Your P.O.V
Guren kneels facing me, his cargo shorts covered in dirt. He cries in agony as his leg is stepped on, the crushing of his kneecap undeniably audible. Kureto towers above him, his expression unwavering. Kureto yanks on Guren's raven locks causing his face to turn upwards. His brows are pushed firmly together, his eyes wince in agony. He grits his teeth to quell the burning sensation surging through his body. Kureto draws his sword from his side and places it an inch away from Guren's neck. They ambushed us. They separated us and targeted the weakest link. Without me Guren has no power to defend himself. Yuu steps forward to engage and Kureto presses his blade into Guren's icy flesh, causing a drop of blood to slide down the end of his sword. "I suggest you remain where you are if you want this wretched traitor to live." Kureto's expression remains unchanging. I can feel my palms begin to sweat and fear overtakes my body. The sight of Guren's tortured face brings me to my knees. I am crippled by the sharp spears in my chest. No, please no. "Fortunately there is a way to save this pathetic man's life. Return the demon girl to us." The air stills and dread looms over our heads.
"You're kidding yourself brother." Shinoa cries. She attempts to implore confidence but the tremors in her voice echo. The rest of the group chimes in to reinforce her demeanor. I can feel my heart flutter at their resolve to protect me. I have never had anyone who cared about me so dearly. They are my family. Guren is my family. I can feel my eyes water heavily. I clench my fists and shake uncontrollably.
"Don't… Don't do it Rin. Run… Protect yourself…" Guren manages to choke out between gasps for air. Kureto tugs on him tighter, causing him to scream out. I can't bear the pain anymore; I can't stand here and watch him suffer. I feel a burning sensation rise in my stomach and I look forward without hesitation. I will protect Guren. Nobody will lay a finger on him. I throw my cape to the side in a fit of rage. I step forward again and unbuckle my sword scabbard to throw it to the ground. The clattering echoes through the rigid air. Everyone stares towards me in terror.
"I will return with you so let Guren go." I scream at the top of my lungs. I can hear Guren mutter the word 'no' as he is tossed aside like a rag. Kureto smirks victoriously and motions for the others to attach my restraints. Guren staggers as he tries to stand. I see him reach his arms out to me, his wrists shaking. Kureto raises his left leg and thrusts forward, colliding with my stomach. The wind is knocked from my lungs and I hunch over to cough. I wince and look up at Kureto with hatred. He smiles at me and then the world goes black. The last thing I hear is the sound of Guren calling my name.
Guren.
Everything will be alright, I promise.
You're safe now.
I'm happy. I'm relieved.
I see Guren's face materialize before me. I reach out and caress his cheek. His hand cups mine and I look deeply into his eyes. He smiles warmly and my stomach reverses until I feel like I'm flying.
What is this feeling? It can't be.
I smile to myself. How could I have been so blind? All this while, denying how I felt inside. I need to tell him how I feel. I open my mouth to speak but the words are vacant from the air. I can't breathe. I clutch at my chest and begin to panic. I look to Guren but his brow is furrowed and his eyes are iced over with fear.
No. Don't make such an expression.
He reaches out to me and I try to grab his hand. But, he begins to disappear and a single tear rolls down his cheek.
Don't leave me!
I am removed from my deluded dreams and forced back into my cruel reality. The room around me erupts in a ghostly white light. I gain my vision back and the scenery comes into focus. I am chained to a wall in an outdoor compound. The sun beats down on me and my skin bubbles at the overwhelming intensity. I squint my eyes in order to block out the light. A shadow approaches me and roughly turns my face to his. The General. He smiles cynically at me and takes a step back. Kureto stands beside him with monotonous expression. He whispers into Kureto's ear at an inaudible decibel. Kureto approaches a control panel and flips a switch. Nothing appears to happen, but I know better than that.
"Now my dear, cooperate and you won't have to feel any pain at all. Tell us how it was possible for a demon to materialize in this world." He implores suspiciously politely. I sneer and spit at his forced grin.
"Go to hell." With one wave of his hand, Kureto sends a shock down my spine and into my feet. The searing pain is unbearable and I screech like a wild beast.
"You may not value your own life, but what about another's?" He chides and gestures towards Kureto again. This time a voice is heard. At first I cannot make it out, but the familiarity soon encases me.
No. Please No.
Guren's cries and pleads can be heard from all directions. They spin around my head, causing a tornado of delirium. I scream out, horrified.
"Please. I will tell you anything that you want to know. Just let him go. Please." I beg and my eyes fill with tears. The General smiles contently and encourages me to proceed. I have no choice. I must protect Guren.
Guren's P.O.V
The sound of static fills the air, but we ignore it and continue towards the Army's headquarters. Soon after, a voice bellows through the empty streets and between the debris. They have activated the emergency radio transmission system from the world before. Then, I hear Rin scream. I am frozen, unable to move. I fall to my knees and stutter in gasps. Then, I hear my own voice, but it cannot be me. I am too terrified to speak. Shinoa shakes my shoulders violently, trying desperately to regain my attention. "They are using Goshi's weapon to trick Rin into thinking you are in danger. It is a delusion, it isn't real." I make my own epiphany and rise to my feet. I grab Shinoa by the forearm and stare directly into her eyes. The beads of fear stricken sweat drip off my pale face. Then, I hear Rin begin to speak again.
No. Stop. You can't.
