"Hasebe!" Souza was the one who let out the warning, but it was too late. Hasebe's own sword was taken from his hand and driven into his chest from the back. Blood spewed all over Urashima's face as he witnessed the scene before him.
"Ha…sebe?" Urashima started, the tachi was already dissolving before his eyes. Holding the end of the hilt is the saniwa, looking disgustedly at the tachi. "You disappointed me," she muttered. How did she get there…?

Hasebe shut his eyes, falling over as his body starts to melt away.

"Urashima…there's a way to beat this game…" He said with his last breath "Sto-"
And he was no more.

Urashima let out a sad whine, unable to find the right words. The others had broken free of their bonds and came rushing towards him.

The saniwa took one look at him, disappointment in her face before she turns and vanished with the executor.

"where did they go?!" Kashuu asked aloud when he reached the spot the saniwa had vanished. "She…spared me…" Urashima breathed a sigh of relief but quickly look down at the sword that had broken into pieces right in front of him "Hasebe…he…"

Hachisuka dropped Urashima, pulling him into a hug. "You idiot...why did you not fight back…?" Hachisuka's voice choked with tears. He had been trying to hold himself back so hard. "You could've died!"
Nagasone knelt down beside his brother as well, although his face was relieved that Urashima survived, his eyes shifted to the broken blade the wakizashi was holding, a sad frown on his face.

"Hasebe…." Souza was staring at the sword too. He had known Hasebe from back when he was Oda Nobunaga's sword. Even though they both rarely met, Souza knew Hasebe harbored a deep hatred for their former master for giving him away. That was why he had worked so hard to please the current master.
Even though he was subjected to this cruel game by the master herself, Hasebe was still fixated in pleasing her and to be by her side. And yet...at the end….

Kousetsu went to Urashima and took the broken pieces from his hand, going back to Ichigo and asking for Gokotai's fragments. Ichigo looks up at the tachi, his face stained with tears, placing Gokotai's broken hilt in his extended hand after a moment of smile softly and whispered a thank you before going towards the gate, where Yamanbagiri's hilt were. He placed them side by side, kneeling down and offering them a prayer.

"Nii-sama," Sayo went to his side after a short moment of silence.
"This is why...I hate to fight…" Kousetsu muttered, staring at the broken blades.

"The game...will keep on continuing isn't it?" Namazuo asked, still trying to comfort a crying Akita. "Do we have to keep killing each other…?"

No one could answer him. They all looked at each other uncomfortably.

It was Kanesada who broke the silence.
"I'm going inside," he muttered, visibly still upset, he turn to leave, Horikawa following after him. Ichigo watch them leave without a word, still looking down at Gokotai's broken sword. "Ichi-nii," Honebami went up to him, not saying anything. His eyes glassy eyes were already enough to convey his words.

They needed to put themselves past this. Everyone was looking at each other with discomfort, the air around them heavy. What will happen to them after this? Who will be the one to die next?

"Nagasone nii-san….Hachisuka nii-san," Urashima suddenly called "Can you take care of Kamekichi when you all return back to the citadel….I think...I left him there…"

Nagasone and Hachisuka turn to Urashima, weirded out by his question. Their faces paled instantly at the sight that greeted them.

Numerous arrows had embedded into Urashima's body. Blood seeped out of where his flesh has been stabbed and the sword look up at them weakly, a grin carved on his blood stained lips.

"Urashima!" Hachisuka turn back to him, his hand reaching out to pull the arrows from the wakizashi's body. "No, don't!" Urashima cried out "I-I'm scared….it's going to hurt...so don't," He whimpered.

Nagasone turned around, looking for the source of the arrows and finding the executioner on the roof, a bow upon his back. He gave a signal of salute before vanishing into the night air. The others saw him too, Kashuu and Yamatonokami immediately running towards the building to chase after the man. But of course, he was no longer there.

"Hahaha...I guess….i wasn't spared after all…" Urashima muttered through his smile.
Hachisuka's hand trembled above the wakizashi, watching the life seep away from his brother. Already, the edges of his clothes started to disintegrate.

"Why...how…" Hachisuka's voice was shaking. Urashima's smile was faltering and he shifted abit, but every movement only made it hurt even more. "Kamekichi...I hope he's okay…" he laughed hoarsely.

"Urashima, you are going back with us to get your stupid tortoise," Nagasone's voice was faltering too and he was holding back tears as well. This only made Urashima let out another pained laugh. "You're a really bad liar," He wince a little before looking up at his brother, the blood had turned into a river, soaking his clothes and pooling on the earth. It only made the brothers feel worse that there was nothing they could do for their youngest.

Urashima reach out both of his blood soaked hand, which Hachisuka quickly took hold of. Nagasone knelt down beside him and took his hand too, the frown on his face was so deep, yet his eyes was already brimming with tears. Why does it have to be Urashima?

Yet, the sword only placed both of Hachisuka and Nagasone's hand on top of each other. Half of his body had already turned to smoke.

"Don't fight alright…?" His voice was now softer and spoken with much effort. "Both of your...are my most important...brothers…."

CRACK

And he was gone, the last of him disappearing into a column of mist. The sound that the arrows made as it fell on the earth was more deafening than the sound of their thoughts.

