Chapter 49
The sky was a bit dusty and the air smelt and tasted a bit stale. Screaming could be heard about two miles away. There was something going on, but what?
It turned out to be a war. Warriors were fighting for their lives as they battled one another. They were using swords, arrows, and anything else they could use as a weapon.
Others that were not battling were stealing instead. Some warriors were stealing from villages, from clay pots, to horses, and anything else they can get their dirty hands on.
As the fighting raged, one person was sitting on a large rock, far away from the fight. He was young, possibly between seventeen or nineteen years old. He had long, a tad wavy and curly, and messy brown hair that reached to the end of his back, and he had on some red chest armor that had a golden eagle on the front, as well as a brown shirt underneath. He had on brown baggy pants, and his eyes were dark brown as well. Eventhough he was Japanese, he looked much, much like an American. His white skin was a bit dirty, and because he looked messy and his cloths were a bit torn, he looked almost like a runaway, or a person that has been thrown out and living on the streets, but that was because he had just been in a fight, several, in fact.
This was the legendary warrior named Yuko.
Yuko stood up and looked down at the raging battle. The wind started to blow, playing with his long brown hair. He could hear the screaming that the people were giving out. It disgusted him to see a town like this.
He didn't want to be part of this battle, despite saving thousands of people's lives. He was still wounded from his sparring partner, named Aragon. Earlier today, Yuko and Aragon were training with their swords, but Aragon accidentally stabbed him.
Yuko's chest still had the hole, but other than that, he was all right.
Just then, he saw a blaze of fire shoot up in the air. Yuko stepped back, but then he got focused. He ran down from the hill and into the town as fast as he could.
The village was almost completely on fire. The thick, black smoke was rising from the burning buildings.
After Yuko got into the village, he covered his face. The smoke was stinging his eyes and he could barley breathe. Nevertheless, he had to see what was going on, and if there are people in the village, he had to get them out.
He thought about it for a while. He didn't want to go, but he had to. He just had to.
Yuko sighed and then headed towards a burning building. He looked around for an entrance. Then he saw one on the side of the building. Yuko ran to it, and looked inside.
It was kinda hard to see. Flames were everywhere, blocking some of the inside. However, he could hear screams inside the building.
Pain shot though Yuko's chest wound. The burning embers were stinging it, along with his eyes. He held his chest softly, and then he got focused once more.
He used his sword to break through a glass window. He climbed through it, despite cutting his hands on the glass.
He jumped down the window and landed on his feet. The burning embers were flying everywhere. They stung his eyes, the cuts on his hands, and his chest wound.
Nevertheless, Yuko ignored his physical pain and went off to save those people. He looked around, but the smoke and fire were in his way.
Several minutes later, he heard the sound of screaming. He turned to the source of the scream, and it turned out to be a woman with a young child.
Yuko clinched his teeth, and made his way towards the two people. He climbed over the broken and burning wood that was on the ground.
When he got close to them, he kneeled down to them.
"Are you ok?" he asked.
The woman was so terrified that she didn't answer. She, like Yuko, looked like a homeless person. Yuko could see that she was terrified just by looking into her eyes. Yuko grabbed them and tried to get out, but a burning support beam fell to the ground right in front of them.
He looked around for another way out, and then he found it. Light was shining though a hole in the wall, and Yuko made his way towards it.
"I found an exit!" he told the woman, trying to keep her calm, "You'll be ok!"
He was getting dizzy because of the smoke, but he didn't care. After he stepped over the wood, he put the woman down, who was still holding on to the scared child.
Yuko grabbed his sword and slashed the hole to make it bigger. The two made their way out. Yuko was about to get out as well, but another support beam fell, which blocked out the escape hole.
He looked around for another way out, while trying to stay calm. The heat and smoke was now becoming unbearable. Yuko felt sick to his stomach because of it; he had to get out as fast as he could.
Just then, he heard an explosion. It turned out to be a gas tank. It caused another support beam to fall.
Yuko tried to run to get out of its way, but it was too late. The beam had already crashed onto him.
He struggled to get free, but it was no use. He even tried to get the wood off himself, but it didn't do any good.
