Bittersweet Sword: After

Kaistern left the room, taking one last look at the smiling face of Rath. How was he to know that this was the last time that he'd ever see Rath alive? That the end was so near, and all he could do was watch at the most. It was inevitable that Rath would die at his own hand. There was nothing in Dusis powerful enough to kill him, that is, until he met despair.

The blue officer realized something was wrong. He'd noticed Rath was looking especially depressed today. He'd gone to him, hoping with all his heart that nothing was the matter. He seemed fine, smiling and everything, even if he was in a bit of a quieter mood than usual. Well, not usual. The usual of right now, being the past months, was depressed. The usual of a long while ago would have been almost hyper, always glad, playing jokes and being a common nuisance. Driving everyone mad with his tricks and then the clueless naïve face he put on afterward. That was the Rath everyone loved and remembered fondly. But nonetheless the changes, anyone who would have seen him at that moment would have thought he was fine. Not cheerful or overjoyed, but normal, if a bit thoughtful.

But he knew better. The fire knight had been acting distant for a while. He'd refused Kaistern's amorous advances, something he hadn't done before. He kissed back no longer. He no longer appeared to enjoy the moments Kaistern poured all his love into making enjoyable. Kaistern had been mortally afraid that it was something he'd done, and that he could no longer be with his crimson knight. Rath had apparently noticed, because he passionately and honestly assured him that he still loved him, and that he wanted more that anything to... "Enjoy everything he could while he still could." Those words scared Kaistern. Though he was sure now that he was still Rath's, he wasn't sure how long Rath would be his. No, not 'would', but 'could'. He ran his hands anxiously through his white hair as he walked through the dark halls of the Dragon palace.

"Kaistern!" he heard once again the call that had beckoned him from Rath's side in the first place. He almost cursed the voice, taking him away from Rath when he was feeling the uneasy presentiment that it was now that he needed him the most. He finally reached the white dragon officer's office, to find him standing outside the door, a serious expression on his face.

"What do you want?" He snapped. Suddenly, he wasn't feeling very charitable to Alfeegi. And he, not expecting this unusual attitude, was surprised. The blue officer felt the need, the tug that was trying to pull him to Rath. He felt he needed to be with Rath at the moment, and it was the white officer's fault that he wasn't.

"I just needed to talk to you... what's wrong?" Alfeegi's surprise gave way to worry. A frown and a cocked head made Kaistern stop and turn his head, looking at the cold stone floor instead.

"Nothing," Kaistern unknowingly copied Rath's actions, pretending nothing was wrong, hiding his true thoughts. The irony really was thick around here. How was he to know that at the moment, Rath was thinking his last murderous thoughts? That at this moment he was contemplating on the worthlessness of his life?

Alfeegi cleared his throat as if what he was going to say was difficult, and he'd rather keep the words locked inside himself, instead of bearing them out into the light, where they could take shape and fly away to fulfill the prophecy. As if, if he spoke it might come true.

"Kaistern... I was talking to Delte. Rath... is dying, as we all know... But she said his end was nearer than was thought..." Alfeegi said slowly, afraid that by his words he was pronouncing the final sentence. Kaistern started. Alfeegi had just spoken out loud what the blue officer's mind knew, but his heart was too afraid to acknowledge or think about. They heard quick steps before a feminine figure ran into Alfeegi.

"Alfeegi? Sorry! Kaistern!" Cesia dismissed Alfeegi and immediately turned to Kaistern.

"What?" Kaistern asked, his fears re-ignited by the young girl's tearful face.

"Rath... I don't know, something feels wrong, I'm scared. It's like he's fading..." she took his hand and pulled him for a split second before Kaistern himself took the initiative, running ahead of Cesia. He could faintly hear Alfeegi's footsteps behind him.

