Encounter Number 17: Enemy Shinobi
Emora stood with her fists at her sides. Her eyes narrowed, lips slightly parted. She could feel the wind coming down the steps from the top level of the tower. Kiyoshi's robes flapped lightly in the draft. The tower had many windows on each floor, all of them being opened by Airi.
"Damn it! Kiyoshi, why?! I don't get it...Why do you follow Daigo's orders damn it!?" Airi cried.
Kiyoshi grunted before responding. "That doesn't matter anymore. We're all going to die either way."
Emora stepped forward, her face serious. "Kiyoshi...Your brother. From the very little you told me about him...I can tell you care about him deeply. Your childhood best friend that your family decided to take in. You're the younger one, am I right?"
Kiyoshi's dark eyes were set on Emora, his glare stern and full of intent. "Yes."
"You must look up to him, then. You are both honorable in battle. You're both great martial artists, amazing fighters. What made you two like that?" Emora asked.
"Why the hell should I tell you?" Kiyoshi replied.
Emora frowned, her hazel eyes cutting right through the Shinobi's guard.
"I...I just want to know why you're doing this. You're not doing this because Daigo told you to, and I know it."
Kiyoshi clutched his kusarigama tightly. His jaw was stiff behind his mask. She was irresistible; the Shinobi knew her intentions were honest. He hated that.
"My brother and I lived in ruins, in the dumps in the lower levels of the Myre. Bandits, thieves, outlaws, all types of criminals and rebels surrounded our villages and homes. My brother and I had to fight to survive. I am the man I am today because of Zhao." Kiyoshi exhaled.
"Then you have someone who cares for you. Why would you give your life to kill us, when you could be causing your brother so much pain?" Emora asked.
"That's not the case. I'm doing this, not because of Daigo, but for him. Zhao sees himself as my protector, my defender, even when he knows I can handle myself. I don't want him to see me like that anymore. He himself likely doesn't want to further protect me, and I want to show him he doesn't need to."
"He's doing it because he cares for you, Kiyoshi." Airi brought up.
The Shinobi shook his head.
"Zhao told me that he was going to take Emperor Daigo to a safe place before coming back to fight. He had said that if I killed you two, then it would save him the struggle, but at the same time take away his fun. But there's a problem with that."
"What problem?" Emora asked.
"He isn't here to fight in the battle. He isn't here to fight with the Citizens, he isn't here to fight with the Seinaru guards, he isn't here to fight with Airi, he's here to fight with..."
Kiyoshi breathed in and exhaled quietly.
"To fight you, Emora."
"W-What?! W-Why me?! What did I do!?" The Warden stammered.
"He sees you as a warrior worthy of a climactic battle. The problem is, I know he can't beat you. I'm here because he would see that I'm my own warrior, a worthy Samurai! All I've got to do is bring the both of you down." Kiyoshi exclaimed.
"B-But you're planning to kill yourself in the process?!" Emora cried out.
"I know I can't win with one-on-one combat. Especially not with both of you fighting me. But I personally see no issue. Zhao will be spared from fighting you, and he'll also be spared of the burden that binds him down from his true potential." Kiyoshi closed his eyes and raised his Kusarigama beneath his chin.
"Burden? What burden?" Emora asked, her expression confused.
"What do you mean? Are you that dense? I'm talking about myself. All my life, I've always been overshadowed by my brother. His potential was amazing; he was the stronger one, the faster one, the smarter one. But I've always been holding him back. His need to protect me was barring him. I've tried to make him let go, but he won't move, not as long as I'm left behind."
Kiyoshi opened his eyes, Emora gasped when she saw they were teary.
"But...I won't ever be good enough. I'm too slow. He wants to wait for me, while I don't want him to. But if I'm not there, he'll be unchained, free to release his full power out into the Myre."
Emora angered.
"What're you talking about?! Kiyoshi, he does all of that because he cares about you! He's your older brother; you two have known each other since you were young! You're not a burden! You're not a liability!" The Warden yelled.
"You don't understand! He's always been better! He's always been the superior! With school, with work, with fighting! My own parents favored him, over their own son! He's a silent soul, but his stares are enough to bring you to tears! I won't let him be held back by my pathetic self. I'm going to take you two down so he won't have to die trying, knowing that I wasn't good enough to stop you two!" Kiyoshi yelled back.
