I knew it…

Sooner or later someone would find him, it was just a matter of time. Now that first someone was lying on the ground dead. Really, Yasuo hated to be forced to this but he had no other choice. Either he let himself be captured and sentenced to death for something he didn't do or he fought back anyone trying to stop him. This wasn't his choice but the culprit was running somewhere and wouldn't be brought to justice if he died. No one else knew about this and no one else would believe him. Except his mother and maybe Yone.

Thinking of his brother, a shiver ran his spine. Really he hoped Yone would understand him, because otherwise this wasn't going to end well. In the best case, his brother would stay at the sword school if he came back from the war and he wouldn't move to go after him. Yasuo didn't want to think about the worst case. Really.

For now he focused on that deep annoyance and serious resentment for his act. He was cleaning his blade quickly and thought about what he could do at the moment. He had a damned corpse in charge and no idea what was the smartest thing to do. Honor would still require him to give proper funerals or at least some respect but did he had any for someone that insulted and tried to kill him based on false accusations ? No. That was the angry part, really pissed to have to pay some respect for someone that wanted him dead.

That man was dead, small pool of blood under him after that deadly duel. They were in the middle of nowhere, far enough for him not to know the land anymore. Nature looked a bit different, some curious creature walked and lived around. The only good thing was that there was no one here except him and this stupid soul looking for the wrong person.

Alright, what can I do ?

The most practical would be to simply leave that corpse behind. It didn't help him and probably he had other warriors going after him. Long sigh. The sun was about to set, leaving him with little light to go on his search. Staying discreet was important though.

The other solution would be to take that man with him and leave the body near a road. There weren't a lot of roads but it was a certain guaranty that someone would find this poor guy and give a proper funeral. Yasuo hated having to think about all this, he had far better to do and simply not once he thought about having to decide whether leave a corpse in wild nature or not. No doubt some creatures would enjoy fresh meat but the idea didn't sit well with him. Honor, again. Sometimes it wasn't fun to follow but self-discipline required it.

Fuck this.

Maybe he still had enough day time to reach a road and drop that burden to be found. Reluctantly Yasuo went and carried the corpse. Really unpleasant, he tried to ignore the fact that the man was dead. Soon he would be able to forget about it or at least hope for it. I hate it. It was heavy, it slowed him down and overall he didn't want to have any kind of mercy for someone who thought to bring justice but deeply just wanted to see him dead. This was a pretext for everyone, including the ones that never liked him or felt jealous.

This was going to the pile of his crimes. The first. Was it really a crime to take down whoever tried to obstacle justice ? He didn't know if that counted and anyway, Yasuo was far too aware that for everyone at the village, he killed someone else in cold blood, to escape the 'truth'.

So to say he had many good reasons to stay angry, innerly grumbling after these idiots whom jumped to fast on a conclusion. This wouldn't have happened if they even listened to him and admitted he might be telling the truth. But no, they fed their poisonous accusations to everyone and now he was probably going to kill several warriors he knew just because they couldn't forget their pride one second.

Day declined little by little. The good thing was that he still had some luck, beside this funest encounter earlier. There was a road down the hill, amidst the trees and peculiar vegetation of this area. Not just a small path used once a year, no. It was quite old and obviously many people had passed there. Good for him, the body would be found.

Letting his burden down, Yasuo was quick to go away. He was aware this was probably some dumb mistake to leave an obvious clue of his passage but again, honor was harsh to follow. It led him to find the culprit, he couldn't pick only the good sides.

Now anyone on his tracks would know he went there. Not difficult to notice a dead body, and furthermore the dead body of a warrior, weapons to prove it. For someone familiar with it, that man's clothes and armor could be quite recognizable. They would know, Yasuo was there and he slayed 'another' person.

I don't care. He had done his task, now he could run away at the favor of the night. It was always quite bothersome and difficult but any kind of distance between him and his pursuers was welcome. May they need the night to sleep.

Anger was a good source of motivation. Spite too, because despite everything he was still quite glad to go on and survive at the face of everyone wishing him dead. He wouldn't die, not today, not tomorrow. Not before finding Yi again.

My darling…

It made him sigh again, thoughts able to wander as he physically did the same in this darkening land. So long since they had parted and not once it got better. Now pain was a bit reduced thanks to time but he still longed to find his soulmate. Their link didn't say much about the latter, there was no deep sadness at night. Yasuo guessed that it was good, that probably nothing bad happened to Yi and so he hadn't a lot of issues to deal with. Except the war.

Not very suprisingly, their connection was more than calm. He didn't feel much from him. The contrary would have concerned him. Yi was always quite calm and except the few breakings at night after their separation, the link was continious peace. So far from the deep anger for their first and unique argument.

Peace was good. It would have worried him if he heard about the latter. On the other hand Yasuo was a bit unhappy with himself for reacting like this. Without a doubt Yi felt from him in their link and it could mean nothing and everything. Hot blooded indeed and it meant feeling a lot. This was still to check on when they would meet again. If they did. Now nothing was sure.

It will be fine. A bit of optimism wouldn't hurt. That was all Yasuo had, his soulmate and the hope to be reunited one day.

It was in this intent that he carried on, fleeing forward in the night.