway.

And suddenly...

He vanished.
(Akira Kurokaiyo)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[01:26] Jericho stands there for some time, after. He was always left behind - the boy was the last one there, in this, in every other situation. But that wasn't a bad thing. It wasn't something he hated about himself.

He was the last one there so that he could make sure everyone else was okay.

The winds of change blow as his brother leaves him...perhaps forever, to chase danger, and the great unknown. Everyone leaves you, eventually...

But across this journey, he was finally learning to accept it.

Father...Akira...Bas...Yami...Asphira...Lion...Cicero...

I'll do my best, too.
(Jericho)