"We won't kill you! And...None of that matters! Don't you think that Zhao knows that! Him protecting you, defending you, waiting for you, keeping you by his side, that's his own choice! He doesn't have to worry about us because we won't kill you! I..."
Emora's voice cracked. She paused, swallowed her spit, and kept going.
"I don't want to fight Zhao...And I don't want to fight you either!"
"None of that matters anymore, all of us are going to die in this burning tower," Kiyoshi grunted.
"We can still leave!" Emora yelled.
Airi suddenly began to cough. She hunched over, her arm over her mouth, her eyes shut tightly. Emora held the Nobushi gently, trying to calm her fit of rapid coughs.
"Even Hakushi will die here. She wasn't even part of our problem to begin with." Kiyoshi said quietly.
"No way! If anyone's getting out of here, it's going to be her!" Emora yelled.
Airi shook her head and coughed. "N-No! I...I'm not leaving you...Here..."
Emora looked up at Kiyoshi, her look desperate.
"Please, Kiyoshi! You have to let us go! At least let Airi leave, I don't want her to die!"
"You're going to let yourself die? Why won't you save yourself, Knight?" Kiyoshi asked.
"Because you said it yourself. Apparently, if I live...I'll kill your brother." Emora replied with a frown.
"If you don't, he'll kill you. It's an endless cycle that will never stop." Kiyoshi coughed lightly.
"Then I'm taking this hit for Airi! She's getting out of here alive, I swear on it!" Emora shouted.
"Be quiet, Warden! Damn it...I've seen what you're capable of! Don't you understand?! Not all of us are like you, Ryon. You, a proud Knight, fell to your knees, in tears, and bowed before a tyrant Emperor! You nearly kissed his hands! What is wrong with you?! Have you no honor left in you!? Why won't you fight for your own life? Why do you value the lives of others besides your own? Not...Not everyone has that willpower! That determination!" Kiyoshi yelled angrily.
Emora grit her teeth with frustration.
"You say that when you're trying to take a hit for your brother! You're contradicting yourself, Kiyoshi!"
The Shinobi fell silent, not knowing what to say. He coughed twice, shook his head, and huffed. He stared at Emora, his dark eyes serious.
"You're right, I am. But this is all for him. Without me there, he'll finally be unleashed. He won't have to hold back anymore. His true potential can be released, and he can rise up as the great man he is, without me by his side, slowing him down. I don't want him to care about me anymore, for, in my eyes, it's a burden to him."
Kiyoshi lowered his stance.
"You both will die, and my sacrifice will live on through Zhao's success."
The Shinobi exhaled sharply.
"I'm doing this for his and my own sake."
Kiyoshi rushed forward, heading straight for Airi with blinding speed. The Nobushi was crouching, her eyes closed, her constant coughing weakening her.
"RAH!"
As he raised his Kusarigama to strike, Emora stepped in front of Airi and caught his wrist. She shot them back and stood in front of Airi in defense.
"Don't you see? You said yourself that Zhao was a dark man, a silent soul. He owes it to himself to keep you safe." Emora said sternly.
"He has no reason to do that," Kiyoshi answered back.
"He does! He's grateful for you! If it weren't for you and your family, he wouldn't even be alive!" Emora shouted.
"And how can you be so sure?!" Kiyoshi yelled.
"Hell, because I would be grateful too!"
"Not everyone is like you! You don't know him as I do!"
"That may be true, but I know he loves you!"
"YOU DON'T!"
"I DO!"
"HOW!?"
"BECAUSE THAT'S HOW I FELL IN LOVE WITH AIRI!"
The entire room fell silent. Airi stopped coughing, her breathing tight and short. She looked up, her eyes wide. Kiyoshi stepped back, his guard down. Emora was panting, her throat stinging.
"What?" Airi wheezed.
"What do you mean?" Kiyoshi asked.
Emora closed her eyes and coughed a single time. She looked at the tower windows and saw that gray puffs of smoke were leaking out.
"Kiyoshi...I felt the same way your brother did...A long time ago."
"What do you mean, Emora?" Airi stood up, her face full of curiosity.
Emora looked at the two Samurai, her hazel eyes clear and perfect.
