Against the flow.

I lied there, wasted. 

I could not feel anything below my neck but was pretty sure it couldn't be anything but red. Lying on my lacerated back, I thought back as to find what drove it all to this. Though I knew, I didn't want to believe it.

My family was well off. Four members in total; Grandpa, Ma, Dad and me, the little devil. Ma was an archaeologist, an expert in that field.

She knew several scripts mainly Sanskrit, Pali, Latin. Father was a successful businessman and my grandpa owned a dojo. Though he wanted to be in the military, owing to some complications, he failed to make the cut. While I admired the callings of my grandpa and ma, I hated my father's. He was always diving into a pool of papers and read some books sneakily. Nah, too boring. Growing up, I made it my dream to get admission to the 'National Academy of Defense'. Ever since I was a child, my grandpa told me about it and his life there, the military ideals, respect and the severity of the job. I was charmed by those tales and made it my dream. Though my grandpa failed, his martial arts were top-notch that even earn praises from the director. Thus, I started to train with him. It was hard but the joy I felt after mastering a strike or technique could not be expressed by words. The day I became fifteen, Grandpa left...After this, I trained even more rigorously to honour him and achieve my dream. Finally, the day came and I was selected. Now, I was only a few steps away from my goal. Years passed, I completed the course and joined the military. Gradually, I made a name for myself in the army as the youngest on to raid the enemy base successfully and so on accompanied by a grandiose title >Tempest< for my martial arts and shotgun-tactics. 

'Hah... those good old days. '

Tears streaked down my cheeks,  with my  ' best friend ' lying dead beside me, as I cursed everything that led us to this.

Blood flowed endlessly forming a pool. It was pretty obvious considering the sieve-like bodies of the two of us. Gradually but not at all surprisingly breathing was becoming difficult as my entire life, that is,  just a bit more than a quarter of a century, flashed in front of my eyes. Especially, the first time when I was pleading my  Grandpa to teach me.

" Grandpa.."

FLASHBACK NO JUTSU

( 24 YEARS)

" Grandpaaa, teach me that  shit."

An old man laughed at his grandson's antics while a lady, probably the boy's mother gasped at it.

Feeling the glare from his mom, the child replied," I learnt it from that man."

Sulking at the boy's reply, the newspaper-reading man pleaded, "Can't you call me dad or something like it."

"No, 'cause you won't  let me read those books."

"Those aren't something you can read ."

"Whyyy??"

"..."

Remembering the past, I felt pure bliss. If only had I been a bit careful while making my choices...

If only I  cherished my ...

"S..ss.Sir, HELP"

Waking up from my train of thoughts as I saw a man, unrecognizable but was surely wearing the army uniform was coming towards me like a ray of hope.

"SIR, Unit c..."

It was the general, who instead of helping pointed a gun on me.

General said " Never expected you to be the traitor, your Grandfather, My Dearest Friend, would definitely be ashamed of it. I don't want to tarnish his name or the honoured badge you received. Thus, I repay my debt to him, by granting you a warrior's death.

"Ug.g..h.."

"Lieutenant colonel , Adieu"

"ple..."*BANG*

My vision turned black. It was a weird sensation, feeling myself dying.

*Sigh*"Why did it end like this....."