Flickering torches cast dancing shadows across blood-stained stone floors. The once cavernous chamber now stood as a grotesque arena. Zei's subordinates hovered around the scene, their excited murmurs creating a discordant backdrop to the unfolding tragedy. Etsuyo laid at the center of it all, quivering in the growing pool of her blood, barely clinging to life.
Yasushi's body was wrecked with sobs. Still on his hands and knees, his mind became a maelstrom of emotions - rage, weakness, and unbearable grief.
Memories of Etsuyo flooded his consciousness. She was more than just a royal guardian; she was a friend. Strong, proud, kind, always there with a reassuring smile and words of encouragement. The cherished memories contrasted with the brutal reality before him.
He dug his fingers into the cold stone floor, knuckles white with the effort of containing his fury. He wanted to scream, to lash out at Zei and his followers and make them pay for what they had done. But beneath the anger laid a deep, paralyzing helplessness, rendering him motionless.
As Yasushi struggled with his tumultuous emotions, Kaname took several steps forward, placing herself between him and the site of Etsuyo's pending death. Her movements caught Zei's attention, giving him cause for a pause.
The young girl stood unnaturally still, her gaze fixed on Etsuyo's broken form. Unlike Yasushi, whose grief was raw and visible, Kaname's face was a mask of eerie calm. No tears fell from her eyes, no tremors shook her small frame. It was as if she were watching a scene from a great distance, detached from the barbarity unfolding before her.
Zei's eyes narrowed in observation of her reaction. While Yasushi's anguish was expected and rather satisfying, Kaname's composure was deeply unsettling. It spoke of experiences beyond her years, of horrors witnessed surpassing this moment.
Yasushi's head snapped up, his tear-streaked face a combination of confusion and terror. The sudden shift from mourning to this new, unknown threat left him reeling.
"No... No! I can't... I can't," Yasushi stammered, shaking his head vigorously, his eyes wide with shock and revulsion at what was being asked of him.
Zei's expression darkened, the cruel amusement in his eyes becoming minacious. "Don't you care about that woman? Do you enjoy seeing her scared…in pain… bleeding to death… alone in a room full of strangers?"
Yasushi's vision fainted with tears as he twitched, raising his head to look at Etsuyo. His view blocked by Kaname's stance between them, her small form shielding against the grim sight.
Offended by Yasushi's rejection, Zei lowered his voice into a deceptively gentle tone, "I'm giving you the rare gift of compassion. It's the only gift available to release that woman from her suffering."
Zei's words echoed in Yasushi's head, manipulating itself into a feeling of obligation, warring with his innate sense of right and wrong. He rose to his feet, his body moving at its own accord, taking the dagger from Zei's palm. As Yasushi grappled with his unexpected demand, the subordinates seemed to hold their collective breath.
Placing his right hand on his hip and his left on top of Yasushi's head, Zei's touch felt like a lead weight. "…Or would you prefer to be the object of another man's affection? Plus, in her current condition, I'm sure she'll live long enough to give you company…"
Understanding the gravity of the moment, Yasushi proceeded forward toward Etsuyo, wiping the tears from his eyes. Each step felt heavy, as if his feet were made of lead. As he passed Kaname, he looked to her for comfort, instantly regretting his decision.
Kaname stared at the disfigured Etsuyo, eyes colder than a dead fish. She turned her gaze to Yasushi who stood paralyzed by her expression, giving him a slight nod. A disconnectedly calm gesture, permitting him to fulfill the task at hand.
Yasushi quickly turned his head to break the uncomfortable chill seeping out of Kaname. Within several more steps, he entered Etsuyo's pool of blood, reluctantly standing above her. The sight of her broken form up close painfully ripped his heart apart, triggering uncontrolled whimpering.
Etsuyo's eyes gradually fluttered open in awareness of Yasushi's presence, meekly looking at him with a dagger in hand. She attempted to speak but only managed to spurt up blood, closing her eyes.
