"Here, she left this for you..."
Isha’s words echoed in Ryuk’s head as he sat at the edge of the grassland, overlooking the blue sea that surrounded the island.
In his hands was a metallic box with a simple button at its center.
It danced between his fingers before he eventually pressed the button, and the box unfurled.
Inside was a simple folded letter and a communication device.
Unfolding the letter, it read:
"Hey Goof,"
"Wanted to tell you goodbye before leaving, but decided not to after seeing you so deep in sleep. The first time I saw you that relaxed, and I didn’t want to spoil it."
"So if you’re reading this, I’m probably out of Endearth already."
"Just wanted to say... it was nice doing business with you, and to be honest, you’re quite a great business partner."
"We agreed to a deal, made so many compromises—each one making things even easier for me—and when it was all done, you didn’t fail to keep your word."
"All this, I know, and I’m very grateful for. I truly am."
"It should be time for a goodbye now, but a part of me really wanted to let you know that I truly hoped we were more than just business partners, Ryuk."
At this point, Ryuk’s fingers faintly tightened around the edges of the letter.
"Being by your side on Endearth, knowing I have someone and we’re both walking toward such an important goal, saving the lives of billions, is more than heartwarming, Ryuk."
"And I loved when you trusted me to be stuck in this together with you and jumped on the bike with me."
"I loved it when you returned and never blamed me once for being responsible for getting you trapped in that ruin and losing a year."
"I loved you holding sight of your goals right until the end, even though it seemed like an uncrossable blockade at first."
"I loved you, considering my state of mind by dispersing my organization, out of fear that they might be inadequate for handling the final phase of the war and would be lost."
"It was a harsh move that annoyed me, but when I eventually sat to think, I understood you did it for me, and I now appreciate it."
"The truth is, I’ve never come across someone like you. Someone I admire... and loved."
"I love you, Ryuk, for who you are, and I wish we could be more than just business partners."
"Aster, I..."
"But I believe to you, I’m merely a partner in business."
"You don’t seem to look at me in the same loving way that I do. And I don’t want to force you into something you don’t feel."
"I wanted to try, at least, until I discovered you already had someone in mind. I didn’t want to repay all that you’ve done with guilt towards her in the end."
The memory faintly crossed his mind—their last conversation, when she’d asked about Morgaine.
______
"Morgaine. As in the soon-to-be-crowned Queen of the Fallens? But I thought, sometime ago, you fell out with her? After her mother, the Half-Fallen One, placed a death bounty on your head?"
_______
"So, I’ve decided to leave instead."
"But I feel like I had to tell you, or I’d never be able to rest at night."
"Now, I feel a burden lifted from my chest."
"If fate wants us together, it will surely find a way to bring us back together, and I hope it does."
"I’m leaving the communication device for you—but hey, it’s strictly for business only."
"I’ll call you up if I get in a pinch and could use a deal. And I expect you to call me too, if you ever need one."
"Let’s still be business partners, okay?"
"Ok, Ok, I think I’ve ranted enough."
"Goodbye now, and thank you for everything, Ryuk."
—Your Business Partner, Asteralaxia."
It ended, as Ryuk slowly folded the letter and turned to look at the runic communication device, fingers gently rubbing over it.
He turned to look at the crashing waves, and he kept at it through the entire night, only stirring when he felt the sun’s piercing rays on his hands that held the device.
"Aster," he muttered once, his voice a mere whisper
But then—
STEP
STEP
STEP
The sound of footsteps rang out behind him as the objects faded from Ryuk’s hands.
He turned slightly to find the brown-skinned lady arriving by his side.
"Slept during the daytime, for half the entire day, and stayed up all night. You’re a weirdo of a ladyboy, you know that right?" Rakshasa said, as a faint smile crossed Ryuk’s lips.
He watched her take her seat, legs rocking back and forth as he inhaled the cool morning breeze.
Silence reigned for a while before she turned to him, asking,
"So... wut you up to?"
Ryuk exhaled. "We’ll be leaving soon."
"When’s soon?" she asked, and he replied, "Now."
"Oh? Cool," she said.
Ryuk’s eyebrows slightly furrowed before he turned to her.
"What about you, Rak? What are you up to?"
"I’ve decided to bless you all with my presence for your little trip," she said, with a proud hmph.
"In short, you’ll be shamelessly tagging along?" he asked, and her eyebrows drew together sharply.
"That sounds awfully like that lecherous cat of yours. Is it?" she asked, and Ryuk couldn’t help but agree.
He had truly stolen the line from Void.
"Tch, don’t let that cat rub off on you. With a ladyboy face like yours, you’ll cause so much heartbreak for the poor girls," she teased as Ryuk rose to his feet.
"I won’t. And I’m not a ladyboy."
"Shush it, you are a ladyboy!"
"I’m not," Ryuk stated as he walked away from the seat, Rakshahsa chasing after him.
"Just say yes, you ladyboy!"
"No."
"Tch, growing more stubborn, huh? Me..."
And slowly, the sound of their footsteps soon faded into the distance along with Rakshasa’s seemingly endless bickering.