The building itself started collapsing and Yuko was still trying to break free. He felt himself getting weak, and he could barley breath now.
After several minutes of struggling, he finally gave up. Yuko just lay on the ground, helpless.
He wanted to scream for help, but he knew very darn well that no one could hear him.
Yuko's breathing was now labored due to the thick smoke around him. His eyes started to water because of it as well. He let out a cough while listening to the raging fire cracking in the background.
And then he passed out.
Some of the buildings were in ruins and some were burned to the ground. Smoke was still raising from them as well.
Police officers were searching the ruins for survivors. Four out of twenty people were alive.
However, Yuko was still half under the support wood, alive, but barley. He opened his eyes and saw the police, but could not get their attention because he was too weak to shout.
Yuko then found out that more people were inside the building when it was on fire, but it was too late to save them. He saw the officers drag the bodies out of the burned down wood.
Yuko sighed. The pain in his body went away, but he suddenly felt sadness take over him. He was about to close his eyes, but then he heard a sound.
"Yuko!" a voice shouted.
Yuko looked up and saw someone running toward him. He was the same age as Yuko. He had long,white hair and he had black armor. He also had a samurai sword on his left hip. His skin was pale, but had cut and burn marks from the war. His eyes were a very pretty light blue.
"Ryan!" Yuko said, smiling.
Ryan bent down and looked at Yuko.
"Are you all right?" he asked.
"I'm not sure." Yuko said, "How are you?"
"I'm fine." Ryan replied, "Let me get this board off you!"
Ryan got up and placed his hands under the support board. He lifted it and threw it out of the way. He then bent down and helped Yuko to his feet.
"Thanks." he said.
"Can you walk?" Ryan asked.
"Yeah, I think so."
Ryan smiled, "C'mon, lets get out of here."
Both Ryan and Yuko ran off.
After a few moments of running, Yuko collapsed. Ryan turned around and saw him.
"I need to rest." Yuko said, panting.
Ryan smiled and sat down beside his friend.
"Are you going to be ok?" he asked.
"Don't worry, I'll be fine."
Ryan took a closer look at Yuko. He had burn marks and bleeding cuts on his body. He looked very dirty, too.
"I think you need to wash up." Ryan said, "You look terrible."
Yuko sighed, "Oh all right." he said as he got up shakily, "Where's the nearest lake or river?"
"There should be a lake on the other side of the forest."
"Thanks! Are you going to be ok by yourself?"
"Yes!"
Yuko nodded and ran off. Ryan was about to fall asleep, but then he heard footsteps approaching him. He got up and looked around, but didn't see anything.
"Well, who do we have here?" a voice said.
Ryan turned around quickly and saw a man standing in front of him. He was in his late thirties. He had short black hair with a black beard on his face. He had dark brown eyes, tan skin, heavy silver armor, black pants, and a scar on his left eye.
"Long time no see!" he said.
"Tarragon!" Ryan said, taking out his sword.
"I'd thought I'd find you here." he said, "Where is you're friend?"
"I'm not telling you!"
"Well don't worry." Tarragon said, taking out his sword, "I have ways of making you talk!"
Tarragon leaped at Ryan with his sword down, but Ryan was able to dodge him. He swung his sword at Tarragon, and both swords hit each other, causing a loud clashing sound. This continued for awhile before Tarragon used his leg to trip Ryan. He fell to the ground, and Tarragon leaped at him with his sword pointing down, heading straight to his throat.
Ryan was able to roll out of the way. He got up and swung his sword at his enemy, but Tarragon used his sword to block the attack. Ryan jumped back and continued fighting. This went on for about ten more minutes until Ryan fell to the ground on his knees, exhausted.
Tarragon walked over to Ryan and pointed his sword at his throat.
"You got skill, kid!" he said, "I never thought that you'd be a good warrior."
He took his sword off Ryan's throat. Ryan got up panting. Tarragon turned away.
"Aren't you going to finish me off?" he asked.
Tarragon laughed, "I am sparing you're life for the moment."