Yasushi closed his eyes, desperately searching the depth of his soul for courage.
I GOTTA DO THIS! IF I DON'T, HE'LL HURT US! ETSUYO…I…PLEASE… FORGIVE ME!!
Lifting the dagger above his head, Yasushi's hand vehemently trembled. Chants from Zei's subordinates grew to a deafening roar, the clamor of voices drowning the last of his coherent thoughts.
"COME ON KID! YOU CAN DO IT!"
"Do it!"
"Do it!"
"Do it!"
What felt like an eternity to Yasushi was, in reality, mere seconds. The crowd's restlessness intensified, their bloodthirsty anticipation filled the air. Zei's patience, already stretched thin, began to dissolve like mist in the morning sun.
Suddenly, the sound of shattering glass cut through the din. "KILL HER NOW!" Zei's voice boomed, further enticing the crowd.
Then, a terrible silence fell over the room by Yasushi's agonizing cry as he thrust the dagger downward.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!"
Yasushi opened his eyes, realizing he'd missed. No longer able to hold the dagger, he dropped it, falling backwards into Etsuyo's pool of blood, hysterically crumbling into a somber cry.
"I CAN'T!!! AAAAHHHH! I CAN'T DO THIS! ETSUYO!! I'M SORRY..! I'M SO SORRY! FORGIVE ME! PLEASE, FORGIVE ME!!
Zei watched the scene unfold, his expression furious. He stepped forward, eyes narrowing in disgust observing Yasushi's breakdown. This display of emotion, taken as a woeful weakness.
"How dare you reject my gift you filthy royal. Lee! Take this coward to my playroom. It's time I teach this piece of shit some manners!"
Before Lee could react to Zei's command, Kaname had already moved towards Yasushi, picking up the dagger. She straddled herself over Etsuyo, gently applying pressure to Etusyo's stomach. Her emotions, like an island of unnatural tranquility in a sea of chaos.
Yasushi's cries subsided, replaced by shuddering breaths, speechless by Kaname's advancements. The atmosphere in the room had also shifted as the crowd stood still. Zei motioned for Lee to stop, eager to see her next movements.
Feeling pressure on her stomach, Etsuyo's fleeting senses permitted her eyes to open weakly, vaguely making out Kaname's figure through the blood gushing from her scalp into her eyes. With a peaceful smile gracing her battered face, she mouthed thank you to Kaname, taken in her final moments. Kaname, without hesitation, drove the dagger into Etsuyo's chest, piercing her heart.
The light from Etsuyo's eyes faded in front of Kaname who silently stared back, wiping the blood from her face with her left arm. She stood up, pulling the dagger out of the lifeless Etsuyo's body, and dropping it on the ground. She walked over to Yasushi and squatted in front of him.
Dazed by a whirlwind of emotions, Yasushi helplessly gazed into her placid, cold eyes. Kaname reached out her arms, abruptly hugging him. The sudden contact, her familiar presence, and her pleasant scent filled his nostrils providing much-needed comfort. Yasushi rested his head on her shoulder, his quiet sobs continued as he found solace in her embrace.
The room has immersed itself in stunned silence. Zei and his subordinates stood frozen in awe by the unexpected turn of events. Kaname's unprecedented actions threw them off the cruel spectacle they'd anticipated.
Zei, being the first to recover, clapped as he walked towards the children, breaking the silence. His subordinates, following his lead, erupted into a roar of satisfaction and amazement. "Little one! That was exhilarating!" he exclaimed, his voice tinged with fascination. "Who woulda thought you of all persons could be so fierce!"
His excitement sounded devoid of any real mirth. "Now, come," he commanded, extending his hand towards Kaname. "You require a bath now that you're covered with filth."
Kaname remained still, tightening her embrace with Yasushi. Her icy eyes met Zei's, ignoring his command. His delight turned to irritation. "Tsk... Lee, bring the girl to me."
