“Hah—hah—hah”
Kichirou paused, clinging desperately to a wall as he tried to catch his breath.
But he wasn't the only one that was out of it, he looked behind him and surprisingly Schnee had managed to keep up with him. For a moment there, as he ran with all his might to get away from those raiders, he had completely forgotten about her. She was tougher than she looked, he could give her that at least.
But that was it. They had ran with everything they had left within them, even the final desperate burst of energy before one’s imminent demise is all but certainly diminished now.
His body burned and ached, his feet felt like stones dragging beneath him. The only reason he had even stopped in the first place was simply because his body refused to move any further.
You're weak.
You're useless.
You're a mistake.
It's always been your fault.
She helped you and you left her to die.
The burning ache spewed forth and splattered all over the ground.
“Kichirou are you ok?”
Ahahahah even a kid is doing better than you.
Kichirou tightened his fist and pressed it against the wall.
“I’m fine, do you know where we are?”
“Yea I think so.”
Kichirou took another look back to make sure that they had lost them.
“Ok let's get you back to your father ok?”
“Yes!” She bit her lower lip and sniffled slightly, holding back her tears.
“We’re gonna be fine, and I’m sure your father and everyone else is doing just fine too.” He patted Schnee gently on her head, and managed to put up what should have resembled a smile.
“Let's go, your fathers waiting.”
Schnee nodded in silence.
“Which way?”
Schnee pointed and the two of them set off once again, quickly and carefully, pausing every time they heard anything nearby. Things seemed to have quieted down a bit, as they barely saw a living soul going past street after street.
They avoided the main streets unless it was absolutely necessary. Not only was it safer but it also allowed them to avoid most of the carnage that befell on them, it wasn't a sight for a young girl like Schnee.
The direct path back would have taken them right across the town square and the Debouf manor, the path that Schnee was taking them now only had one open area—like a small park. Going through it would cut off about half the extra traveling time. Staying out in the open was a continuous risk, but it was only a park, and at this point it was a risk they were willing to take.
“Schnee you wait here, I’ll go see if it's clear.”
As much as leaving Schnee by herself was a bad idea, Kichirou just couldn’t shake a certain feeling of dread as they approached the park. Kind of like the feeling when everything is going too well and your mind is telling you that something must be amiss.
His prognosis came to life as he reached the edge of the park, the place might as well have been an abandoned morgue with bodies laid everywhere, waiting for the hands of time to return them to mother earth itself.
But something was different here, the bodies littered about weren't just of civilians or the town guards, they looked like the soldiers that he had met in the Debouf manor. Not only them but there was almost an equal amount of those raiders and a fair amount of those assassins that he saw back at the manor as well.
Considering they seemed to be undermanned at the manor why would there be so many of those guards here?
To protect someone of value.
That must also be why the assassins are here, since they showed up at the manor as well, they must’ve been sent here to target members of the Debouf family. Given the number of the Debouf soldiers here an attack like this would make the most sense.
Whatever the case may be, the battle here had already concluded, and there doesn't seem to be anyone who's still moving. They just needed to cross this area and they should be in the clear to make it back safely.
We can make it! Furuya you guys better still be in one piece when we get back there!
“Schnee, it's clear, let’s go.”
Given the damage done to the area, it must have been one hell of a battle, some of the trees were so damaged that they could be considered just stumps, not to mention that some of the bodies appeared to be cut practically in half. Even some of the paved road was destroyed, exposing the earth underneath. It couldn't have been the work of a sword, or any melee weapon for that matter, the road looked like it was struck by some sort of explosion. The small traces of smoke in the air suggested that it probably was what happened, and that would indicate only one thing, magic.
Can I really make it in this world?
Of course you can't!
Maybe not but at least he would try.
“Kichirou, what are you doing?”
Kichirou looked up and saw Schnee waiting for him up ahead.
“Sorry.”
As he ran to catch up to her something his eye caught something at the edge of his vision.
It couldn't be, he wanted to dismiss it as unconscious inference, something his mind created to fill the gaps. He took another look at the half broken building to his side, and there it was. A leg sticking out from a fallen piece of wood in the first floor of that building, and there was just something about it that stuck out to him, something that shouldn’t be there.
It was a sneaker.
Schnee must have noticed that he stopped again and called out to him, but this time his mind didn't register a single word she just said. His mind raced with all the possibilities, but no matter what it came to the same conclusion.
Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
No it must be a mistake.
One step turned to two, then three, then four.
“Kichirou? Where are you going?” Her call fell on deaf ears.
But he stopped right before he could get a clear look at the rubble.
