Won was currently asleep on his bed, the pale moonlight hit upon his cheeks.
His eyes flashed open as his lashes trembled slightly.
The curtain warped due to a mysterious wind.
A shadow knelt down, "Master the soldiers of Suzaku are making a move. As you instructed under the control of information between the two remaining groups, we coerced them into moving together. Currently they have met and are stealthily moving back towards Suzaku. How should we approach?"
Won closed his eyes and said, "Separate and hunt. Make sure each of them are alone, and closely monitor how they use the drug. Make sure to capture every detail. Report back to me in the morning."
The shadow bowed and departed.
Won reclined on the bed.
Suddenly his eyes opened and he bit his lip, "Should I go... No the shadows will handle it. Furthermore... Ai, whatever I don't care anymore. I've been working non stop for how many days, I won't get up for those bastards of Suzaku."
...
Suzaku soldiers walked slowly, without any light except the beams of moonlight peeking past the dense leaves.
Little did they realize the shadows creeping alongside them.
Just then the leader of the Suzaku soldiers a burly man with a heavy head of red held his hand up.
A flash of orange filled the surroundings, alerting the soldiers causing them to crawl down near the thick leaves.
A group of ten wearing leather armor, with metal guarding the important regions.
They held spears and swords.
One commented, "Today's training was fun! Instructor Sakai is really good! I feel like a powerful swordman's from just a few lessons."
Another pushed him lightly, "Haru stop joking you were the worst in the class!"
Everyone chuckled lightly.
Haru a young man with Amber hair, frowned, "How mean! I took only a few more moments than you fellows. Kenta do you have any right to comment on me! You finished a minute before me!"
Kenta the one who lightly nudged Haru raised his head high and pointed his nose at Haru and said, "Heh of course I do. Do you compare someone who got 50 and another who got 40? It's ten marks but it's a failure. You see life is like that, things come down to the minute! Hahaha."
Haru closed his ears, "Ai. Don't talk about these stuff. My mother before the army came, kept trying to force me to scholar school and I kept failing by ten marks. She went mad!"
Kenta said, "Ai. Stuff like that dosen't matter. It's not like that stuff will make you happier. My dad told me always do things that make you happy."
Haru said, "Yes! Life is about happiness, not sadness!"
...
In the shadows one spoke to another, "Shadow 23 this wasn't supposed to happen, we prepared a some mercenaries later on to properly observe the changes. what do we do now?"
One thought about it and said, "Don't interfere in the experiment. Master needa proper experimental data."
"Yes."
...
Haru raised his hand, "Hey do you feel that?"
Kenta asked, "What?"
Haru said, "I don't know there's like a chill on my back and I feel someones watching us."
Everyone took out their weapons and got into a tight circle.
A man started clapping, "Amazing. We are all skilled soldiers, we've been trained for many years to think we would be found out by some newbies. Kill them fast."
The red armor of the soldiers of Suzaku flashed as they sped out, and the moonlight hit them.
Kenta exclaimed, "Fuck!"
He waved the shield in his hand up.
The dagger his opponent held, caused a shower of sparks as it collided with the shield. Kenta spun around and made a slash at the soldier.
The Soldier sucked and tackled Kenta down.
Haru screamed, "You bastard get off Kenta!"
He kicked the enemy who was holding crossing blades with him and rushed towards Kenta.
The soldier who attacked Kenta as soon as felled Kenta, began to stab at his sides and leg.
Kenta screamed in agony.
Haru slashed down and killed the soldier on top of Kenta.
Haru picked Kenta up and moved back, out of the original ten only three remained. Haru and injured Kenta and an old man.
Haru frowned as he saw the over 70 soldiers now having truly appeared from the bushes. Each one relishing in slaughtering those of Ito.
"Ah. I wish we could have tortured these Ito bastards, it's because of them that we are suffering. They should've obediently waited like they've been doing and waited to get eaten."
"Yeah. These bastards really don't know their place."
Haru screamed, "You bastard what did you say! You're the invaders of our lands, you are the ones actively hurting our people, you are the villains, so why do you speak as if Ito has done something outrageous for fighting back against your Tyranny!"
The boss of the group laughed, "It's the role of the strong to do as they like and the weak to accept, don't you know that brat? No matter how much the Sky batters the Earth, the Earth must simply bare it!"
Haru exclaimed, "Don't speak in such fancy words, Humans could never be compared to the Sky and Earth. Don't try to excuse your actions!"