"Kiyoshi, your brother...He may be protecting you unconsciously. It's...A bit complicated to explain, but I know how he feels. He feels that he needs to keep you safe because he owes it to himself to do so. I did the same. Before I knew I was in love with Airi...Before I had sorted out my complicated feelings...Hell, before I even figured out I was into other girls...I felt like I...Like I needed to keep this Nobushi safe."
Emora looked to Airi, a small smile on her face.
"Zhao is your older brother; it's his instinct to feel the way he does. Your family took him in when he was young, and he saw that you were younger, in need of a guardian when your parents weren't there. He took the responsibility upon himself to be your guardian because he was grateful because he was in your debt."
"I would never...Let him be in my debt." Kiyoshi said, rage creeping in his voice.
"I would never let Airi be in my debt. In my first ever mission with her, she along with two other Heroes saved me from this Warden who was about to kill me. If it weren't for her and those other two...I would've died. I...I wasn't fast enough, and I let the two other Heroes die. I felt like I owed it to myself and to the fallen to save this last Hero. I killed the Warden, and even though I didn't say it out loud, I felt like I needed to keep this Nobushi safe." Emora said honestly. Airi was looking at the Warden; her eyes welled up with tears, her beautiful smile tearing through the Warden's heart.
"Throughout the mission, and on the way back...Airi repaid me for what I did. She kept me healthy, she kept me clean, she kept me fit and ready to fight. When I couldn't heal my own wounds, wash my own clothes, she was there to do it for me. That was why, whenever she said that she wasn't doing enough to repay me for saving her life, my heart ached."
"It was true. I...I would spend my nights crying because I was ashamed that Emora had saved my life countless times...But I was doing nothing in return." Airi paused, and look at the blonde Knight with a smile. "But apparently I was."
Kiyoshi looked behind him; the room was getting dimmer and dimmer, the smell of smoke becoming much more apparent and sharp.
"Kiyoshi, you have to understand...Zhao protecting you, being your guardian? That was his own choice that he made on his own behalf. Just like I did with Airi. A personal choice...That he may not want to say out loud to you. I did the same...I never told Airi that I was defending her, but when I was ready to tell her how I felt...I did it. Zhao you said is a dark man. What do you mean by that?" Emora asked, her voice soft.
Kiyoshi shifted. "He was always with gangs at school, and he would always get into fights with older kids, even though he knew he would lose. He would lock himself in our room, not letting me in. I could hear him crying, beating himself up over his loss. He would eat toxic mushrooms for fun; he would come home with cuts all over his body, his hair long and ruffled up. He would go off to train in places I still haven't seen, and he joined many dojos in where a spiritual initiation was required. Eventually, he began to grow more and more silent, and so did I. Now, we both barely speak."
Emora nodded in understanding. She smirked a bit, looking at Kiyoshi with those mesmerizing hazel eyes.
"You're talking a lot now though, aren't you?" She smiled.
Kiyoshi grunted. "You have an effect on your opponents. It's strange."
"She really does." Airi stepped in. "With everyone she fights, she somehow ends up connecting with them on a somewhat personal level. Whether it's begging for mercy, or in a deep rage, her effect on the people she fights makes the battle so much greater."
All of a sudden, all three Heroes began to cough uncontrollably. Their wheezes and croaks were deep and loud.
"Holy...Shit! Kiyoshi...We have to get out of here!" Emora looked out of the window, trying to breathe in outside air. But the smoke was already ventilating out when she tried to breathe in, she shot back, coughing loudly.
"Emora!" Airi cried. She pulled the Warden back, patting her on the back.
"K-Kiyoshi...You understand now, right? You're not a burden to your brother. You're not barring him or holding him back from his true potential. He wants to...Wait for you. He wants you to grow and progress alongside him. Both of you can reach your heights together...As brothers. We don't have to fight." Emora said weakly.
The Shinobi was staring at the ground. He reached up and began to unwrap his mask. He tore off his face cloth and pulled off the headbands. He exhaled deeply when he took them all off.
Emora and Airi both stared at the Samurai ninja. His hair was sharp and spiky, long, thick bangs hung over his light brown eyes. His jaw was sharp, his nose straight and even. He stared at the two Heroes, his expression dull and concentrated.
"Hakushi, you are correct."
Kiyoshi curled his fists.
