A gentle sigh escaped your lips as your body slumped into your seat, staring into the sun. A smile spread on your face as you absentmindedly reached out to grip a warm cup of tea. The refined beverage sang to your aching muscles as you lifted the mug and carefully sipped the warm liquid. Setting the drink back onto its saucer you couldn't help but glance up at the person sitting across from you...

(Y/n): Are you happy?

(Y/n): I would like to think so. I have a wonderful view and a lovely cup of tea~ Hah... Simply perfect.

(Y/n): Everyone is dying. Darkness... Hell... Even that blasted Doll devil.

(Y/n): The weather is simply perfect. Maybe I can keep it this way for a while... Of course, I can't deny the seasons since winter is wonderful too~

(Y/n): You need to get your act together. You love these people... don't let them die at your risk for perfection!

You turned to the other version of you with a grand smile on your face to see him clutching a glass of apple juice. His knuckles were white from the sheer pressure in his grip. His face was not lovely though. He looked quite angry in fact. No this wasn't right. This wasn't (Y/n). He needed a better name...

(Y/n): I think I will call you Simon. Do you like that name, Simon?

Simon: Stop fucking around! You took my body! Our body and now you're simply watching the world burn!

(Y/n): You know what would go great with this tea? Some pastries! Do you have a favorite? I'm quite partial to jelly-filled donuts myself.

Simon: What... What the fuck are you talking about?! Have you finally lost your mind? What's the point in having all of those fucking voices tucked in your skull if you can't use any of them?! Find the least annoying one and bring it out here!

(Y/n): Voices? What are you talking about? 

A hearty laugh escaped from your throat as you turned to look at the sunset once more, noticing how much more red it was growing. The deep crimson color pulls at your heartstrings.

(Y/n): Silly Simon. This is why I keep you around~ You really get me!

Simon for all of his anger seemed more astonished than anything as he took a sip of the apple juice before tossing the whole glass away in disgust. He didn't even take a breath before he turned back to the table to see another glass of juice sitting before him. Gauging from the color... ah... orange juice~ A classic!

Simon: You're fucked in the head, you know that? Do you understand that, Uncanny? Or have you always been a loon?

You pinched the handle of the tea glass between your pointer finger and thumb and lifted it to your face, taking in the aroma before sipping on it again. The murky water seemed more dreary as you wracked your mind trying to determine the flavor... but it wouldn't come to your mind.

(Y/n): Uncanny... Who's that?

Simon: What...

(Y/n): I don't know who that is.

Simon: That's you. Uncanny Valley. Some fucked up primal evil from beyond time or something.

(Y/n): But I'm (Y/n).

Poor old Simon seemed confused now. It's alright. He's always been like that. Since you could remember...

Simon: No I'm (Y/n)...

(Y/n): No no no, you're Simon. The pitiful creature I took in as he wasted in the dark. 

Simon: You left me no choice! You-

(Y/n): Aren't you happy though? You got your wish. You came back as a tree! Just like you wanted. And now that I've made myself whole... I can finally make things right.

Simon: Make things right with...

(Y/n): Yukari... And my... our little cherry blossom.

Simon was a pillar of strength. You knew this. this is why you picked him. But knowing that you two were combined didn't make those emotions any easier. His world seemed to shatter for a moment. A heavy look crossed his face as stared out into that crimson sunset.

Simon: I... I just wanted them to be happy... 

(Y/n): I know.

Simon: I messed it up... I messed it up so badly.

(Y/n): I... I know.

Simon: Yukari... and my beautiful little girl... She got some deadbeat as her dad... How could some ugly old man like me bring such beauty into this shitty world?

(Y/n): A true miracle in this dark world, yes?

Simon: I wanted to take her away from all the darkness and devils... let her shine bright and then... hah... cry my fucking eyes out when I gave her away at her wedding. It would be bright and wonderful. She deserved so much more.

(Y/n): H-Hah... She still can.

Simon's gaze lifted to meet yours to see a small smile on your face as opposed to his deep frown.

(Y/n): Simon things are different now. The pieces are back together and with some human ingenuity, I can fix things. I can make things better. I can give them that future you wanted. 

