Chapter 52: Understanding

The next day. Aku and Sicrus sat together in the Void as Zagons were resting around them. Their grotesque forms, curled and dormant, breathed in rhythmic silence, like a sleeping army waiting for nothing. The sky above them was endless and black with many moons that dimly lit the world beneath.

Aku: This is it.

Sicrus: Yeah…

They sat in silence, the kind of silence that didn’t beg to be broken. Everything they fought for was finally over.

Aku: Hey, Sicrus?

Sicrus: Hm?

Aku (softly): Thank you…

Aku’s voice was gentle, almost like a whisper. Sicrus didn’t reply. He didn’t need to.

Aku: You already knew that though…

Sicrus stays quiet, staring forward at the shadow of a fractured mountain in the distance. Something in his jaw tightened, but he said nothing.

Aku: Thank you for always—

Sicrus: I don’t need to hear it. I already know.

Aku waited.

Aku: I know… but I want to say it anyways…

Sicrus doesn’t stop Aku, though he closes his eyes for a breath.

Aku: From the orphanage, to Krutone, to The Orb, to even now… you stayed true. All the way, you stayed true. You always had my back. You were always loyal.

Aku took a moment to look at the dark sky but not at the moons, staring blankly.

Aku: There were so many times, so many chances that you could’ve turned around to save yourself… to not get your hands dirty with my work, but you remained true.

Sicrus: Yeah well, you’re the closest thing family, so…

The words came with no sentiment, just truth.

Aku: And because of that, I got a good glimpse of what it’d be like to have a brother, since I couldn’t have Sen… You’ve been the closest thing to family. I mean it when I say it… you’ve been true.

Sicrus: What other choice did I have?

Aku turned his gaze to Sicrus, watching the man who had followed him through hell shrug off his own worth. His heart ached.

Aku: You had plenty.

Sicrus scoffed faintly, eyes still distant.

Sicrus: You say your life is meaningless, but mine is just as pointless.

Aku doesn’t say anything back. The words fell between them like stone, too heavy to move.

Sicrus: Do you think things will change, like you hoped?

Aku: I don’t know…

A long pause followed. The air around them felt dense.

Sicrus sighed.

Sicrus: And we never will.

Aku: Do you think Josar can do it?

Sicrus: Kill me?

Aku: Yeah…

Sicrus: He’s going to have to.

Aku: He’s never killed anyone in this entire war.

Sicrus: And I’ll be his first. I’m going to let the Intergy, the soul from The Orb take over, just like you will for Sen.

Aku’s fingers curled slightly at his sides. He hated how easily they could talk about death now.

Aku: You’re not going to make it easy for Josar?

Sicrus: You know I never do. Besides, we’ll just end up arguing like always.

A small, dry laugh escaped Aku’s throat, almost nostalgic.

Aku: Yeah, you both argue a lot. I’m surprised you still remained friends with him for so long.

Sicrus: Well, he does make really good points from time to time. Gotta credit him there.

Aku and Sicrus continued looking into the sky. The weight of years pressed down in silence. Neither could say the words they really wanted to. Not yet.

Aku: Are you disappointed in me?... Sicrus?...

Sicrus doesn’t answer.

Aku: Sicrus?...

Sicrus: I understand you…

A moment of silence.

Sicrus: I see you… I didn’t at first. I was angry with you, and you knew that… but… you are right at the same time. In a world that discarded us, we could’ve just let our lives die away. We could’ve just let ourselves remain pointless… but that’s not who we are. We tried to find reason… We tried to find purpose in a broken world… and this is what we came up with, and we finished the job. All of the world’s leaders are finally done for. We just now hope the people rise up to be a better world. We won’t be able to see it unfold, but amidst of it all, I see you.

Aku sighed slowly.

Aku: I really am sorry, Sicrus… I really am…

Sicrus looked over, seeing Aku on the verge of tears.