He was scared. Afraid like he'd never been before. There was a squeezing pain in his chest, but Kaistern knew nothing was wrong with him. He felt like he was sensing part of Rath's pain, in his heart. Delte, then Cesia. They'd both realized what he'd been afraid of for so long. He thought he would go mad with the alarm growing larger and larger until he thought it would choke him as well. The run to Rath's room was an eternity, lasting a couple seconds that took longer than his whole life.

Rath hadn't been looking well for a while now. He ate less, slept more, became distant. He was pale and no longer energetic. What was most disconcerting was that he hadn't even gone out to hunt demons in the longest time. Nor had he played any practical jokes, and hadn't laughed in a long time either. He appeared distraught, lifeless, his face ridden with a permanent fever, his actions slow. He lacked concentration and often became so tired at the end of the day that Kaistern had to carry him to his room, even though he hadn't done anything taxing at all that day. His eyes looked out on the world without life, dull, uncaring, despairing. He clung to Kaistern like a lifeline, as if drawing out all the strength he could from him. Kaistern and the whole dragon tribe had been exceptionally worried. The albino was sure that Rath was sick, but nothing he did seemed to help. Rune had tried to heal Rath many times, but it did nothing. Lykouleon himself had tried to dispel any foreign energy, anything that could be causing the changes in Rath. And now, had something happened?

Yes, something had happened. Kaistern felt the cold stab of pain fill him and spread throughout his body, clouding his senses. He finally reached Rath's room, the room he'd been in just a couple minutes before. As he touched the doorknob he felt the cold, and his body gave a shiver. He felt his chest squeeze tighter, he felt like he was suffocating. Pushing himself, he opened the door, and gave a gasp before stumbling forward on his knees. The purple-haired yokai stifled a scream.

In front of them, bathed in his own crimson life, laid Rath. The slit across his throat poured out his blood, giving waste to all the despair of his life. Kaistern stumbled forward.

"R-Rath... What... d-did you do?" he whispered, lifting his lifeless form onto his lap. Warm tears spilled from his wide eyes, landing on Rath's still warm face.

He heard Cesia's steps, turning and running down the hall. They stopped for a moment, and a strong sob was heard before she kept running.

"What happened?" Alfeegi's voice echoed from farther down the hall, and soon stopped at the door. Kaistern paid no heed to any of them. He could only stare with wide, shocked eyes at the corpse of his love. It was the smile that stunned him the most. A smile so sweet, it was like heaven. Plastered on the face of the devil himself at his time of death. He pressed the knight's body closer to him, feeling his chest soak the blood.

"Someone... help!" Alfeegi called out hoarsely. He then turned to Kaistern, "Kaistern...?"

"He's not dead, he's not!" Kaistern muttered, squeezing Rath harder. Alfeegi stared at him in pity and surprise. Concern soon washed over him as he looked at the albino, kneeling with a corpse pressed tight against him, blood spreading and covering him, staring at the blood-soaked sword that had been the method of execution.

Alfeegi himself fell to the ground, overcome by emotion. He knew it. How... how had it gotten this bad? They all knew something had been wrong with Rath these past couple months. But they didn't expect suicide. He looked up from his hands, looking at Kaistern again. His eyes were still wide, traumatized.

The white officer turned as he heard several gasps from behind him. It was Lykouleon, Ruwalk, Rune and Thatz. Rune immediately broke down, beginning to cry. Subconsciously, Thatz took him into his arms, letting Rune cry into his chest, never taking his eyes off of the sight before him. Lykouleon had dropped his sight, his figure bent and destroyed. Ruwalk fell to his knees, splaying his fingers over his eyes, still watching the scene before him.

At length, Rune and Thatz had fallen to the floor, the earth knight still comforting the water knight. Lykouleon looked up, his face haggard.

"Kaistern..." Ruwalk walked shakily over to the albino.