Hachisuka stared at what remained of his younger brother tears streaked down his face. He couldn't protect him. That one person he truly treasure, he couldn't protect him. He yank his hand out of Nagasone's and turn away, walking towards the citadel without a word.

"Hachisuka!" Nagasone ran after him, grabbing him by the wrist.

Immediately, Hachisuka pull himself out of Nagasone's grasps, yelling. "Don't touch me!"

Nagasone was taken aback and he quickly retreated, adding distance between them.

"It's...better if we stick together...it's dangerous for you to go alone now,"
"Stay together?!" Hachisuka snapped back in rage "What good will that do? Urashima is with us when he died, you were there too and you did nothing!"

Nagasone's brow furrowed, stabbed by Hachisuka's words. "So were you!" He snapped back, unable to keep his calm. He quickly realized what he said when Hachisuka's expression fell, his eyes glowering at him with disdain.

The others watch the two with worry. They had been notorious for always picking fights with each other even back in the citadel. This time doesn't seem to be any difference.

"I'm sorry," Nagasone quickly apologized but the other sword only turn away slightly to regain his composure before looking back at him. "Don't appear before me again," Hachisuka muttered "You disgust me. Do me a favor and don't call yourself a koutetsu, you are nothing other than a fake,"

"That's too much!" Kashuu stepped up between them when Nagasone's shoulders hunched over Hachisuka's words but the other sword only ignored them, turning back into the citadel.
Nagasone heaved a breath as the others approached him.

"Are you alright?" Yamatonokami asked. Nagasone quickly put on a front, patting his chest "Don't worry, I am unfazed by such words!" He laughed. Of course, the other two could clearly see what their former leader's sword was hiding.
"We should all have dinner and rest for the night." Kousetsu got up, he had placed Urashima's sword with the other fallen ones. "I think alot of us need time to heal and collect ourselves back." He glance at Ichigo's group and Nagasone's.

"Yeah, I'm sure Hachisuka can take care of himself." Kashuu frowned as well, looking back at the door that Hachisuka had went off to. "Besides, the food we prepared is going to get cold…"

Sayo's stomach growled and he look up at his brothers who smiled slightly at him. They led him back to the dining hall where the food had been prepped. Souza placed his hand on Sayo's back as they walked and he was glad that he felt warmth on his brother's back. Suddenly, the speaker crackled and they turn back in horror at the megaphone. So many swords had died tonight, what else do they want?!

The executioner cough into the mic before clearing his throat "Rules were broken but a promise is still a promise. Y'all have 12 hours to decide who will be set free. See you guys tomorrow, early morning." The speaker crackle and was silent again.

The brothers look at each other, what they were thinking of was obvious on the face.

"...let's meet in the dining hall first." Kousetsu suggested "We need to gather everyone and discuss."

Everyone was there, well, almost. At least the ones who had survived were. They picked their food with their chopsticks, all of them solemn. The food has gone cold but none of them had much of an appetite, after what had occurred that night. It was an awkward gathering, with Hachisuka only silently chewing with his eyes lowered the whole time and Ichigo barely being able to swollow.

Yet they all knew they shouldn't waste the food and they quickly swallowed down their portion. It was getting smaller each day. How long until the food runs out?

Kousetsu put down his chopstick, uttering a thank you for the meal before turning his attention back to everyone in the hall.
"You all heard the announcement." He started "We need to decide who will be release from the game."

They look at each other, all of them having someone in their mind.

"I want to let Horikawa return to the main citadel." Kanesada was the first to break the silence. "I do not want him to be involved in this ridiculous farce anymore." Horikawa quickly jumped up, toppling his food table over. "Kane-san!" He almost scream "I don't want to!" But Kanesada only eyed him angrily, ready to give him a lecture.
"I think...Ichi-nii should decide for us." Honebami muttered, looking up at his brothers and at Ichigo. "We will always be here to support him if he needs us to be, we want to be his pillars." Ichigo glanced at him, his brow furrowing.

Sayo look up at his brothers, both not speaking but also meeting his eyes. "I will not return." Sayo quickly said, his fist tightening on his chopsticks "I will not leave nii-sama to fight inside here without me."

"I won't go back too." Kashuu was already staring at Yasusada, daring him to even think of putting his name in "I did not stay with Okita during his final battle and I do not intend to be cut off midway again." Yamato only heave a breath, his thoughts so obvious to Kashuu. "I'd rather you return instead of me." Kashuu huffed, a serious look on his face.

Nagasone glance slightly at Hachisuka, who sipped his soup silently, not saying a word, not looking at them.

Already, the hall was flooded with noises, each swords arguing with each other.

"Alright!" Yagen snapped, slamming his table. "Let's draw a ballot!" He suggested. "Whoever got the short end of the stick gets to decide!"

They fell back into silent, each of them looking at each other. "Alright." Kousetsu agreed with him, looking up at Ichigo. "We will prepare the ballot. Let's meet back here after an hour. I'm sure all of us need time to think about who they will want to send back to the citadel."


That's it for this chapter! Thank you for the reviews! Yes, I know this isn't the typical fanfic. I'm just really angsty and have alot of need for painful fic. I'm glad to hear that you guys enjoyed it. Do look forward to the next chapter! I will post that up as soon as possible!