"Am I being honest with myself?

Is this where I'm supposed to be?

Am I really making a difference,

for something bigger than me?"

After Tatara's death, Mikoto knew that his own time was coming to an end. The death of his beloved comrade only quickened his inevitable fall, but he refused to go down until his friend's murder was just as dead. Now that it was all over? He welcomed his own death.

He didn't need Munakata's warning to know for himself that his own power will only lead to destruction. Now that Tatara's death was at last avenged, he had no qualms about renouncing his power as king, even if it meant leaving the world altogether.

"What will I leave behind?

What will they say when I die?

What is the story my life will tell,

and did I tell it with my whole heart?"

In his final moments, images of his fellow friends played like a movie in his brain. Anna, Kusanagi, Yata and most importantly, you. He could never forget you and the gorgeous smile you made whenever you saw him. He knew that his time was up, but it didn't hurt any less knowing that he'd never see any of you again.

Anna would be devastated, Kusanagi would be understanding, and Yata would be furious. But you... he didn't know how you'd react. Knowing you, most likely a combination of all three. Just the thought of you crying nearly killed him right then and there. During the short period of time you had been with everyone at HOMRA, you had already grown so close to everyone, especially Mikoto. He never realized just how much he truly cared about you until it was time for him to leave without a farewell.

"Did I live it for more than myself,

and did I live it well? Did I live it well?

If I see the door and don't walk through it,

is the blood on my hands?"

Could he hold off his death any longer just to say his final farewell to the others and yourself? It was a tempting idea, but one he knew he could never go along with. He knew that the moment he laid eyes on your innocent looking face, he could never go through with this plan of his. He'd want to run his hands through that (H/L), (H/C) hair of yours and kiss you.

Never telling you how he truly felt about you was his fatal mistake that he could never take back. He couldn't be selfish. He couldn't risk innocent people getting hurt if he prolonged his death any longer even if it meant doing something as important as seeing you just one last time.

"Tell me I'm thinking too much,

when you already have a plan.

I know I feel this way because I'm afraid,

that I won't add up to standards I create.

What will my story be?"

Like your fellow Clansmen, you only expected to finally avenge Tatara's death. Despite all the different plans and scenarios you thought of, never did you expect it would end with your beloved king's death. You knew the strain of killing another king would affect him in such horrible ways, but you hoped he would get through it. You needed him to get through it.

Mikoto didn't fear death - he feared what would happen to everyone he cared about after he was gone. Not just physically, but mentally. Would you and the others hate him if he willingly gave up his life? Would you see him as weak?

"What is the story my life will tell,

and did I tell it with my whole heart?

Did I live it for more than myself,

and did I live it well? Did I live it well?"

He couldn't be disappointed in how his life played out. He may have never been able to profess his true feelings for you, but he got the chance to meet you. The chance to grow as close as he was already. Not to mention he had all his other Clansmen that he cared so deeply for.

Flashbacks of all the wonderful memories he had with you and the others came back to him suddenly. No, it wasn't possible for him to regret how he spent his life. King or not, he made mistakes like everyone does, except he was lucky enough to have you guys there to support him.

"Was I the hero or the villain?

Was I a hypocrite or did I live it?

What is the story my life will tell,

and did I live it well? Did I live it well?"

Munakata couldn't hesitate when he raised his sword. This was his one chance to finally rid himself the Red King. At that moment, when Mikoto spread his arms out wide to embrace the impact of the sword that would come at any second, Munakata realized that he wasn't as villainous as he once thought. A burning, hot fire continued to kindle in the Red King; a hot fire of passion even until his last seconds.

All Mikoto could do was close his eyes and spread his arms wide, leaving himself helpless against his rival. As short as it was, he was proud of his life. There was nothing he could truly be ashamed of with the support of you and everyone else. He knew that even after his death, you all would still be there to support and love him. He knew that you would be there. Of course you would be heartbroken, but he had to hope you could get past it and be just as strong as him.

As Munakata's sword plunged into his chest, he smiled. The last thing he imagined before he faded from the world was a memory of you and your smile.

"Did I make them proud? Did I live out loud?

Will they remember me for something more

than just the words I sing?

When I go I want to know that I left

something more than just a name on stone.

When I leave I hope they see that I chose

to live my life for something bigger than me."

Tears couldn't help but be shed. Anna's small arms wrapped tightly around you as she cried into your body while you desperately tried to contain your own sobs for her sake to no avail. Yata, the one person who you would've never expected to ever cry was even shedding his own tears of sorrow. The one man he ever looked up to was now gone. Even Kusanagi looked distressed about the situation despite how strong he tried to look for everyone else's sake.

As much as you wanted to be angry at Mikoto for letting himself get so easily taken down without even saying goodbye, you couldn't be. You understood why he did it and knew it had to be done no matter how much it hurt. He gave up his life so everyone else could live easier. No one could hate him for that as much as they wanted to be angry.

"Why are you all crying?" Kusanagi asked with an obviously forced smile on his face, causing you and the others to look up at him. "Imagine what Mikoto would say if he saw this. Even now, we're all proud to call him our king. Let's show him that."

"What will they say when I die?"

"No blood. No bone. No ash," you whispered to yourself at first, realizing what it truly meant.

Every person in Homra had a fire of them that burned brightly. That same fire could burn anything down to a crisp, being so strong that it wouldn't even leave anything behind. But that fire could never get rid of their precious memories with their beloved Red King.

Everyone turned their heads toward you, slowly realizing for themselves. One by one, everyone's fist was in the air and they all bore sad, yet proud looks on their faces.

"No blood! No bone! No ash!" they chanted.

Mikoto Suoh would never be dead in their hearts. He'd never be dead in your  heart and that's all that would ever matter to you.