It couldn't be, it can't be, all of them should be safe and sound, hiding in the inn. It couldn't be any of them, it shouldn't be any of them, why would they be out here at a time like this? Was it because they came out looking for him? Then that would mean…
“Help….” a voice called out, it was faint.
As if he was suddenly freed from his imprisonment of fear within his imagination, Kichirou bolted towards the wrecked building.
“RYUTA! Are you ok?” Kichirou shouted, pushing away some of the debris.
“I’m fine,” Ryuta grunted with a smile. “You’re not looking too good yourself Shiro...”
A fallen wooden beam was pressed down on his midsection, the only reason he hadn’t been crushed was all thanks to parts of a broken wall that gave him just enough space. He was lucky.
Hearing his voice washed some relief over him but it all vanished as Ryuta coughed up blood. He didn't notice it at first but there was a faint difference, his face was slightly off hue. Ryuta was just acting tough, he was definitely hurt bad.
“Just help get this thing off me.”
“Ok, on the count of three. You push and I’ll pull.”
“I’ll help too.” Schnee joined in.
“No, Schnee you keep watch. Let me know if u see anyone come this way. Ready? One, two, three push!”
An indescribable pain tore away at his right arm and his grip slipped from his grasp. His face twisted from the pain as he grinded his teeth together swallowing his scream, the dried blood stains were again freshly red.
“Kichirou!”
“I’m alright... I'm ok.”
It was as if his whole body was lit ablaze. He grasped his arm trying to stem back the pain, and found himself looking to the floor. The lights were growing dim, but something caught his attention despite it all.
A small stream of red following from the building’s debris.
It wasn't his blood.
The sudden realization jolted a bit of clarity to his mind, Kichirou looked up and saw Ryuta’s face. It was now several degrees paler than before, his facial expression was much more lackadaisical compared to his normal self.
Ryuta was fading fast.
“Ryuta?”
“Whats up Shiro?” his voice was low and he spoke slowly as if he was drunk.
“Are you sure you’re ok?”
“Yea man, I’m fine, you know we haven't talked about this in a long time but, what do you think happens when you die?”
“Hey! Not the time man, we can talk about that another day, first let's get you outta here and get you to a doctor.”
Even though Kichirou spoke in the most convincing manner that he could, he couldn’t even convince himself. Given the current status of the town, it wouldn’t be anything other than impossible to find a doctor to treat whatever wound Ryuta has sustained, and without one it would spell certain death.
But in a world such as this one with magical items and the likes, as long as Zakin has some kind of healing scroll, healing spell imbued item, or even a healing potion then there was still a chance.
There's still a chance.
He’s gonna be fine, he's gonna be fine, he's gonna be fine.
“Kichirou! Kichirou!”
“Oh Schnee, I could actually use a hand.”
“We need to go, now! They're coming this way!”
“What?!”
“Those bad people, there's three of them coming! We need to go now!”
The raiders are coming this way, if they were to find them now, it would be all over for them. There's no way to fight them or to out run them at this point. Even if they got Ryuta out of here, it would be impossible for Kichirou to carry him to safety, odds were that he wouldn’t make it anyways. On top of that if they waste anymore time here they would also die in vain.
He won't make it.
You can't save him.
“Schnee we need to get him out now, I'm gonna push the beam just a little and you try to pull him out ok?.”
Schnee nodded.
“Kichirou, just go.”
“Shut up, we’re getting you out of here.”
Lift with your legs they always say, Kichirou knelt down beside the beam and put both arms firmly beneath the beam.
“Schnee on three, ok?”
“Okay.”
You’re all gonna die here.
“One, two, three—pull!”
Kichirou gritted his teeth, and mentally braced himself for the coming pain. His right arm was completely numb and his legs were trembling, even standing up took its toll. Nevertheless, he hugged the beam and tried to lift with his legs.
The beam was an immovable boulder, even with the full extent of his might, the beam wasn’t budging even in the slightest. He had nothing more to give.
“Schnee pull!”
“I can’t he’s stuck.”
Come on, come on!
Ryuta stared blankly at the sky and whispered: “Shiro just go.”
“No, I’m not leaving anyone behind.”
We’re all gonna die.
Even amidst the struggle his ears picked up a cold and familiar sound that sent a shiver right down to his core.
“Kichirou they are almost here!”
“I know, just pull harder! And Ryuta, you gotta push man, push!”
You’re too weak.
“Shiro we both know what’s gonna happen here... I can't move my arms anymore, just go please...”
“NO! Schnee pull harder!”
You can't save him.
You won’t save him.
Suddenly a miracle occured.
