Mina held the candle between her palms. She’d tried to coax
it to be a roaring fire again, to keep it burning big and bright. But the flame
was small now, dwindling more and more, and she feared all the wood and
kindling would just choke it out sooner. She set it in a little holder on the
windowsill and pulled up a chair.

“It’s just you and me, hot stuff.” She rested her head on
her hand and winked and the candle flame. “Anything you want to do, now that we’re
alone?”

The offer did nothing to get a rise out of the flame. It
flickered on, ever smaller.

Mina pulled it closer. “A blaze of glory is enough on its
own, you know. It doesn’t have to be final.” She cupped her hand to the side of
the burning wick to protect it from any drafts. “You saved her. And me. Isn’t
that enough?”

The candle did not respond.

“No, you’re right, it’s not enough, she’s gonna need saving
again, and if you don’t come back now, you’re not gonna be here to do it. Who’re
you gonna trust to take care of her like you do? You always say I’m not enough
alone.”

The flame seemed a little brighter, maybe. Mina kept
talking.

“You know how I get. Too flighty or too hard, I’m not balanced
without you, and Usagi needs that balance. Can’t you do it for her?”

Dimmer, again. And then dimmer than before.

Mina put her head down. “I need you,” she whispered. “Can’t
you do it for me?”

For a moment, the flame grew large and bright, bigger than
the candle should be able to support. The room grew hot. Mina swore she felt a warm
hand squeeze hers. She closed her eyes and squeezed back, willing Rei to hold
on. They’d find a way to bring her back if she just held on.

But then the light went out entirely; the room went dark and
cold all at once. One single burning ember remained smoking on the candlewick.

Mina pulled it in and watched it pulse with her breath. “This
is it then.” She fought back her tears lest they fall on the candle. “I love
you, Rei. I hope you knew I always did.”

The last red spark faded to black. Mina sat alone in the
smell of smoke and felt the night stretch on forever.