In the end, Rin had chosen to end his own life with fire, rather than succumb to the icy wound. He's only barely conscious when his attack deflects off of Frost's shield. All of that, and it hadn't even mattered. The flames crawled through his body from the wound in his gut, eating up his body like dry tinder in a forest fire. When he fell, there was naught but a body-shaped hunk of charcoal with vaguely glowing blue embers -- fingers and tail and wings break off like scorched branches.

At least he did it his way.

A little blue ball of flame rose from the charred body, and an identical one from the discarded sword rose to join it. The two combined into a single mote of flame, burning brightly before going out completely...



But then, new fire — warm, red, brilliant. Like blood coursing through veins. It bathes them all, Rin’s charred corpse included. It turns the clock back, brushing away the ash and healing the ulcers, drawing snapped limbs back on. The blue light returns, but doesn’t break in half — instead the whole thing reenters Rin’s form. When his hair regrows, it’s no longer blue-black — instead, his hair grows back in a gentle ombre from light blue to snow white. The fur, too, on his wing arms and tail — brilliant white with a hint of blue.

He grumbles and sits up.

(Hey, you know what doesn’t get fixed by magic life fire? Clothes.)

“Nnnngghhh… Yukio…? Everyone….”