Ryan was so weak that he couldn't fight back anymore. He was relived that Tarragon didn't finish him off. Ryan sighed, but just when he was about to walk away, Tarragon turned around quickly and threw his sword at him. The sword stabbed Ryan in the chest, breaking through his armor. Then Tarragon grabbed the sword away.
"You're stupider than I thought!" he said, and then he left.
Ryan was stunned. He took one-step, and then fell to his knees. Blood was thrown up out of his mouth as his eyes widened. He started gasping for a while, and then let out a loud scream.
Yuko finally found a clean stream. He walked over to it and bent down. He splashed some water on his face, as well as his other cuts. The blood flowed down his body and into the river, sweeping it away. After he was done, he got up and sighed. Then he heard the scream. He gasped.
"Ryan!" he shouted.
Yuko raced off as fast as he could.
Yuko was still running as fast as he dared to find his friend. The sky has gotten cloudy and a small clap of thunder filled the air, but he kept running. After several minutes, he stepped in a pool of blood. Yuko looked down and saw it, and he was horrified of what the trail was coming from.
Ryan was still on his knees. His mouth was bloody and his wound was very bloody. He spit up a glob of blood, and finally collapsed on his stomach. Yuko's eyes widened.
"Ryan!" he said, running toward his friend.
Yuko bent down and flipped Ryan over. He saw a huge wound in his chest that went through his back. Yuko looked at Ryan's face, which looked like he was still in shock. However, Ryan blinked and breathed hard, and that gave the hint that he was still alive.
"What happened?" Yuko asked, "Are you ok? Who did this to you?"
"T….Tarragon did this." he said, his voice raspy, "He found me….while you were gone."
"What?"
"He….challenged me to a fight….I managed….to hurt him a few times…." Then he started groaning, "But he got the best of me…."
"But….you're one of the strongest guys I know! How could you not beat him?"
"I'm not as good as I was years ago…."
"Don't say that!" Yuko said, "I know you're - - -
"If I'm as good as you say I am, then how come…..I couldn't defeat Tarragon?"
"You were weak, that's why; It wasn't you're fault that you lost!"
"You don't know that for a fact."
"Yes I do!" Yuko yelled, "Both of us were weak, and we couldn't fight anymore! That's why we stayed away from the stupid war! C'mon, let's get you out of here!"
Yuko helped Ryan up. Ryan was able to stand on his own two feet, but he was still a bit weak.
"Are you going to be ok?" Yuko asked.
"Yeah….sure." Ryan answered, dusting himself off.
Yuko sighed. Both boys ran off.
A few moments after running, Yuko stopped and panted. He wiped the sweat from his forehead.
"I wish there was a river near here." he said, "That way, you can clean yourself up."
"What about you?" Ryan asked.
"I'll be fine." he replied, then he wrinkled his nose, "Then again, I guess I could use some washing myself."
Ryan laughed. He looked around for some water, but there was nothing but land. He sighed.
"This is going to be harder than I thought." he said.
Yuko cracked his knuckles. Then he suddenly heard thunder at a distance.
"Uh-oh…."
"We're going to need some shelter while we're at it." Ryan said.
"Yeah, but where?" Yuko asked.
"Lets go see if we can find anything."
They both took off again.
An hour later, they were still walking. Yuko was panting. He looked over at Ryan, who looked like he was in the worst shape. He bent over panting.
"I think we should rest for awhile…." Yuko said.
Ryan shook his head, "No! We've already done that, besides, the weather is probably going to be bad, and we might get caught in it if we don't keep moving."
Yuko nodded.
"Yuko…" Ryan said.
"Yeah? What is it? "
The sky suddenly turned cloudy and grey. Ryan reached into a bag that was attached to his waist and took out a small blue jewel. Yuko looked at it.
"What's that?" he asked.
"Take it!" Ryan said, "It's just something I've wanted to give to you for quite awhile."
"Why?"
"Can't friends give each other anything?" Ryan asked, smiling.
Yuko chuckled, "Thanks."
Yuko took the jewel and placed it in his bag. It suddenly grew very quiet. Yuko sighed.
"Let's get going, shall we?" he said.
Yuko was about to take off, but then he turned to Ryan, who was just standing there.
"C'mon! Let's go!" he said.
