Anta and Prota sat at the little dining table in quiet rumination.

“I made my dreams come true,” Anta whispered, “but the person I wanted to share them with… Doesn’t want any part in it.”

Prota was silent, letting his other self come to terms with the situation.

“I thought we could live together forever,” Anta continued, “but he doesn’t want that. He seemed to indicate… that we could live together when we’re dead… that there’s a world past this… a world that isn’t painful. He seemed unhappy to be taken from that world, so perhaps it isn’t so bad there. Perhaps… I should let people move on.”

Prota looked at Anta, struggling to believe his ears hadn’t deceived him. “You mean…?”

Anta nodded. “Milo felt the same pain as the others,” he realized. “Whether they’re being kept from their natural death or being brought back, it’s the same. I’m hurting them. You knew this, and you tried to tell me. But it wasn’t until I heard it from him that it became real. I…” Anta swallowed and looked firmly at his other half, “think it’s time to destroy the immortality machine.”

Prota felt a strange mixture of relief and sadness. “You’re sure?” Prota asked, despite himself. “You’re going to give in, just like that? Death is scary.” After all his efforts, he was hesitant… But he knew it was the right choice. “Are you sure you’re ready to face it?”

Anta gave a small, sad smile. He brushed his long white bangs out of his eye and looked at Prota with sincerity. “Maybe,” he said, cautiously, “this time with you is getting to me. I think we’re rubbing off on each other. Our minds are starting to touch upon each other. They’re ready… To become one again.”

“You think we’re starting to understand each other’s views because our bodies and minds want to be together?” Prota asked.

Anta nodded. “We were created due to a dichotomy in Gil’s views,” he reminded Prota. “If we can accept our differences and learn to understand each other’s sides… Well, there’s no reason for us to stay separate, is there?”

“How do we turn back into Gil?” Prota asked. “Is it hard?”

“Not at all,” Anta said, casually. “All we have to do is have sex.”

“Wait,” Prota was taken aback. “R-really?”

Anta nodded. “That’s what I meant when I said our bodies were lusting after each other because they wanted to become one again.” he explained. “Direct sexual intercourse is how the spell gets broken. Specifically, we have to reach orgasm when one of us is inside the other. That’s why I wouldn’t go all the way with you when we were working on the resurrection machine. I couldn’t have us merge back into Gil… Not when I thought I’d have a chance at having both immortality and Milo. But now…” He sighed heavily, then he looked intensely at Prota. “I’m ready.”

Prota breathed deeply. His leather-vested chest rose and fell visibly. “I want to be one with you,” he admitted, strongly. “My body…” he held his hand to his chronically aching heart, “has wanted to be whole for as long as I can remember.”

They could both feel that the other was ready.

But Prota hesitated.

“Before we proceed,” He said nervously, “I’d like to talk to Tiki.”

Anta nodded. “Of course.”