The boy often wondered if he was Murata Ken, or was he any of his past reincarnations. He didn't even know whether his personality was his, or did it stem from the Daikenja himself.
Tears threatened to escape from his closed eyes. "What do you want…?" Murata questioned, feeling Shinou's presence at his bedside.
The golden-haired spirit sighed and sat beside him, almost feeling the silk of the bed sheets. "My sage…about that earlier-"
"Don't call me that," Murata interrupted. Shinou gasped softly, slightly shocked at how weak and pleading his voice had become.
"I'm not your Daikenja anymore…I can never be your Daikenja again. That part of my existence has long past…" the teen murmured. Sorrow and angst found a way and escaped his heart as tears, flowing down from soulful onyx eyes.
"I'm not him anymore…I'm not…"
Shinou smiled, putting his arms around the weeping Murata in a gentle, loving embrace. "Whoever said that I only love you for the Daikenja? Though it is true that I loved him, I had already accepted that there won't be another Daikenja again." he said, his strong voice sounding like a river, smooth and gentle.
Murata's eyes widened and looked up at the warm smile that Shinou gave him. "Now…I love you, Murata Ken, as you are."
His tears continued to flow, however, this time, they were no longer tears of sorrow. As he leaned against Shinou's chest, Murata finally felt as if he was himself and not the Daikenja (or any of his past lives, for that matter).
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Shinou grinned, watching the boy who fell asleep and was leaning against his chest. He kept his arms around him, wanting to stay this way until he wakes up.
The small, blissful smile remained on his face. Although Shinou felt that it was quite a shame that those charming black eyes of his were closed, Murata's sleeping face held such serenity that Shinou would probably never see if the teen was awake.
Following that night, Shinou called Murata 'my precious Ken' ever since.