"All right…." Ryan replied.
Yuko turned and walked away, but then he turned around. Ryan was still standing in one spot. Yuko started to get worried. He walked over to him.
"Are you ok?" he asked.
Ryan didn't answer.
"Ryan?"
Yuko was about to place his hand on Ryan's shoulder, but he suddenly stopped. Ryan's eyes rolled to the back of his head as he fell over, slamming his body to the ground. Yuko gasped.
"Ryan?" he said.
There was no answer.
"Ryan!" he said again. There was still no answer.
"C'mon, answer me!" he said again.
Yuko got on his knees and flipped Ryan over. Blood was dripping down Ryan's mouth.
"Help…" he said in a raspy voice.
"What?"
"Help…."
"I can't seem to hear you!" Yuko said. He was now growing scared.
Ryan was now able to move his eyes, and he locked them with Yuko's eyes. He shut his eyes tightly and groaned.
"I'm..."
He then tried to relax. He opened his eyes and panted softly, but then his breaths became softer and softer. Yuko bit his lip for a while, waiting for another response from his dying friend. It didn't come.
"Ryan!" he said.
There was no answer. Ryan was very still, which scared Yuko a bit.
"C'mon, answer me!" he said, his voice cracking. Yuko felt hot tears in his eyes, but held them back.
With Ryan still not responding, Yuko thought that he was dead, but then he heard low breathing coming from Ryan. Ryan looked at Yuko, then tore his eyes away and turned his head at the sky, staring at it. His chest went down and never rose again, but he managed to say a word.
"So…rry…." he managed to whisper. Yuko gasped.
Ryan blinked as he let out a quiet groan. He felt his eyes grow heavy, but he kept them open. It has suddenly become very quiet. Blood started pouring from his back and it was still dripping from the corner of Ryan's mouth as well. Ryan started chanting softly.
Yuko just kept quiet, still trying to prevent tears from falling. He looked into Ryan's eyes. It look as though he was dead, but he blinked, meaning that he was still alive, but barley.
As Ryan continued chanting, his voice was starting to strain. As soon as he said his last words, he kept quiet.
"What was that about?" Yuko asked.
"Its a tradition..." he said softly, "Nothing...more..."
Yuko saw that Ryan was suddenly turning very pale. Yuko couldn't do anything. He could only watch as Tarragon's attack took its toll on his friend. Ryan let out a shuddering sigh, but then his breathing became softer. Then everything grew still.
"Ryan?" he asked. There was no answer.
Yuko looked into Ryan's eyes. He thought for sure that Ryan was dead, but then he saw that his mouth was filled with blood. Ryan coughed, allowing some of the blood to come out of his mouth.
"Are you ok?" Yuko asked.
Ryan gagged and then threw up the rest of the blood from his mouth and slammed the back of his head on the ground. He groaned softly, but then more blood shot from his throat. Yuko bit his lip. Ryan's head fell to the side, his seemingly lifeless eyes staring at Yuko. Yuko gasped.
"Ryan?" he asked.
Ryan didn't have the straingth to answer. He turned his head and faced the sky. Then, after a few minutes, Ryan finally died. Yuko felt a sudden rush of pain in his heart. His breathing became shuddering breaths as the tears blurred his vision. His body started shaking.
"Are…..a-a-are you o-k-k-k?"
Ryan still didn't answer. When Yuko figured out that the warrior is dead, he closed his friend's eyes shut, closed his own eyes, placed his right hand near his mouth, and began sobbing softly, tears pouring from his eyes. He had now lost everything: his family, his home, and now his best and only friend. The pain was too heavy and too much to bare. This went on for about ten minutes, unbelievably, before he decided to take the body and bury it somewhere.
Yuko walked far away from the grave, but then grew weak and collapsed on his knees. He placed his hands over his eyes and continued sobbing until he grew exhausted and fell asleep.
A/N: Well, there's another chapter for ya! Don't worry, I'm still around. Like I said, this story will be updated on the first day of the month until school is out. Just one more month to go, and when Summer is here, I might post more often, but I'm stuck on a chapter and I need ideas...again. I hope you guys enjoy this chapter. Until next month!
