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Torain felt ill. Today was it. He'd finally decided he'd hung around the Negaverse long enough, kept his friends on the other side waiting long enough. Though, it still pained him greatly to leave. It was... agonizing. His chest burned with every breath, every heartbeat. His eyes felt as though he'd shot pepper juice straight into them as he tried not to just start bawling, standing there, staring down at Damien's sleeping face.

The person he trusted most in the world (and yet still didn't trust enough to tell him, to ask him to come, to please don't let him do it alone—).

The person he was about to betray.

His throat closed up and he forced himself to breathe evenly, bending down to kiss his sleeping forehead.

"I love you," he said, voice raw. "Stay safe."

Placing a letter* on the pillow next to Damien's head, he carefully, quietly powered up and teleported away to the park he agreed to meet Lysithea at.

He staggered a bit as he landed, falling to his knees out of sheer grief.

*

Soleiyu had done his best to stay quiet, not because he had nothing to say but because he wanted to make sure that Lysithea was focused and not working herself up. Purring kept him occupied, but he stalled when there was a sudden, new energy signature.

He recognized Monoceros, even in all that black.

Worry and alarm consumed him quickly; the Senshi looked like he’d gone down roughly, and of course he’d expect the worst. Lysithea was, too.

He didn’t speak; he just looked over Monoceros and tried to observe what he could, and–while Lysithea was looking after him, he kept his eyes to the area around them to make sure this wasn’t some ambush or trap.

Lysithea didn’t sigh in relief, but it was a close thing, and when she wrapped her arms around him, she drew her phone out at the same time. “You’re safe. You’re fine. We’re going to go up to Lysithea where we can talk more easily and get this all taken care of.” She didn’t wait for a response, taking the three of them up to her Homeworld and drawing away from Monoceros once they arrived.

“First things first, he’s warm, he’s soft, he purrs, he’s good for the nerves, he’s Soleiyu, and he’s perfect.” Lysithea gently took the cat off of her own shoulders and draped him around Monoceros instead. “Second, that might be the case. But. You’ll always love him, ‘Ceros, and that’s okay. We’ll save him, that’s all. Easy peasy. We’ll save him and you two can live your fairytale together. You know that I don’t give up. Not if I can help it.”

She hesitated and knelt before him, a worried expression on her face. “Third, and I have to ask, but…do you still want this? Purification only can work if you want it…”

Monoceros startled a bit at the sudden change in scenery, despite being used to such things with teleportation. It was... just a lot. His head hurt and he barely heard Lysithea speaking as he wrapped his arms around Soleiyu, petting the cat gently. These two were almost unfairly kind to him. He felt as though he didn't deserve purification. That he'd spent too much time lost to Chaos, that he loved too many people mired in Chaos. Ashanite, Andesine, Marialite, hell, even Arsenolite now that he'd started to be a better person. And Murikabushi, who'd encouraged him to go from one of the other sides of Chaos.

But he definitely did want it. As gross as it made him feel to just abandon all those people he loved. If he could drag them kicking and screaming into it, he would.

But they had to make that choice on their own, and it ******** sucked. Above all, he really just wanted Ashanite to come with him. But he was in too deep. No matter what Monoceros said, he was sure Ashanite would do something drastic to keep them both in Chaos together. No matter how hard he would plea.

Asking him from the other side would be even harder, though. Was it... worth it?

Yes. No. Maybe? He didn't know. Tears were flowing before he realized, and he cuddled Soleiyu a bit closer.

"I want it," he finally said heavily. "I just hate that I'm leaving my Asha behind."

Whatever–whoever–Asha was, it was a mystery to Soleiyu. He put his energy towards receiving the hug, to letting his tail curl around Monoceros’ arm, to nuzzling under his chin when he could reach.

There was something immediately relieving about Lysithea’s new form. As the energy signature shifted, he felt relieved when it washed over him. In some ways, it felt like basking in the sunlight or taking a midday nap. Maybe it was because she was a Princess.

Maybe it was because she was his senshi.

Monoceros was in good hands, though. He was sure of it.

Even if Lysithea had voiced that she was worried or uncertain or afraid of messing up, Soleiyu still had complete faith in her.

Though he stayed pressed close to Monoceros, he caught her eyes and nodded approvingly.

She could do this. And, once the Chaos was gone, they would work on making sure Monoceros had all the support he needed to be okay.

He looked surprised to see her like this, but there was no anger, no suspicion so that…made things easier. Closing her eyes, Lysithea reached for the feeling of the Chaos and as the crystal in her hands began to glow, she opened her eyes again and watched as Monoceros began to change.

Just as she had, he melted…kind of. Maybe melted wasn’t the right word but…

He looked so much better in white. And he felt better too.

“You’re still you, ‘Ceros.”

The wave of exhaustion that seemed to overwhelm her caused Lysithea to take a deep breath and banish her Princess side before falling to her knees before Monoceros and hugging him tightly, being careful of Soleiyu in the process, but also, drawing him into the embrace too.

“You’re still you and you’re home.”

…And she had done it. Soleiyu had been right, of course, and she kissed him on his stupid cute nose in thanks.