Author's Notes

Interesting ending ne? I like it, rather ambiguous, but it doesn't matter either way.

Nonsensical, but it has its own sense to it. Or so I think in any case. Certainly not my best piece of work though. I think I liked Behind My Reflection better as far as driving Kouji crazy goes.

Enjoy anyway, and tell me what you think.


Broken Glass

You can't just take broken pieces and stick them together. They will never stick for one, and that attempt could just break them further. Especially if they fall apart again.

Kouji M & Kouichi K


Fragment 9

'I hate this fence,' Kouji muttered, punching it with his fist and ignoring the ensuring pain. Most of him wanted to tear it apart, but the little rationality that persisted, balanced by his brother's presence, still hovering behind him like his own shadow, balanced that. He would never be able to tear it apart. It would tear him first. And who knew what could happen. It had already devoured him once. Both of them. He had nearly killed. He had nearly let.

'Climb over it,' his brother said quietly, standing like the shadow he was. 'Why stay in the cage?'

There was a pause, almost a shock at what had just been suggested.

Kouji clutched at the fences. 'It's not that simple.'

His brother came too near for comfort, yet not near enough. 'Yes it is.'

'No it isn't. You…you don't understand!' He burst out suddenly, whipping around to face the other, looking at the red marks fading from his neck. He had barely felt them. Not once had he lifted a finger to feel the pain.

'Yes I do,' the other said, quietly, monotonously. 'I've felt it too, remember?'

He remembered. Duskmon. How could he had ever forgotten? How his presence had literally ripped his twin's mind apart.

His strength suddenly ebbed away. The flame faded.

'We've torn each other apart, is that it?' It was said with such bitterness that it could be nothing but the truth.

'Maybe it was hopeless all along to try and put it together.'

'You've given up.'

Mirthless laughter. 'I'd given up a long time ago.'

They both looked at the fence.

'In the end, the pieces come together. Ashes to ashes, dust to dust.'

He looked at his brother again.

'I'm not sorry.'

'Neither am I.'

Silence, save the wind's sad melody blowing.

'Were you scared?'

'Yes.'

Then he was up, swinging himself onto the rail and offering a hand down. For a moment, he saw the setting sun illuminate him in its glow, washing out the dark image till there was only the light at the end of the tunnel beckoning.

He grasped the hand.

He felt empty somehow relieved. Perhaps it really was the end. And the beginning. Blue turned red. Then black.

Fire sparked, then died. That angry snarling beast. The slumbering one. Neither should they had been. Perhaps once they could have run free in ignorance, but their fates had been tied to each other, and separated, broken, brought together then torn apart, the Siamese soul they had shared had been ripped to shreds.

Time froze. That was it. The balance had tipped so far. How far exactly? Was it enough to bring them in a full circle…or not?

For a moment, they both tethered at the top of the world.