A skinny man next to the boss said, "The whole point of strength, and of power is to do as one wishes even if the world burns. You sheltered brats think that if you're weak you have any opinion? Ito should have nicely done as we said atleast then some of your people could have been spared, but now we will have war. We'll destroy all of you Ito bastards!"
The old man of the three laughed, "No you won't. You Suzaku who has always held authority and power over us of Ito, now you are scrambling around in the ground... Why? Because you are weak and our Lord is strong! Our Lord shall destroy you and shall avenge us! Ito shall stand in the sky!"
He then turned to Haru, "Haru you are the only one who can escape. Leave me, take Kenta and go. Inform the Lord and kill these bastards!"
The old man then roared as he drew his sword and dashed forward.
Haru sobbed, "Uncle!"
Haru grabbed Kenta with frustration filling his brows, and then hurried away with all his ability.
Haru raced off with all he could, dragging Kenta on his shoulder.
Haru twisted his head back for a mere moment, but caught sight of the uncle being beheaded.
Haru looked down and grit his teeth, pushing off faster and faster.
The leader of the soldiers of Suzaku said, "Go finish them off, we can't alert Ito."
Three men dissapeared soon after chasing after Haru and Kenta.
...
The only thing that filled the quiet forest, was the heavy thuds of feet and the deep breaths of a tired man.
Haru was gulping air down like a whale.
Suddenly Kenta jerked and the two fell.
Haru exclaimed, "Kenta what are you doing!"
Kenta laid on the tree near to him, he laughed and blood splattered out of his mouth, "You idiot are you trying to escape those elite soldiers by carrying an injured man? Don't be a dumbass and go."
Haru gulped and said firmly, "No! I won't leave you."
Kenta grabbed Haru's collar and pulled him close. He breathed hard and groaned in a deep and angry growl, "Go! Fuck off! Don't you dare die! Live on, don't let those fucks kill us without getting any revenge. Run as fast as you can, preserve your life best... Trust our Lord and help him defeat Suzaku."
Haru said, "Kenta..."
Kenta laughed as he laid back, "I have a daughter. She... she was sick because I couldn't do right by her. Yet the Lord in only a few days changed everything, he made it so no other child had to get sick and he cured my little one. I don't have a lot of good to my name, but I am truly grateful to the Lord. I was a nameless and homeless brat, I probably didn't deserve anything and I had to suffer alot. I had a child by accident, but I spent my life on her. Yet I couldn't do anything for her. I hated this Empire and this world... Then I heard the Lord... I heard Won speak. He told us he would fight against any force that dared infringe on our people and our land, he said that the skies would be ours and every child would be fed and happy. When I saw that I felt I had finally met a role model. I am really grateful to him so please do everything you can Haru... Do everything you can to help him and to bring our Empire to our skies. So go! Don't die here! Go and fulfil the request I have..."
Haru fell to the ground and sobbed, "Kenta... I promise..."
Haru picked himself up and sped away.
Kenta smirked.
He looked up to the moon and whispered, "Akame my precious daughter..."
He suddenly exclaimed, "Argh!!!!!"
His voice echoed in the forest.
...
Won stood in front of Haru who was kneeling.
"Lord Won. Please, please take revenge for my comrade's! Please I beg you."
Won's eyes dilated.
He turned into a clap of air and dissapeared.
...
Won grabbed the collar of a shadow and asked, "Why didn't you inform me! Why didn't you protect our people!"
The shadow said, "It wasn't important master merely a unforeseeable oversight. Furthermore we couldn't let the test results become tainted. Thus in line with the rules you gave us we continued monitoring only."
Won opened his mouth and closed it.
He departed, his eyes remained wide. He grit his teeth.
...
A funeral was held for those who fell.
Haru sobbed as he knelt on the ground.
A sober and saddening air filled the location of the funeral. As the crowds tightened their fists, and grit their teeth ferociously. As they swore to avenge these poor souls and bathe Suzaku in blood.
Won gazed solemnly at the funeral caskets.
His face frozen as if in fright.
...
Haru sobbed and he said, "That's what Kenta said my lord. He told me all this and his apologies. Yet Lord I feel unworthy to be your sword, I couldn't even protect my friends! I simply had to run! Like a fool!"
Won said, "Never forget, but never blame yourself. Instead hold that person in your heart and live your life for them and their dreams. Never forget, bare them and carve them in your hearts. Each and every one. Hold them and work harder each day. Never forget."
Won's fists tightened...