His body laid there, bloody, tired, fighting for a grasp of air with his lungs filled with the vital liquid. His black hair was stained with the fluid… it didn’t matter it was as black as ebony. The blood was too thick; thicker than usual. Fortunately, his enemy had died, too. Masamune had properly sliced his neck, and Muramasa, his heart.
At least… he had done something good. He had done something in his life wor- no… he had done two gorgeous things before. Of course, Kou had many regrets. His children grew up alone, hating their father, hating each other… he was a terrible father, and that was a fact. His heart still beat… but his blood couldn’t properly reach his brain.
She can’t hear me. Of course she can’t. That asshole almost kills my baby girl. My daughter, the light of my eyes…
He jumped up front and protected her. His abdomen is pierced… god, please… don’t take him away from me. Please, let him live, for her, for him. They need to survive this… I know, I know I’ve been a terrible father, but I need to make up for it however I can.
Vaala’s hands grasp my shoulders…
She expands her shadow towards Kenji: it’s his time, too… he will die, too…
The shadow stops. It doesn’t reap him; it stops moving. I use the chains to cover up my wounds; I squeeze it all together, well pressed. I can feel my ribcage clacketing against the rest of the bone structure I still have. My breathing is rushed; but I take short breathes, since I can feel how my lungs are almost exposed. I bleed again. It’s terrible. It’s burning…
Her cold voice, her embrace is there. Vaala tells me to let go, to stop fighting. That it’s enough… but I can’t stop fighting now. My eyes reach Masamune and Muramasa as they begin to disappear; to disintegrate. My life is burning too…
My black scarf take the form of two hands, they grab Kenji and surround the wound so it stops bleeding. The other hand grabs Yukio. I must reach… I must… reach the headquarters.
“—- Seventh style: Trinity.”
The last remnant of energy rushes from within. The power that I inherited and honed, the power that made me the powerful warrior I was. My hair becomes completely white; I flex my legs as my feet almost penetrate the ground and… a jump. A powerful jump as I vomit and cry blood. It’s too much, but it’s the least and last I can do; I can’t die, I can’t die now. She insists… she tells me to die calmly, to rest and sleep. That this will only prolong my suffering… but Vaala, can’t you understand?
My suffering means nothing. All I care now is… them. My son, my daughter…
I lost Kentaro, and you were forced to kill Elizabeth on my behalf. I couldn’t be able to allow you two to die.
A long way ahead, I can still feel Kenji’s alive… Vaala stopped speaking. In fact… it’s the chains that are moving my body. I already am dead. I can feel it. I can see my energy’s faded. Thank you, Vaala… thank you. Thank you for letting me save two lives, only once, thank you for letting me save… everyone I love…
When I finally arrive, they try to focus on me. My wounds are terrible, they say. I can hear them. But…
“Kou… ! He’s… he’s dead… he brought them, but he’s dead…”
________________________________________________________
Here I come. I face the final courtain. The chains that surround my body disappear in black, and my body does the same. Ah… it’s over…
“I can see all the people that died on my behalf. My father and mother. My brother. My teammates…
And her. Her red mane and those beautiful golden eyes… Did you know, darling? Kenji has your temper and your hair and eyes. Of course, his smile cannot compare to yours… I ruined it. I ruined his smile.
Yukio looks like me, however. She’s beautiful. I’m sure she’ll grow up to be as gorgeous as you are, my love.
Now I’m in our secret place…
Where all my wrongs have been erased…”
As I lay down, everything begins to slowly disappear. I rest my head on her lap. That face, that smile… my face softens… and she speaks the last words I’ll ever hear.
“—– And you are forgiven”
