The cold wind swept through the empty streets of Zenith City, carrying with it the distant echoes of a war that was never truly won. The once-bustling metropolis lay in ruins—its buildings crumbled, streets littered with debris, and the dark stains of battle marking every corner. The Soulbound warriors had fought bravely, but now, with Yuto's death, a heavy silence had settled over the city.
In a quiet cemetery on the outskirts of Zenith, the gathering was small but heavy with grief. The skies overhead were a dull, oppressive gray, as though the heavens themselves were mourning the loss.
A small casket, draped in a simple black cloth, rested at the center of the gathering. Around it stood those who had fought alongside Yuto, who had known him both in battle and in the quiet moments between the chaos. Takeshi stood at the front, his face pale, his eyes red from sleepless nights and tears he refused to let fall now.
Rika stood beside him, her usually vibrant spirit muted by the weight of loss. She had barely spoken since the news had come. Kaede, stoic as ever, stood a little behind, his expression unreadable, but the clench of his jaw betrayed his sorrow.
Dr. Saito, who had tried everything in his power to save Yuto, stood at the back, his hands folded in front of him, eyes cast downward. The doctors had done everything they could, but Yuto's Anima had drained away, and his body had given up. There was nothing more they could do.
Father Inoue, an old spiritual guide from the outskirts of the city, stood before the casket. His voice, though soft, carried the weight of tradition. "We are here to honor Yuto Kisaragi," he began, "a warrior, a brother, a friend who gave everything in defense of those he loved. Today, we send him to rest among the spirits of the Soulbound who came before him. May his soul find peace, and may his memory live on in our hearts."
Takeshi's hands trembled slightly as he stepped forward to speak. His throat felt tight, and for a moment, he wasn't sure he could find the words. The weight of Yuto's absence bore down on him like a physical force, suffocating in its finality.
He cleared his throat, his voice hoarse. "Yuto wasn't... Yuto wasn't just a warrior. He was more than that. He fought like hell every single day, even when everything felt impossible. He always found a way to push through, no matter how dark things got. He believed in us... in all of us. Even when the odds were stacked against him."
His voice broke, but he pressed on, unwilling to let himself falter. "He was my friend, my brother-in-arms. He gave everything to protect this city, to protect us. And now..." His breath hitched, and for a moment, he had to pause, his eyes burning with unshed tears. "Now he's gone, and it feels like the world's lost its light."
Rika, standing beside him, couldn't hold back her own tears. She stepped forward, her voice trembling. "Yuto was stubborn," she said with a watery laugh, brushing away her tears. "He was reckless. Always running into danger without thinking about himself. But that's what made him who he was. He cared more about others than he ever did about himself. He never gave up, even when the rest of us were ready to. He kept us all going."
Her voice broke, and she covered her mouth, unable to continue. Takeshi placed a hand on her shoulder, trying to offer what little comfort he could. The loss was too fresh, too raw for words.
As Father Inoue continued the ceremony, the crowd listened in silence. The weight of what had happened hung over them all, unspoken but palpable.
When the final prayer was spoken, and Yuto's casket was lowered into the ground, Takeshi couldn't stop the tears from spilling over. He turned away, his heart aching with a grief he hadn't felt since Kaito's death. Yuto had been their last hope, the last spark of resistance in a war that now seemed all but lost.
As the others began to leave the cemetery, their heads bowed in silent mourning, Takeshi lingered at the edge of the grave. He stood there, staring down at the freshly turned earth, his mind swirling with memories of Yuto—his laughter, his stubborn determination, the way he had never backed down, no matter the odds.
Kaede approached, standing beside him. His voice was low and gruff, but there was an uncharacteristic softness to it. "He fought hard, Takeshi. He gave everything."
Takeshi shook his head, his voice thick with emotion. "And for what? The Voidspawn are still out there. They won, Kaede. We lost."
Kaede's expression darkened, but he didn't argue. The truth was inescapable. With Yuto gone, the last line of defense had crumbled. The Soulbound were scattered, leaderless, and the city was in ruins. The Voidspawn had taken control of the dark corners of Zenith, spreading their corruption like a plague.
"It's not just about Yuto," Takeshi continued, his voice low. "It's everything. We were supposed to protect this city, to keep the balance between the realms. And now... now it's over."
Rika, who had stayed behind as well, wiped her eyes and stepped closer. "So what do we do now?" she asked, her voice trembling. "Do we just... give up? Let the Voidspawn take over?"
Takeshi clenched his fists, his jaw tightening. He hated the thought, but what other option was there? Without Yuto, without his Anima, they were powerless. The city was already falling apart, and the Voidspawn were only growing stronger.
Kaede's gaze hardened. "We clean up what we can. We regroup. The fight isn't over until we're all dead."
Takeshi looked at him, his eyes filled with exhaustion and despair. "And then what? Even if we regroup, what's left to fight for? The city's in ruins. The Voidspawn are everywhere. We're just... holding on."
Rika's eyes flickered with a spark of defiance. "Yuto wouldn't have given up. We can't let his death be for nothing. We can still fight. Maybe we're not strong enough to win, but we can still make them pay."
Takeshi shook his head, running a hand through his hair. "It's not just about vengeance, Rika. We can't keep throwing ourselves at them without a plan, without a leader. We're lost."
The silence that followed was suffocating. The reality of their situation weighed heavy on all of them. Without Yuto, without his Anima, they were left adrift in a world overrun by darkness.
As the last of the mourners left the cemetery, Takeshi, Rika, and Kaede stood together by Yuto's grave, the wind whispering through the trees.
"We'll figure something out," Takeshi murmured, though the words felt hollow. "We have to."
But deep down, even he wasn't sure what that something could be. The Voidspawn had won the war, and with Yuto gone, their future had never looked darker.