Disclaimer: I do not own Shiki
Chapter 1
Tatsumi never gave Natsuno the chance to let the dynamite explode, it was too long of a fuse and Tatsumi was too fast with the aide of Muroi's blood. After snuffing out the fuse, Tatsumi was going to finish off Natsuno, but it all happened so quickly.
The fire was spreading and Natsuno could tell that something was on Tatsumi's mind.
Tatsumi gave Natsuno a good beating and left the other jinrou in the pit as he scaled the wall to get out.
Natsuno laid amongst the bodies of the dead okiagari, wishing he were one as well. If his plan had succeeded, he would have been, but all that was gone. He still had the stick of dynamite and the lighter, but he did not want to die unless he took one of those bastards with him. He looked up at the mouth of the pit, he could see the orange flames lick the sky. He had failed, but there were still things he could do. He found his footing and began to scale the pit.
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Everything was burning. Natsuno walked through the woods and looked around, everything was turning to ashes. Bodies were laying everywhere. Some were still alive and reaching for him, mostly Okiagari. The humans did a poor job of killing off most, missing their hearts by a long shot. Natsuno did not even throw them a glance as he walked through the forest, approaching the temple where the fire was rapidly moving toward. He walked up the temple steps, knowing that Doctor Ozaki and his team had at one point been assembled there. He wanted to make sure everyone was safely evacuated. He walked to the temple and looked at all the bodies of the dead, some still moving, begging for Natsuno to help them with pleas.
Natsuno had no interest, it was time for them to return where they belonged, the grave.
"Natsuno…" The voice was frail, but Natsuno heard it over the cries and please of help. "Natsuno." The voice repeated.
"Tohru?" Natsuno asked, looking around.
"Over here."
Natsuno turned and walked over to a shed, looking for his friend.
The fire was growing and soon the sun would be coming up, making it even worse.
"Tohru?"
"Here." The voice answered.
Natsuno continued to search and finally found the okiagari on a pallet, a giant stake in his chest. Natsuno winced, just looking at it. "Can I move you?"
Tohru nodded, he did not have much energy.
Natsuno gently slipped his arms under Tohru's and pulled him off the pallet, being careful to not disturb the perturbing stake in his chest.
Natsuno carefully took a sheet the human women were using to wrap the dead bodies in and carefully wrapped Tohru in it. "I am going to carry you somewhere safe, so you can sleep and get that stake out."
Tohru was exhausted. He leaned against Natsuno as he wrapped him up and scooped him up in his arms. Natsuno was thankful for being a jinrou for a second as he carried Tohru with no problem.
Tohru held onto the stake and kept it stable, making sure the stake did not get pushed deeper into his chest.
Natsuno carried Tohru keeping to the shadows as dawn approached. Firetrucks sailed by him as he carried his friend. Daybreak was quickly upon them and the thin blanket was not doing much for Tohru when exposed to the sunlight.
Natsuno watched as the skin turned brown and started to die, he quickly picked up his speed.
Minutes later, the two were safely hidden in a dark barn as the sun fully rose in the sky. Natsuno carefully laid Tohru on some hay which was used as a temporary bed. "You still awake?" Natsuno asked.
"… Barely…" Tohru answered, exhausted.
Natsuno watched as Tohru's skin slowly began to heal. "I am going to take this stake out."
"Be gentle." Tohru requested.
"Okay, I will make this quick okay? Just close your eyes and relax."
Tohru closed his eyes. "I'm sorry Natsuno."
"For killing me?" Natsuno asked as he looked at how deep it punctured his chest.
A tear fell down Tohru's cheek. "I'm so sorry."
"Save it. You can apologize some other time." Natsuno yanked out the stake with one great pull without Tohru expecting it and quickly pressed the cloth to the gaping hole in his chest to catch the blood, so it would not spray everywhere.
Tohru let out a short scream, followed by pained whimpers.
"I know it must hurt." Natsuno said, softly. "But it's over now, you can sleep."
Tohru looked into Natsuno's violet eyes with his red okiagari eyes, "What about… you?" He asked exhausted.
"I am going to rest, but someone needs to keep watch in case humans come. I am not the one healing from a stake to the heart, so rest up." Natsuno said tossing the stake to the side, still keeping pressure on the wound.
Tohru smiled sadly and closed his eyes slowly, drifting off to sleep as Natsuno held him in his arms.