Minutes Between Life and Death

amaterasu


Gazing towards the dark, stormy cloud, I felt a ripple of anticipation mixed with dread wash upon me, chilling me with its coldness.

As I run towards her, my heart thumped wildly. I refused to recognize it for what it was, fear.

My legs felt like lead, my mind numb. All I could think of is getting to her. It barely registered to me that another figure is looming over her, his dark clothes casting him as a demonic entity as his eyes flashed at her.

Still, I kept running and running. He raised the katana and brought it down towards her. When the cold blade met flesh, she screamed.

I screamed.

Red. The color of blood and war. It was spattered everywhere, igniting a rage deep within me that was unstoppable and uncontrollable.

I stood there, howling like a wolf in pain, mindless of the icy wind biting into my skin. Numbness was combined with the sensation of burning. Somewhere along the way, I have picked up a sword. I did not even looked if it was mine. I felt nothing but the all consuming madness stealing upon my conciousness like a shadow in the darkness. With unexplicable strength that shouldn't have been possible due to my wounds, I smashed a boulder in my path.

He laughed like a maniac as he watched me charge at him like a raging demon. He took away from the the only one I have let myself love. Her.

As she lay there, her dark hair spilled as a stark contrast to the white snow. Memories of her smile came to haunt me, ripping me further apart.

With a ruthlessness I didn't know I possessed, I cut his laughing head off. Bloodlust still rampant in my veins, I hacked his body to pieces,pieces of his dark blue uniform swirling along with the wind.

Moments passed as I stood there. I felt blood trickle through the side of my face. His blood. I brushed it away, leaving trails of crimson on my skin.

I knelt beside her and cradled her frail body to me.

" Aoishi-sama..." she whispered, her cerulean eyes glazed with pain.

" Misao-mine, don't die! Onegai! Aishiteru yo! " I heard myself say, every word coming out as a hoarse croak.

Her lips lifted into the smile that I love so much " Honto ni? "

" Itsumo " Forever

" Aishiteru, Aoshi " were her last words before her lids slowly drifted shut, the last of her life ebbing out of her young body.

I stared at that serene, calm face. I was experiencing anguish, guilt and regret all at the same time.

If only...

If only I had accepted her love from the beginning...

" Damn your soul to hell, Saitou! " I screamed to the wind.

~ owari ~


03.31.2001



*Notes

@ Nope. Didn' t know where this came from. Just wrote itself. Imagine this popping out while lounging at Mom's office.