Red eyes stay locked onto Akito's golden one, never leaving or wavering away. He has to hold on!
The grip in his hand tightens as Jade breathes hard, feeling both of his son's hands over his now. Jade holds onto to that, he can't go...
'For all those times you stood by me For all the truth that you made me see For all the joy you brought to my life For all the wrong that you made right For every dream you made come true For all the love I found in you I'll be forever thankful You're the one who held me up Never let me fall You're the one who saw me through through it all'
Voice? What? Why? From the light? No, memories are flooding through him now. Flying side by side with his son, breaking down on the teen. Curling tightly against his son's chest, hiding from his past. Strength...
A soft whimper escapes him and shifts to bury his head onto Akito's chest, clutching onto that hand like his life depended on it. He's coughing a bit again, struggling inside him to stay alive.
'You were my strength when I was weak You were my voice when I couldn't speak You were my eyes when I couldn't see You saw the best there was in me Lifted me up when I couldn't reach You gave me faith 'coz you believed I'm everything I am Because you loved me'
Strength flows back into him now. Seeing himself picking himself back up together throughout his time here. Losing his mind, Akito curling his arms around him and guiding him back. Times when he's broken, Akito's always brought him back.
Jade can feel his own strength coming back. "Akito..."
'You gave me wings and made me fly You touched my hand I could touch the sky I lost my faith, you gave it back to me You said no star was out of reach You stood by me and I stood tall I had your love I had it all I'm grateful for each day you gave me Maybe I don't know that much But I know this much is true I was blessed because I was loved by you'
Decisions that he's made, had been for his sons, for Akito. Those hands curling around his own has given Jade so much hope and faith during his time here. Always standing side by side with their father, he can't leave them! Doesn't he have more decisions to make? Isn't he making one now, fighting to stay alive?
Fighting on the inside, struggling a battle between life and death, trying to push death aside. He can't let that win! Refusing to, his eyes snap shut against his son's chest. He promised them that he wouldn't leave them! Jade can't...
"P-promise... I... promised!"
'You were my strength when I was weak You were my voice when I couldn't speak You were my eyes when I couldn't see You saw the best there was in me Lifted me up when I couldn't reach You gave me faith 'coz you believed I'm everything I am Because you loved me'
Promised that he wouldn't leave their sides, no matter what, even if it means fighting death. Even if he doesn't understand death, he doesn't want to die! He can't break his promise... he won't let this beat him!
Dying... twice! Leaving them behind, getting decked by the dark the first time, then both of them clinging to him after he returned. He couldn't put them through that pain again. It hurts him, but he needs to fight this!
Jade opens his eyes again, looking up at the light.