"He's... in shock," Alfeegi said, getting up himself. The both of them pried Rath from Kaistern lifeless grasp and led him out of the room. He still hadn't said a word after that denial, and his eyes were still wide, replaying the scene in his mind. Lykouleon stumbled after them, going to get Tetheus and Cernozura. Rune and Thatz remained in the room, before Tetheus came by, escorting them to Kaistern's room, where Lykouleon was.

The news had spread quickly. All the women were crying. Kitchel and Cesia were crying against each other, Raseleane on Lykouleon and Delte in the back of the room did her best and failed to contain her tears. Of the men, it was Rune, and Alfeegi, and of course, little Zoma, who had stumbled into Rath's room after Cesia ran by him in her distraught state. Cernozura looked at Kaistern in concern. He had his hands buried in his hair, the perfect picture of despair. How was despair perfect?

"D-Drink this," she handed him a glass, which he took without even giving a second glance.

"We'll have... a burial tomorrow," Lykouleon spoke with difficulty. Kaistern groaned and fell back in his bed, out cold for a while at least.

"This isn't happening, it was supposed to happen!" Ruwalk mumbled softly, sitting down with his head in his arms. Alfeegi slumped on the floor, him being the most shocked after Kaistern and Cesia. Rune wasn't far behind, being so sensitive. Zoma whimpered. He'd only caught a glance, and that was enough to haunt him for the rest of his life. Cesia took him in her arms, holding him close, like a mother to a child. Rune looked like he was about to be sick. He doubled over, and Thatz held him.

Slowly, they all retreated, the activities of the day forgotten, to their separate rooms. Lykouleon comforted Raseleane in bed, holding her close as he felt her tears on his chest. It took most of his will power and restraint to hold his tears back.

Tetheus sat motionless on his bed. He stayed like that most of the night, hands clasped in his lap, head bowed down. His stony face became harder and stonier, sorrowful despair hidden behind the redness of his eyes.

Alfeegi lay in his bed, trying his best to go to sleep, but it was impossible. He lifted a shaky hand to brush another tear from his eyes, and it bumped against Ruwalk's back. Ruwalk turned to his other side, setting compassionate eyes onto Alfeegi. His face too, had the damp lines of tear tracks. Alfeegi bit his lip and Ruwalk wrapped his arms around the aquamarine-haired dragon, pulling him closer as they both fought with silent fears and sorrow.

Cesia tossed and turned, sleeping under a tree in the garden, being haunted by nightmares. Tears poured silently from her face even in her sleep, and she cried out in pain amidst her sleep. Though Rath had left her, she still loved him, and her emotions hadn't changed at all. Zoma lay in his bed, whimpering, cringing with unpleasant dreams after being tucked in by a lifeless Cesia.

Delte walked around the gardens that night, finally collapsing onto the soft grasses that grew on the ground. Rath had been dying for a long time. And she'd known his end was near, but to witness it, and have it actually happen, hurt more than she thought it would have.

Thatz lay awake in bed, comforting Kitchel in his arms like he had comforted Rune. He sighed heavily, not even smiling when Kitchel whimpered and snuggled closer to him. Nothing would be the same now. Rath had never really liked Thatz. He was probably one of his least favorite people. Not that he didn't like him, but he didn't trust him like he did Rune. Despite that, Thatz still mourned Rath's death.

Rune cried out in his nightmare. He was watching Rath stab himself several times, while he laughed manically. Rune tried to stop him, but his voice wouldn't work, and his body was bound by something invisible. Finally, all there was left of Rath was a bloody, mangled corpse. And Rune was covered in blood, and suddenly he realized it was his own blood, and that he was dying too. With a pained cry, he awoke, sweating profusely, and was unable to get back to sleep the rest of the night.

Kaistern's mind remained blank the rest of that night. The potion he'd been administered had been strong enough to seriously black him out. He didn't dream. He slept on his bed like a corpse, much like Rath's. Except that he breathed. It would be the last night of full, undisturbed sleep he'd have in a long time.

Is it wrong to inflict pain on your favorite characters? -innocent look-