[He closes his eyes too and wraps his arms a little tighter around her, just breathing in her scent.]

Being a phoenix, all I ever want is one more day. I've always known my father would fall first, and I barely dared hope that someone like Ace would rise to take his place. I don't want to reach Raftel, or become a pirate emperor, all I really want is just one more day with everyone. But even when those days come, it's never quite enough. After that day ends, I'll still want another. As long as I can stretch them out. Maybe into eternity.

I don't want to live forever, and I'd actually like to be able to die protecting my nakama, but it won't work that way. Can't work that way. They need me alive, and perhaps I'm too selfish, because I always want those extra days.

So being a phoenix, sometimes it feels like living in endless twilight.