Sicrus: Don’t be. I have a conscious too. I know what I did… I knew what I was doing…

The wind, if it existed in this world, refused to blow. The Void around them seemed to bow to the stillness.

Aku: Sen and Josar should be coming soon.

Sicrus: Yeah… If there is such a thing as ‘the other side’ I’ll see you there?

Aku: Yeah. And this time, I’ll have your back when we get there.

Both Aku and Sicrus stood slowly from the jagged stones they were resting on, the movement quiet, heavy. They faced each other and gave a quick hug. It wasn’t long or dramatic. It was simple. Familiar.

Sicrus: Thank you…

Aku looked Sicrus in the eye, unsure why he was being thanked. For the first time in a long time, he had no answer.

Aku: Thank you…

The two turned around and walked their own way.

Sen and Josar worked in silence, their hands moving with quiet purpose as they lifted broken beams, shifted scorched stone, and propped up what remained of Maren and Arna’s home. Neither spoke, but both understood the need to do something, however small, in the face of so much ruin. The act of rebuilding, even a fraction of what was lost, felt like an anchor in the grief everyone carried. When there was nothing more they could fix, no more pieces to realign or charred wood to reposition, they stepped away. Just a few paces off, they found a patch of ground less ravaged by fire and war, where the dust had settled and the walls still stood. There, they sat side by side.

Sen: Thanks for helping out.

Josar: Yeah. Dain’s parents are really nice people.

Sen laughs quietly and gently. The sound was soft, almost foreign now, but it felt good to let it out.

Sen: Yeah. They’re great people.

A moment of silence settled again. This one deeper. Sadder.

Josar: It must’ve been nice to have them.

Sen looked down at the dirt, pushing a small rock aside with the tip of his shoe. His voice came softer now.

Sen: It was… and… it must’ve been hard, to not have anyone like them.

Josar: Hm?

Sen: Nothing… it’s just. I had them, and you had the orphanage.

Josar: Oh… yeah. Well, I also had Aku and Sicrus…

Sen: I’m starting to wonder about something now.

Josar: What is it?

Sen: Would I have become like Aku if I didn’t have Dain’s family?

Josar thought for a moment.

Josar: I’m not sure.

Sen: Yeah… I just know that I’m me now.

Josar: We still had a home though. The orphanage wasn’t great, but it was a place to be.

Sen: Do you ever want to go back to visit?

Josar: There’s nothing to visit.

Sen thought for a moment.

Sen: That’s right… I passed by there on the way to Krutone. That place looks worse than here.

Josar: Yeah. Sicrus did quite a work there…

Sen: That was his doing?

Josar: Yeah. It was a statement. He left a note behind saying he’s after Kyto and left his name on the note.

Sen: Why list his name?

Josar: Because no one knew who he was. It was to create urgency. Fear.

Sen: I see. Well, do you ever wish to see what’s left?

Josar: No… Well… Maybe.

Sen: Unsure?

Josar paused for a moment. He rubbed his wrist absently, eyes fixed on a broken window frame nearby.

Josar: That place was horrible. I won’t lie. But also, that’s where Aku, Sicrus and I always had each other’s backs… We were able to survive because we always watched out for each other… And things are different now.

Sen: I see…

Josar: And what about you?... Now that Dain and Yerah are… well…

Sen doesn’t answer right away. His breath caught in his throat for a second.

Josar: Sorry. We don’t have to talk—

Sen: No, it’s fine.

A brief pause. Sen rested his arms on his knees, his eyes distant.

Sen: I think I’m just going to stick around here… Help out as much as I can.

Josar: That’s good.

Sen: I thought a bit more about what you said yesterday.

Josar: What did I say?

Sen: To be the son that Maren and Arna always loved like their own.

Josar smiled gently. His hands were folded in his lap now, thumb tracing a scar on his knuckle.

Sen: That’s why I think you should stick around too.

Josar: Me?

Sen: Yeah. You should.