I want to scream out to her to tell her it isn't real, but I know my voice will not reach her. I start into a sprint and run as fast as my legs will carry me. I ignore the pain building inside of them and push forward as she speaks. "After I was possessed I lived, trapped, in Yashirohira's world. I managed to regain my conscious long enough to defeat him and take his powers for my own. Thus, I have become half demon, half human, capable of existing in this world. As borrowers of the demon strength you have only overcome a mental battle. In order to attain the demon's strength you must physically kill your demons." I can hear the faint sighs of satisfaction from the General. His sighs soon turn to hysterical laughter and he chides to himself.
"Perfect." The speaker goes silent. An eerie atmosphere dwells in suspense. "Now to demonstrate the consequences of retaliating against the all mighty Hiiragi's! Won't you join us for the public execution, Lieutenant Colonel Guren." I continue to run, but I can already feel that my soul has left my body. My being is consumed by rage and I lose control of my senses. Yuu looks to me with worry, but even he resumes a persona of fear from observing my expression.
Finally, we arrive at the gates to the compound. There is no way inside. I scratch and beat at the door, but to no avail. They know we are here. They know we are listening. This is what they want. They want us to be tortured.
Your P.O.V
"Unfortunately torture isn't my cup of tea. I will leave this to you, Seishiro." The General makes his final remark and exists the compound. Seishiro enters with a look of utter satisfaction curled upon his lips.
"My pleasure." He chuckles light heartedly. "It is rumored that a sport by the name of baseball was invented in America during the Civil War period. In this game a player would use this wooden bat to hit a tiny ball. How about you and I play our own game?" He twirls the bat in his palms nonchalantly then smirks. He races forward and swings the weapon at my knees. My body tenses and my voice explodes in a torrent of cries. My kneecaps buckle and a loud crunch is heard. "A more simple pastime involved a punch to the face." He pivots to the side to build up tension. Then, he releases and his knuckles collide with my cheek. Spit flies from my mouth and I can feel the blood pour from my features. I spit my blood towards him and it covers his once smiling face.
"Bastard." I growl from the pit of my stomach and his face contorts to pure rage. He snickers and walks into a room off the left wing of the compound. He returns carrying a rope like object. He grabs me roughly by the chin and digs his nails into my skin.
"It was common practice to punish disobedient servants by beating them with a leather rope. The whip was by far one of the most underrated weapons of early centuries." He grabs me by the throat and I gasp for air. I can feel the blood in my head fall away from the pressure. My eyes burn as the vessels within them buckle and pop. He slams my head back against the wall and blood sprays from my mouth. He raises the whip and thrashes from side to side in a sadistic dance. The scorching pain encases me as every part of my body ignites and I shriek out in terror. My throat burns from the scratching of my furious cries as they escape my lips. I can no longer feel my limbs beneath me. My every muscle tingles until I go numb. I glance down towards my torso to see that my clothes have been soaked a bright red. Not a single patch of cloth remains unsoiled. This is it. This is how it will end. I'm sorry Guren. I promised not to leave your side, I promised that I would let you protect me. It is not the extensive wounds that make me sob, it is the faint memory of a precious face flashing through my mind for the last time that brings me to tears. I lose all consciousness and fade into the black.
Third Person P.O.V
The General grabs Seishiro by the shoulder, signaling him to halt. The crazed look in Seishiro's eyes dims and he loses his demonic form. "Do not kill her, leave her as she is. Death itself can be considered a form of escape. Her suffering is not over yet." The General coaxes and signals for Kureto to unchain Rin. As the last clasp is undone, her limp and lifeless body cascades into Kureto's arms. His next move is to return her to her friends. The ultimate torture is the suffering of those you cherish.
Guren's P.O.V
Outside of the walls, the radio transmission has ceased. Now, the team lies in wait of our comrade's fate. I stare aimlessly at the gate. Dread settles in my throat and a bad omen encircles my being. The others remain motionless and stare alongside me. Suddenly, the gate is flung open and Rin is tossed onto the ground. Her body rolls across the dirt. Kureto shoots us one last condescending grin before retreating into the safety of the compound. The gate closes behind him. I bound forward with all of my strength and fall to my knees at Rin's side. I reach out towards her and begin to shake her gently. I get no response. I shake her more violently this time, but her movement remains unchanging. Kimizuki rushes to my aid and feels her for a pulse. He looks up at me with distain. The others stand around me motionless, unable to move. Their eyes are filled with tears and their hearts with sorrow. It takes a few seconds for the truth to settle in, that's when I erupt into hysteria. I grab Rin and pull her into my chest. My violent sobs shake the ground. Maybe the ground appears to shake because of my uncontrollable trembling. I shake her aggressively in my grasp and scream through my hot tears. My wells overflow onto her shirt. This can't be happening. She can't be gone. My voice screeches and growls with every scream. "Please Rin you can't leave me! Please... You promised me you would stay by my side! You can't leave yet, I won't let you! How dare you disobey my orders! Goddamnit! I would give anything just to have another pointless fight with you or listen to your snide remarks. Out of all the times you've annoyed me with your childish stubbornness, you pick now to give up. Damn you, keep fighting! Come back here so I can send you to hell myself!" I sniffle and wheeze between words, choking on my tears. I pull her tighter to my chest and rest my lips on her forehead. I try to continue speaking, but I can only hyperventilate. "I love you Rin Aeria." I manage to choke out. The impending truth swallows me and I sink into reality. She is no longer with us. I never had the chance to tell her how I feel.
After tens of minutes, my sobs finally begin to calm. I can hear the soft whimpers of the others behind me. They hug and comfort each other to quell the sorrow. Suddenly, I feel something stir beside me and I look down towards my arms. Slowly, a pale and lifeless hand pulls at my sleeve. The touch is weak and a frail voice whispers before the hand falls back into place.
"I love you too, Guren Ichinose."