T. S. Astor

I think I’m going to give this writing thing a shot, yeah? 24|USA|Aries

[tsastor]

The End of My World

Konro Sagamiya

CW: death of pregnant S/O, violence, sadness, angst, drama, and grief

Word count: 1,493

Pages: 6

Read time: ~6 minutes

A/N: Hello! I’ve been thinking about getting back into writing for a while, and I guess this is going to be the piece that does it. I’ve proofread as much as I could, writing on my phone’s notes app. I’m dabbling with the idea about making this into a longer reader insert fic. We’ll see how it plays out. Thanks for reading, I’d love to hear feedback!!!

S o l Y e a r 1 9 4

T o k o y o, A s a k u s a

The fires raged around the two men, fierce flames licking at their skin from the endless blazes of the buildings surrounding them. Too many of their friends they’d had to say goodbye to. Too many homes reduced to smoldering ash. They were spent, too much energy used trying to protect the village they loved. Their home. Konro Sagamiya was bent over, hands on his knees holding himself up. Shinmon Benimaru was weak-kneed, head thrown to the sky with his arms hanging limply at his sides. Both men were panting heavily. Where the hell was the Fire Force?

“Where is the Fire Force?! Don’t you think they should have gotten here a while ago?” As if the partners shared a mind, the younger of the two groaned to his mentor.

“Yeah, but we can’t rely on them. We’ll do this one ourselves.” Konro breathes back. The pair straighten and try to move forward with muscles and joints fighting them every step of the way, screaming for a break from this never ending hellscape. Benimaru’s knees give out beneath him and he collapses against a wood storage box.

“Beni!”

“Damnit, I can’t breath. Hard as I try, just can’t seem to get any oxygen in.” he chokes.

“You’ve reached your pyrokenetic limit. Stay here. I’ll be back.”

“Not a chance, dubmass. We both know you’re in the same boat as me-“ Benimaru was cut off, this gentle moment in the midst of battle coming to a harsh halt. A giant flame flares from the alleyway just ahead no doubt another loved citizen and friend turned infernal.

“What...” Benimaru starts, unable to finish his thought, not knowing what words to bring forth.

“What is that thing?” Konro asks. This wasn’t a normal infernal. This...was bigger. Stronger. More powerful than anything either had come up against. This was a demon infernal. It threw it’s claws back and roared at the two men, smile growing wider somehow.

They’d heard stories of them from the Great Fire, but they’d never thought they’d live to see one. Let alone fight it. Two horns blacker than night and the same color as its body protruded in wicked angles from it’s skull, holes of scorched ember where eyes once were below thin curling flames of eyebrows, mouth twisted into a wicked and devilish grin. It’s body was muscular yet feminine, looking distantly familiar to the pair, unable to pull the used to be friend from the far depths of their minds. Until something fell from the beast’s neck, tearing every fiber of Konro’s being to pieces.

It was the necklace Konro had given his wife on their wedding day.

“Damnit.” Konro sent his fist square through the center of Benimaru’s chest causing him to catapult through the box and house he was clutching to for support. He couldn’t believe it. What was is senior doing? Konro would kill himself if he fought this beast alone.

“What are you doing?! Konro!” Beni’s mind and world went black as his head connected with a support beam belonging to the crumbling house next door. As he fell to the ground unconscious the little remaining structure of building fell around him.

“I’m sorry, but with a rambunctious little brat like you, this is the only way to get you to sit still. It’s too soon Beni, I can’t let your flame go out yet,” his voice shook from the exhaustion and realization that hit him like a train, “especially knowing the fact that I’ve just lost mine. This is something I have to do alone. Rest up, kid. I’ll take care of this.”

The demon roared again, changing. The body now matched that of Konro, flames erupting from it’s back and shoulders just as Konro’s powers did. His stomach roiled at what he saw, cursing at the demon that had mangled the remainder of his wife’s form so grotesquely.

The battle was long and tiresome as tears falling from Konro’s eyes were quickly evaporating at the intense heat exuding from both himself and the demon. Sweat was whisked away as steam, barely being able to escape the struggling man’s pores before being stolen by the flame. He was already spent before the fight had begun, hoping to end his once wife’s suffering quick.

The form of his once kind, energetic, and soulful wife was berating him in a brutal onslaught, giving no space for the man to make a move. It took everything in him to defend himself let alone move to the offensive. If he hadn’t known better, he would say he was fighting himself.

He had openings. But any chance the man went for the kill her face flashed in front of his eyes, causing his motions to falter, lending the demon room to advance. The two were close now, a blow missing and putting Konro too close to the fire. The demon raised it’s head quickly, slashing Konro’s tired face with it’s sharp horns. He sucked thin, smoky air through his teeth quickly at the pain. Time was running out. He had to finish this.

He pushed the demon away from himself a final time, giving him just enough room to move. His hand brought itself up and around him in a circle, fierce flames erupting in an inferno behind him mimicking his movements.

“I love you,” Konro choked, “you’ve been brave for far too long. Don’t be scared, darling, I’m right here. Its time for you to rest. Sweet dreams my flower.”

The Crimson Moon erupted from his hand and shot straight through the demon’s chest, just as it had every time before. It never missed it’s mark. All of Konro’s energy and power erupted, sending him flying back into a building behind him as the demon was reduced to ash in the crater that laid in the battle’s aftermath.

Konro’s breath shook as his body spasmed, the stone behind him cold and welcoming to his burning flesh. He opened his hand and looked down. The half melted Sakura flower pendant was the last thing he saw as he allowed the darkness to overtake him, hoping not to wake. He wished to see his wife, and the child that was growing within her. Torn from life before even being born.

The coming months were the hardest Konro had ever faced. Though things were busy enough: rebuilding the once beautiful city now reduced to ash, building and preparing men for the official Company Seven Special Fire Station, and trying to pick up the pieces of a broken and shattered heart.

Any moment not spent discussing how things were coming along and offering guidance to Benimaru was spent in bed. The grief that raked through his very soul was insufferable. Hoping, praying that the tears ceaselessly falling from his sick eyes would drown him in their relentless waves. But no solace was granted to the sickly and broken man. He was forced to live every day with the burning reminder of the night his whole world was taken from him.

Benimaru spent his days organizing the men, taking on the leadership role he despised with every fiber of his being extremely well, despite his numerous and vocal protests. He wasn’t ready for all of this. He didn’t want it. If Konro had just let him help with the demon, he’d be fine, his tephrosis wouldn’t exist, and he’d be in his rightful position as Captain of Company Seven. It was the position Konro deserved. Not Beni. But the elder of the two was in bed healing wounds both physical and mental.

Benimaru was at his side every moment that wasn’t spent in the streets of Asakusa with his people. Giving conversation when warranted, sitting in comfortable silence when nothing was to be said, forcing Konro to eat, changing his bandages, keeping him clean, and watching every breath the man took in his sleep to make sure his chest was still rising and falling. Benimaru was not going to let Konro’s flame die yet. The people of Asakusa needed him. Beni needed him.

Slowly, time healed him as much as his ashen body would allow. Being able to walk the streets again. Chat with the loving people of Asakusa. Scold and guide Benimaru. Care for the men of the Seventh. Just as he had cared for his wife.

The pain never went away.

Every time his shoulders stung another memory of his wife raged through his mind stronger than the inferno that had taken her from him.

He knew it never would.

His wife didn’t mean the whole world to him, she was his whole world. And she was gone, life snuffed like the flame of a candle.

Slowly, he learned to smile again.

However, the brave and once strong man took a single unspoken vow:

Konro Sagamiya would never love again.