Lost and unsure of how to proceed, Yasushi buried himself deeper into Kaname's embrace. "It's okay Yasu… I promise…" she gently whispered. "Everything will be alright. I'm letting you go now." With these words, Kaname slowly released her arms from around Yasushi and stood upright.
Desperate to maintain their connection, Yasushi grabbed the bottom of her frock as she turned to walk towards Zei. Kaname paused, saying nothing, the silence between them heavy with unspoken emotions.
As Lee's footsteps drew closer, Yasushi came to terms with his helplessness. Realizing there was nothing he could do, he reluctantly released Kaname's frock just before Lee arrived.
Lee reached for Kaname, his hands grasping her shoulders. The moment he touched her, a hostile sensation sent chills down his spine. She turned her eyes to meet his, instinctively forcing him to recoil. Too unnerved to maintain contact, he removed his hands from her shoulders, looking to Zei for instructions.
Discerning the perplexing situation with keen interest, Zei noted Lee's discomfort and the strange, yet exceedingly small hints of dark aura emanating from her. A mixture of unease and intrigue crossed his face as he reassessed the girl before him.
Extending his left hand towards Kaname, Zei waited. She continued to walk towards him, unbothered by the tension in the room.
"Good girl," he murmured as she took his hand. "Take the boy back to his confinement, and get rid of that eyesore."
Yasushi, still kneeling on the ground, felt a ripple of despair wash over him. He watched helplessly as Kaname stood beside Zei, her small hand in his, her face an unreadable mask.
Lee moved to comply with Zei's orders, turning to the subordinate. "Oi! Dumbasses! Ya heard the Boss! Get rid of the bitch!" Lee roughly lifted Yasushi over his shoulder. As they moved through the corridors, he offered no resistance, fighting back a fresh wave of tears as he caught glimpses of Zei's men enclosing Etsuyo's body.
Upon reaching the familiar, dank room that housed Yasushi's cage, Lee unceremoniously dropped him to the ground, shoving him back into his prison. Lee turned to leave, but wavered, clearly troubled by a pressing thought.
"Kid," Lee's gruff voice inquired. "Just what is that little girl?"
Yasushi remained silent, staring intensely at him. Irritated by the lack of response, Lee kicked the cage, yet he didn't react.
"Whatever, in a few hours you and that little bitch we'll be gone!" With that, Lee stormed out, slamming the door behind him, frustrated and unnerved,
Left alone, Yasushi crawled to the darkest corner of his cage, remaining perfectly still staring at the door. Minutes ticked by in oppressive silence as he sat there, knees drawn to his chest, never breaking his graze.
Once confirming his solitude, he carefully rustled and untucked his shirt, allowing a small strip of paper to fall out. Unfolding it, he discovered elaborate hand-drawn markings that bore a striking resemblance to those on the cage.
A memory flashed through his mind - Captain Haru's training sessions, the importance of recognizing and understanding seals, and the actions one must take to break them - With newfound purpose, Yasushi placed the paper on the cage's floor, positioning it opposite to the existing markings.
Taking a deep breath, he spoke the command: "Release!"
Instantly, the markings on the paper strip began to glow, their light synchronizing with the cage's symbols. The room infused with a gossamer luminescence as the two sets of markings pulsed in unison. Then, as quickly as it had begun, the paper dissolved into nothingness, its power breaking the seal holding him captive.
"Kaname... Thank you," he sighed in relief, recalling how she had slipped the paper into his shirt during their earlier embrace. Her calmness, her comfort - it all made sense now.
Closing his eyes, Yasushi took a moment to center himself, formulating an escape plan by visualizing everything he saw, every interaction, every statement, and every path taken to and from his confinement.
The best escape route crystallized in his mind as a blue-tinted aura flowed around him. Yasushi's eyes snapped open, feeling his power build-up.
Kaname... I'm coming for you!
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