Josar: Hm. I’ll think about it.

Sen: That way, maybe you’d learn what it’s like to be loved by a mom and dad too. Give yourself a chance.

Josar wanted to answer back, but stayed quiet. His lips parted slightly, then closed again. No words came.

Sen reached over to his shoulder, adjusting the ache and pain from the previous day. His movements were slow.

Josar: You sure you’re ok?

Sen: Yeah. I’m healed up for the most part already.

Josar: Aku and Sicrus will be waiting for us.

Sen: Yeah… and we’re supposed to kill them.

Josar: I’m not going to.

Sen: You’re not?

Josar: No. I can’t…

Sen: What will you do then?

Josar: Maybe I can convince them to come back… They can see the world they wanted to build. Why wish for the world to change and not watch it unfold?

Sen: I see. You think they’ll listen?

Josar: I don’t know.

Silence. The air felt a little heavier again.

Sen: Do you… still plan to disappear after this is all over?

Josar doesn’t answer.

Sen: It’d be cool if you stuck around. I know I said it already, but do consider it.

Josar still doesn’t answer. He looked down at his knees, then out at the hazy sky.

Sen: But, I also understand if you want to go somewhere else. All of this was such a mess. I know why you’d want to leave it all behind.

Silence. The birds had stopped singing again. The quiet was absolute.

Josar: Do you agree with Aku?... All the things he did?

Sen glanced over once at Josar.

Sen: I don’t know.

Sen thought for a moment, his gaze softening as he looked down at the dirt between his feet.

Sen: I didn’t agree at first… but I didn’t agree with Kyto also. I didn’t agree with either of them. And then I thought about what you said a while ago back in Krutone… that it doesn’t matter who stands on top the war. We all lose in the end…

Josar sighed quietly, remembering his own words.

Sen: So, it doesn’t matter who I agree or disagree with. None of it is bringing back Dain and Yerah… the two people I cared for.

Sen’s voice cracked subtly. Josar gave Sen time to breathe.

Sen: And you’re right.

Josar: About?

Sen: We were just good people put against each other in a broken world that set us up for failure.

Josar: Oh… yeah…

Sen took a moment to breathe slowly.

Sen: Josar. Thank you for saving me…

Josar looked over to Sen.

Josar: You were being attacked by so many Zagons. I had to jump in.

Sen chuckled. It was small, faint, but genuine.

Sen: That part too… but that’s not what I meant.

Josar realized what Sen was trying to say. He blinked once, then looked at the ground, jaw tight.

Sen: I told you I didn’t need saving… I was cold… I was cold to you.

Josar looked to the ground. Something in him broke.

Sen: And you stuck around anyways.

Josar: Yeah… well you saved me back in Krutone when I was supposed to be your enemy. I wouldn’t be around here if it weren’t for you.

Sen: You tried reaching out after I lost them. It only felt like the right thing to do.

Josar: Same for me to you.

Silence. Minutes passed, but they didn’t rush it. Not anymore.

Josar: You ready to go soon?

Sen: Yeah… let’s finish this…

Josar: I have the shards that Aku left for us.

Josar reached into his pocket and handed one to Sen.

Josar: That will bring you to Aku. I’ll find Sicrus if they aren’t together.

Sen: Josar… just be ready.

Josar: For?

Sen: In case Sicrus doesn’t hear you.

Josar didn’t reply.

Sen: Let’s go…

Sen and Josar stood slowly, the weight of everything they had just shared settling over them like a final breath before a long descent. Neither spoke. Their silence was no longer from grief, but from resolve. Josar reached into his pocket and pulled out the other jagged shard Aku had left behind. It pulsed faintly in his palm, black and white light flickering. He held it forward, and as the energy surged, the air split open before them. A portal to the Void yawned wide, its edges trembling with a pressure that felt ancient and watching. Without a word, the two stepped forward together, side by side, and crossed through into the darkness beyond.