A/N: woohoo! Another chapter! :3 there might be another one; I'll probably post it when I have time, exams are around the corner too, and I've deserted my other fics ;7;

Due to a certain request, there will be an M-rated version of this chapter (ohgodwhai). I'll update this chapter with a notification when it's finished ;7;

Really rushed this, so I hope you like it despite all the mistakes! ;u;

~This fanfiction is dedicated to Rin, Nina, Kit, SY #1 and #2~

Eternal Life

(c) Kimura Yumi

Summary:

In the midst of summer, where Barbatos loses majority of his ability to fight, he was forced to face something, that could deprive him of whatever he had, whatever he cherished. Barbatos x Ikutachi. Contains BL.

WARNING: This chapter contains BL fluff :v

Chapter 6: Epilogue

Do you really wish to give up everything that you have...? Your power, your status, everything, just for this one Anima...?

The voice spoke, deep, yet resounding. It reverberated across the sea of darkness the duke swam in.

Barbatos was holding the broken Living Blade close to his chest, broken and dull. His eyes snapped up at the source of the voice - infinite darkness - as he clenched the broken parts of the sword tightly.

He opened his mouth to say something, but nothing came out of his mouth. His eyes began to lose themselves in a daze as he closed it.

If it meant seeing Ikutachi alive and well once again...

Days gradually turned into months.

Months accumulated into a year.

...

With an ashen-coloured hood concealing his face, Barbatos silently sat by Ikutachi's side on the stone platform. He reached out slowly and lightly caressed the Anima's face. A smile crept up to his lips.

At least... colour has returned to his cheeks...

At least... he's still alive...

"Time really flies," the Phantom stated quietly as his eyes were continuously fixed on the purple-clad spirit. "Before you know it, one year has already passed since the battle." His dullish ruby eyes laid themselves on the legendary sword, which was flawlessly repaired, but still remained a stoic grey. He had placed this blade beside the sleeping Anima months ago.

"... Somehow, I feel that I'm growing weaker and weaker, day by day," he continued. "Sometimes, I always thought that it was the aftereffects of the poison that woman... Phantom... gave me..."

"But then, I've been telling myself, it's impossible, because even that poison will never stop me from protecting you, shielding you from any harm, even though you're still asleep..."

"I want to see your beautiful red eyes, your radiant smile, everything of you."

"I want to hold you in my arms again and feel your soft hair once more."

"I wish... to love you and be with you once more, Iku..."

The Phantom placed his hand over Ikutachi's still hand and lowered his head. An almost inaudible sniffle could be heard, accompanied by the slight trembling of the hooded figure.

...

Suddenly, he froze.

He snapped his head up instinctively. He had sensed something...

There... was a subtle twitch in the Anima's fingers.

Taken aback, he frantically turned his body around, staring at the unconscious spirit in utter disbelief. There was no change, but...

But, he moved...

"... Iku...?" he called out anxiously. "Are... Are you there...?"

Silence replied him for a brief moment, before a soft whisper brought the Phantom to tears for the very first time.

"... B-Barbatos...? Is that... you...?"

Although it was but an extremely weak whisper that was practically next to nothing, it was more than enough to catch the Phantom's attention. He was met with half-lidded scarlet orbs, which broke his composure, resulting in a choked outcry of panic, happiness and relief all mushed up together. Barbatos gripped the Anima's pale hand tightly, unwilling to let go. Crystalline tears burst out from his eyes, streaming down his cheeks.

For the first time ever in his life, he cried.

"... Iku..." he croaked out, his tone laced with melancholic bliss. "I... I missed you so much..." A gust of wind rushed past them, pulling the black hood behind, revealing the Phantom's silky white hair.

The awakened bade spirit widened his eyes in shock at the sight of the Phantom as he watched Barbatos stare back at him, a thin smile gracing his lips, while tears continued trickling down his bony cheeks.

"... Barbatos..." Ikutachi breathed. "Your horns..." The Anima slowly sat up and reached out to feel the warmth of the taller male's face, his scarlet eyes shining with fear. "They're gone... What happened to you?!" He reached out for the Phantom's arm and to his horror, there was nothing left but a small crimson ebony insignia that was extremely faded. His hands shook slightly as he stared at the taller male in disbelief.

Silence accompanied a frown on Barbatos's face as he began to tense up. After what seemed to be eternity, he reluctantly replied, "... Side effects of poison." He quietly bit his lip nervously.

"... Oh..." The Anima did not ask further questions. A pang of guilt then suddenly struck him. Without thinking, he let his body fall forward into Barbatos's arms and rested his head on his chest. Running his fingers over the frays of his worn long-sleeved shirt, once pure white, he let out an audible sniff.

"What's wrong, Ikutachi?" Barbatos questioned with genuine worry as he wrapped his arms around the blade spirit. The Anima stirred in his arms, water spilling out of his eyes and wetting the Phantom's worn-out shirt.

"I..." he started with a quivering whisper. "I'm sorry I wasn't able to protect you at that time..." He hid his face in the taller male's chest, muffling his sobs.

"... It isn't your fault, Iku," Barbatos replied gently as he hugged the Anima affectionately. He nuzzled the latter's soft silky hair. "It never was."

