Xerophilous-Flourishing in or adapted to a dry hot environment
You could say this story goes with 'Vanguard' but it doesn't have to.
Damn Mitsuhide. He had defeated Ranmaru and refused to finish him off with his own hands. He was going to let him bleed out. A bit of it enraged Ranmaru, as if delivering the final blow was unimportant, as if he was just another no named soldier on the field of battle.
As long as Ranmaru didn't get back up, why did it matter?
The joke was on Mitsuhide. Ranmaru had managed, by sheer willpower, to get up and walk.
He felt his entire body protest as he made his way, slowly, to the courtyard. He knew that's where Lord Nobunaga and Mitsuhide would meet.
Dispite everything he believed in, he knew Nobunaga wouldn't win.
This was the end.
This was the end of everything.
The fire licked at his flesh and he could feel burns appearing atop his gashes. He slipped in his own blood, but managed to catch himself. It shot pain through his whole body. He ignored all the pain and willed himself to move onward.
It didn't matter. He had to find Lord Nobunaga.
He wanted to see Nobunaga. He wanted to see him one last time and if he was to die here, he wanted to die beside his lord.
As if by some miracle, Ranmaru was able to make his way to the courtyard where he saw Nobunaga standing, alone, uninjured. Losing the duel between himself and Mitsuhide was injury enough.
A smile came to Ranmaru's lips. "My lord." He called out the best he could.
Nobunaga turned and had honest surprise on his face when he saw who had spoken. "Ran?" He had thought the teen dead.
He went to him just as Ranmaru's body finally gave out and only Nobunaga's arms kept him from falling.
"I can't believe...Mitsuhide betrayed you."
"It was inevitable, I suppose." Nobunaga guided Ranmaru to sit on the ground, leaning against his chest.
"I'm sorry. I wasn't strong enough to stop him."
"Neither was I." Nobunaga pushed stands of hair from Ranmaru's sweaty and bloody face.
It was wrong to think that at this moment, Ranmaru looked the most beautiful Nobunaga had ever seen him.
Nobunaga could have easily carried Ranmaru out of here, but Ran would not make it and Nobunaga had decided to stay and die in his castle. His pride and honor demanded it.
Ranmaru mustered up the remaining strength he had and wrapped his arms around Nobunaga's neck. He used this as leverage to pull himself up so he could hug him this final time. "I love you, Nobunaga." Ranmaru didn't expect to hear it back. That wasn't his Nobunaga, but he knew the feeling was mutual.
Nobunaga kissed his bloody lips and caressed his cheek as he watched Ran's chest fall and never rise again.
Nobunaga tightened his hold on his most loyal vessel. His most prized treasure. "Thank you, for everything."
I so badly wanted Nobunaga to say 'I love you too' but I couldn't. It's just not something he'd do.