Simon: Why do you care? You're a devil. You only feel things because you merged with me.

(Y/n): I feel things because I am (Y/n) (L/n). What I've become... I can't quite say but can't you agree that there are much worse options?

Simon: They're dead. My wife and little girl... How can you fix that?

(Y/n): I... I don't know yet. But I will-

Resounding footsteps filled the air as your head turned just in time for a mysterious figure to whisper in your ear. 

(Y/n): Ah... It appears our time is up.

Simon: What? You can't just leave it like that.

(Y/n): Simon... 

You opened your mouth to speak but couldn't find the words. 

(Y/n): We won't call this goodbye forever but for now, I need you to leave and gather yourself. I... pulled a lot of strong for this meeting but... I can pull one more to part on amicable terms.

Simon: You're a crazy bastard. This whole meeting this fusing bullshit... What was the point of it? You got fucked over in the end! Just like me! Except I'm the spirit watching his hijacked body get taken for a ride by the fucking monster under the bed! You don't get to kick me out and expect-

(Y/n): Yukari and Maya are alive.

Simon:... W-What?

(Y/n): It was the first thing I did when I returned. I tried to find them and... I have leads at the very least.

Simon: that's not them being alive then! That's you trying to get my hopes up!

(Y/n): The fact there are leads at all means that I can find them. That they haven't been snuffed out by... her. But now you must leave. 

You stood up from your seat and brushed your outfit off. Your work attire was like always except instead of a black tie you wore a red tie... to spice things up you know? Humans are such simple creatures.

(Y/n): When you get to the door... take a left and head toward the bar. It will make things easier before you take the next step.

And with that, you walked away. Like nothing had happened as you pressed a smile onto your features and exited the terrace. Simon sat in his seat for a moment... staring out into the distance with a feeling of... everything. Hatred and fear... sorrow and joy... He couldn't tell what he should do. What he or... you or... what are you? Gulping softly Simon rose from his seat to find himself staring into the glass of the opened terrace door. A (H/c)-haired male staring back at him with tired looking (E/c). It was... Simon? But you were Simon. No, you were... A sigh escaped his lips as he could feel the energy being sapped out of him. What was left was being taken into this new form. The perfect Simon... or... the ideal (Y/n) that Simon wasn't a part of. 

Simon: Fuck... this is confusing isn't it? 

Simon took the chance to step inside and could see various figures resembling butlers lined up down the hall. All drawing white uniforms with black masks. He stepped down the hall with each step making him feel weaker and weaker.

Simon: (Y/n) (L/n)... it's... neither of us now. Whatever comes of this perfect fusion... I can only hope he makes better choices than I did.

Simon turned to one of the butlers and found himself staring into the abyss-like mask.

Simon: Not a talkative bunch are ya? Hell of an afterlife we got here eh? That's what this is right? I mean this place is gnarly and honestly... I can take it considering I was literally rooted in hell.

Simon brushed past the butler and down the hall toward a wide double door. Two butlers took the chance to turn the golden handles and open the wide door to a glittering staircase.

Simon: Uncanny... I suppose this is the string he pulled? Knowing the shit I've done... I don't deserve this...

Simon paused for a moment... his life flashing before his eyes for a moment as he looked back on the happiest times with his mother... going out for noodles at the shitty little hole-in-the-wall place... watching gameshow late at night... And then of his family... how he bawled his eyes out when Maya took her first steps... hah or that time he nearly flubbed his vows in front of Yukari's whole family... sheesh. Nobody could be proud of this life. One miserable event to the next with only pinches of happiness sprinkled it. It was a shitty life... but it was Simon's life. Even if he's not proud of the things he's done he's proud he lived. A devil might be piloting his skin but he wrote his story down to the last fucking bullet and that's all you can ask before being absorbed into the so-called perfect being. Simon let out a breath before stepping inside. The white-clad figures closed the door behind him and Simon could feel the draw of the stairs. Guiding him ever upward into the bright lights of the upstairs. But then...