"B-But - "

He was then interrupted by a distant yet all too familiar warmth on his lips. Consumed by the Phantom's soft sweet kisses, Ikutachi unconsciously looped his hands around his master's neck, while being ravished by sensations of both sweetness and lust over and over again. A moan - more like a hum - carelessly tumbled out if his lips as he felt the Phantom's enormous hands pulling him even closer. Being lifted up, the Anima's seating location was then shifted from the stone platform onto Barbatos's lap. As they parted with subtle pants, the taller male caught sight of the blade spirit's flushed face and smirked for a brief moment.

He's still so adorable after all this time... How interesting...

"From the start, it was never your fault." The Phantom's voice somehow sounded strangely gentle as compared to the past. It was unlike his usual self. "It was just my inability to be able to fight properly under the summer heat. It was inevitable according to the contract with the devil." Ikutachi felt hands cup his burning cheeks and was looking at nothing but the Phantom's gentle ruby eyes. "So, don't take all the blame, Ikutachi..."

"But... I have still failed in my duty." The Anima's crimson eyes shone a glint of sadness. "I don't deserve to be with you... Not when I was unable to fight alongside you, and protect you..."

Another embrace, now even tighter, caused a wave of emotions to overwhelm Ikutachi's entire self, allowing moisture to spring up in his eyes. The clear image of the smiling Phantom appeared just like a brightly lit lantern pattern swimming in the water flooding his eyes.

"It's all in the past. As long as you are with me, nothing matters anymore." Barbatos then leant forward to give a small peck on Ikutachi's forehead. His hand lightly ran through the latter's snow-white hair. "I've lost everything I had except you. I would be more than happy if you are willing to stay with me for the rest of my numbered days..."

Hesitation overwhelmed him as he reflected on what he had just said.

After some time, he looked away, avoiding the blade spirit's gaze. "It... would probably be too much to ask of you... I wouldn't be surprised if you rejected me, now that I've lost my power, my status, everything. I cannot give you what you want." His grip began to loosen as he pulled away from Ikutachi and began to stand up, carefully placing Ikutachi back on the stone platform. His face showed a look of dejection of sadness as the harsh reality began to dawn upon him once more.

A tug on his arm interrupted his train of thought.

"What are you talking about!?" The blade spirit sprung up and threw his hands over the Phantom's neck. "Of course I'll be with you! With your powers, you've always been the one shielding me from harm, and you've also taught me the true meaning of being alive, here and now."

"I... did...?"

Ikutachi nodded slightly. "I've always thought I knew everything about life as the Living Blade, but I was wrong... You were the one who taught me the ways of life through our experiences together in both battles and in the castle, and how precious it is to one." He pulled back a little to face a slightly astonished Barbatos with a smile.

"To me, you're my everything, Barbatos. It is now my turn to protect you from any dangers, and act under your absolute command."

A chuckled accompanied the taller male's smile of amusement. "That last part was too serious already, silly." He buried his face in the Anima's hair affectionately. "I don't want you getting hurt just because of me. All this time, I've never once seen you as just simply my servant or slave, or anything. I've always seen you as the one and only Ikutachi that I know. But," he paused to inhale the sweet scent of the smaller male, before continuing.

"Thank you..."

"Let's start out lives anew." Ikutachi snuggled himself comfortably in the Phantom's arms. "We can live in peace in a place where no one will ever find us. No one will be chasing after our lives ever again."

"I like the sound of that." Barbatos took one good look at his naked fist, which used to be clad in the finest black leather, with rings of sparkling ruby adorning his fingers.

Perhaps... It's time for a change of pace in life...

He embraced the blade spirit as he lightly kissed his lips. "I love you, Iku, I really do," he murmured with not his trademark smirk, but a true genuine smile.

Ikutachi returned the smile with a tender embrace. "Me too... I - I love you too..." Tears of bliss trickled down his cheeks as he felt the petals of blooming blossoms gracefully dancing in the wind, lightly brushing against his skin.

A smile then graced his lips. They would be together for eternity.

An eternal love...

An eternal life...

He felt blessed all of a sudden; if he had not met this spirit, he would have never found out the meaning of true love and what it really meant. His gaze fell upon the male in his arms, which warmed up his insides greatly.

This is how he would be truly happy in peace.

This, is where his life truly begins...

End of Story

IF you did not understand this chapter...

-A brief moment with King Solomon and Barbatos, meant to foreshadow the loss of his demonic powers and immortality.

-Barbatos, now poor and a refuge in hiding, stays by Ikutachi's side, still waiting for him to awaken

-When Ikutachu realises the loss of Barbatos's horns and tattoo on his arm, he knew what had happened, as the rebirth of Barbatos had actually helped remove the poison already; Barbatos had sacrificed his own demon privileges for his reawakening.

-'Numbered days' - Barbatos knows that he is nothing but a mere human now, and knows that he will die sooner or later.

-Ikutachi, who wants to be with Barbatos, start again, this time, living in the secluded shrine, where they would not be found by anyone. They would one together for eternity, as the Anima can let Barbatos go through the cycle of rebirth once more, and as many times as needed.

End note: huehue~ So, pretty much done with this story! All that's left is le M-rated version and probably an extra chapter just for the fun lolol

I hope you have enjoyed this short story! (although it's crappy ;;;7;;;) This was something I thought up of during school about a few months back (yes, 2013 ;7;) so I was like, why not? And then I just penned it down on paper and started writing this when I got my phone back ewe

Thank you all for reading and reviewing and stuff, it really motivated me and helped me to try improving ;w;

Arigatou gozayimasu!~

I'll see you in the following subchapters of this story, and probably a new story! Ja ne!