Any bystanders witnessing the scene would make the assumption that Kichirou just tried harder, in that do or die situation his will power alone gave him the strength to save his friend. However the reality was much different, no matter how hard he tried to put all the strength that he had into the task, it was never truly a one hundred percent effort. Subconsciously he was holding back a portion of his energy, for if he truly exhausted every bit of his energy, even if they got Ryuta out of this predicament they would not make it back to the inn alive. When you put the life of another over your own, only then could you truly tap into every last ounce of energy within the body.
Kichirou lifted the pillar much more than necessary, and Schnee pulled Ryuta out with ease. But immediately both of them almost wish she hadn’t.
They could only gasp in horror as they witnessed the source of it all, a huge gash running along almost the entire length of his lower abdomen, some of his organs were in plain view. The beam had kept pressure on the wound, with the sudden relief, blood burst forth with a torrential flow.
Kichirou stood there and turned his gaze back down at Ryuta, his heart beat slowed, the coming footsteps grinded to a halt, even the very flow of air around them stopped. Almost as if the world froze around them.
The look of forlorn hope remained still glazed over his eyes.
“... Shiro?” His speech had become quite a visible struggle.
You’re gonna be fine.
He’s gonna die.
...
“Wh.. why are you looking at me... like that?”
You’re gonna be fine.
He’s gonna die.
...
“I’m gonna be ok now right? We can all... make it home now... I ca—can.. see my wife and daughter.”
...
“Shi..ro why aren't yo..u saying any..thing?”
Don't do this to me.
“Shiro?”
Crack.
The poker face broke into a million pieces, it mattered not how hard he tried, it all came crumbling down.
Like a bursting dam, the tears flowed like a flooded river.
“... You’re gonna be just fine Ryuta… we—we’re all gonna make it back, and you’re gonna see your family before you even know it, just hang in there, I’ll bring you back and get you all fixed up.”
He’s gonna die.
“Shiro… please talk... to me, Shiro.”
Kichirou rushed forth and grasped Ryuta’s ice cold hand: “Ryuta, I’m—I’m right here man, I’m right here!”
He’s gonna die.
“Shiro… Shiro wh..er..e are you?”
“RYUTA! RYUTA! RYUTA!!! I’m here! Stay with me! We can get you fixed up I swear, this—we, there's spells and magic that can get you better in no time.”
He’s gonna die.
“Shi...ro, Azumi, please, some..one anyo..ne help me, I don’t want to… die I don’t wanna…”
Ryuta’s eyes darted rapidly looking for something.
Kichirou turned to Schnee, praying for the possibility that she would have something that can save Ryuta’s life. She probably understood it intuitively and shook her head.
…
“Ryuta, you can't do this to me, what about your wife, what about your daughter.”
His frantic breathing slowed and his eyes stopped, a single drop of tear flowed as he uttered the name: “Azumi....”
“RYUTA!!!! Ryuta, Ryuta, Ryuta… Ryuta… Ryuta…..”
Through Kichirou’s tears he could see a black blur appearing on Ryuta’s blood stained clothes.
Kichirou rubbed his eyes and there was nothing there.
He came out here looking for you, he died because of you.
…
It's all your fault.
Crack.
Kichirou slumped forward, his posture crumpled and the tears stopped.
It was all silent, nothing but a single voice echoed through the barren waste of his hollowed mind.
Why?Why?Why?Why?Why?Why?Why?Why?Why?Why?Why?Why?Why?Why?Why?Why?Why?Why?Why?Why?Why?Why?Why?Why?Why?Why?Why?Why?Why?Why?Why?Why?Why?Why?Why?Why?Why?Why?Why?Why?Why?Why?Why?Why?Why?Why?Why?Why?Why?
In that moment, nothing else mattered; the only will was the answer to his pitiful question.
“Kichirou!”
“Kichirou!”
“Kichirou!”
Schnee shouted over and over, but her words could not reach him. The raiders were just around the corner, she couldn't just leave him like this, she shook him to no avail, then she did the only thing she could.
She held out her palm and slapped him as hard as she could.
Huh?
Kichirou grasped his face and stared at his own bloody hands.
“Get it together!”
He just knelt there staring blankly at her face.
There was no more time, at this point Schnee just helped Kichirou up and led him by hand, pretty much pulling Kichirou away from the square of death, turning the corner as the raiders arrived with blazing torches in hand.
In the face of all that which would bring sorrow to one’s soul, the raider’s face was cold and unrelenting. They lifted their torches to each and every one of the wooden framed buildings, leaving a trail of flames consuming everything in their wake.
Erasing everything as if it never was, as all creations are eventually reclaimed by death.