"Take a left and head toward the bar" 

Simon's head turned to the left slightly where he could see a little cutout in the wall. It was a small dingy little place filled with smoke. A small neon sign lighting up on the back wall. 

PURGATORY

Simon: Huh...

The male took the chance to carefully stride forward into the small bar. His gaze adjusted to the drastic change in lighting before he took note of a hand resting on a table in a far booth, a lit cigarette resting between the middle and pointer fingers. Simon strode forward with a sense of familiarity guiding each step. the weakening feeling being staved off if only for a moment. Step by step, the booth came closer as Simon's (E/c) eyes patiently awaited to land on the person sitting in the booth. But it seems like he was beaten at his own game.

???: Sheesh... What kind of son leaves their mother waiting so long?

Simon approached the booth and found himself looking at an older woman with grey hair, her large eyes tucked away behind small glasses as she took a drag from her lit cigarette, knocking some of the ash into a small dish. She lifted her head and smiled at Simon.

Mafuyu: It's been a long time since I've seen you... the real you. How have you been?

Simon paused with a flurry of emotions filling his chest. How... why... what? He wanted to interrogate the woman to see why she was in such a place... yell at her feeling the last dredges of their last argument creep into her mind. But as he opened his mouth to speak... it suddenly quivered... then quivered some more...

Mafuyu's eyes widened as her son threw his arms around her shoulders, pulling her into the tightest embrace she'd felt since he was a kid. A chuckle escaped from her throat as she could feel the slight tremble emanating from the boy... her mature ears picking up on the sound of him sucking in breaths between sobs.

Mafuyu: Oh come now... what kind of grown man cries in front of his mom?

She spoke out returning the strong embrace, ignoring the feeling of cool droplets running down her own face.

Simon: I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. 

Mafuyu: It's ok...

Her comforting motion was followed by a pat on the back, causing the weakened man to cry out even more.

Simon: I should have been a better son. I should have spent more time with you and brought Yukari and Maya more and-

Mafuyu: It's ok, you did the best you could. I'm just glad you turned out decent with a mom like me around. I... I wanted to give you so much more. But I failed... I failed you... I failed myself... I should be the one who apologizes.

Simon: Don't you dare...

The two clung to each other in the smoke-filled room before Simon finally managed to detach himself to sit across from her...

Mafuyu: You know... I keep thinking they got the wrong reservation upstairs but... Here we are.

Simon: It still doesn't feel real... and I went to hell so I can tell the difference.

Mafuyu: Always gotta one-up me, eh?

A laugh escaped Simon's lips as he rubbed a hand against his face, drying the last dredges of his tears.

Mafuyu: Well I hope you've made time because this bar's got no limit and I think I'm gonna test it.

Simon: Pfft hahaha... Want me to go try and find a bartender?

Mafuyu tilted her head to the right and smiled.

Mafuyu: I sent some brat to go get us all a drink. Scooch over so he can sit down.

Simon quirked up an eyebrow in confusion before sliding over into his booth seat. A tray was set down on the table with three clear glasses of whiskey on the rocks. Simon looked up just in time to find an older male with great hair sitting down, bright brown tufts of hair peeking through in places. Simon... had never seen this guy before in his life. The old man smiled brightly as he lifted a drink and offered it to Mafuyu before accepting his own. Then he grabbed the third one and offered it to Simon. Simon had no clue who this was but he seemed so familiar and the reason seemed to be clinging to his neck... A bright orange tie with little carrots on it.

???: Here you are! I wasn't sure what to get so I just go what Mafuyu ordered.

Mafuyu: Sheesh, look at this old man still needing me to grab him by the scruff of the neck.

???: Hey you said I was getting better! At least I will have plenty of time to practice, eh?

Mafuyu took a sip of her drink as Simon looked into his before setting it down. The older male seemed to note Simon's effort and set down his glass to offer out his hand.

???: Hey there... It's a bit awkward to be meeting for the first time like this but... hell of a job you did, son... I couldn't be prouder...

Simon's lip trembled again as he shook the man's hand, gripping his whiskey in his other hand before downing it. Looks like he had a lot of catching up to do... don't worry... he had all the time in the world~