"Emora does have an effect on her opponents. I feel connected with her now. I feel a bond that can only be felt in the dawn of a new battle. This fight is personal to me, a fight that is very important to my brother's vision of me, and my honor as a Samurai."
Emora and Airi covered their mouths with their arms, their stares full of fear and intensity.
"Emora, I do understand Zhao's intentions. Thanks to you, I now know for sure that I must help him. Maybe without his own personal problems, without feeling that he owes something to me or himself, without that feeling that he needs to repay me that lifelong debt that he thinks he owes me, he can perhaps start speaking again, like he once did."
The young Shinobi got into a battle stance, his kusarigama set up in his hands to attack.
"Emora, Airi, I'm glad to be having my last ever fight with opponents so unique and special. My brother would enjoy this very much. Unfortunately, he isn't so talkative, nor is he as open as I am. Maybe that is another one of his weaknesses. Zhao is a man with no faults in his unbreakable will. Being a rogue Aramusha, the literal definition of a fallen Samurai has carved him into a warrior that no longer spares his opponents from his blades. Emora..."
The Warden flinched.
"I don't know what to do. If I let you go, he'll kill you both...And he'll never forgive me for letting not one...But two opponents live. But if I kill you both...But I still die...How will I ever know that Zhao is satisfied? What will restore his original light? What will bring...Matsuda Zhao...Back to normal...?"
Emora's heart began to melt. She watched as the Shinobi began to cry quietly. He grunted and seethed, trying to stifle his sobs. He restrained himself, choked back his cries with broken gasps.
"K-Kiyoshi...I...I want to help...You..."
The Shinobi put his hand out. He shut his eyes tightly, his eyelashes wet with tears. Emora watched as a single tear made its way down his cheek, and dripped off of his jaw.
"Look at you..." He grunted, his eyes red and bloated.
Emora let out a shaky exhale, Airi was holding her hand tightly within her own, her face full of concern. The Warden's jaw trembled lightly, her eyes releasing tears as storm clouds would rain.
"Tsk...Crying for an enemy...In all my years of fighting...Never would I have thought I'd see something like this or someone like you."
"This is who she is. I...I've seen her like this before. Emora...Why do you get caught up with everyone's issues...? Don't make their problems yours, because then it hurts you too! When will you learn...Not everyone can be helped."
"Hakushi speaks the truth. You shouldn't be trying to take heat for another person. It'll only shield them from what's to come."
Emora swallowed a sob. "I've done this before, and I won't ever stop! Even if I don't know them...Even if they want to kill me...I want to help. I'll feel what they feel...So maybe I can try to fix their problems when they can't do it themselves."
"Just like you did to all of us...Back in Valkenheim," Airi whispered, her voice shaky.
"Mildred Azouf...Seeing all of you like that...My empathy reached new heights. I fuel myself with the ultimate power, from deep inside. My motivation is what keeps me going...And my motivation can change very quickly. Right now...My motivation is to get you both out of here alive..."
Emora stepped forward, mere feet away from Kiyoshi, who put his guard up.
"And that's what I'm planning to do."
"Not while I have my own motivation!" Kiyoshi yelled.
"Don't be like this!" Airi cried out.
"Damn it, Emora! You have no limits, do you? Can you be killed?! We're about to find out...Because your resolve can only take you so far! Your own girlfriend said it herself...Not everyone can be helped. In this case..."
The Shinobi disappeared in a puff of white smoke. Airi gasped, even jumped a little.
"Emora! The S-Vanish technique! I...I can't see him!"
"What the—AH!" Emora cried.
Kiyoshi appeared behind the Warden, his Kusarigama to the Warden's neck.
"You can't save everyone."
Emora felt her chest tighten.
"IT'S TIME I PROVE YOU WRONG, THEN!"
Emora knocked Kiyoshi's blade away from her neck, grabbed onto his wrists, and launched him over her back. The Shinobi flew forward, caught himself with his right arm, and flipped back onto his feet.
"This ends now!"
"No, it doesn't!"
"You don't decide that!"
"DAMN IT, KIYOSHI!"
"RAAHH!"
"GAHHH!"
Kiyoshi rushed forward, he slid down onto the floor, tripping Emora, and bringing her to the floor.
"Huah! Gh—Tuh!"
Emora fell onto her shoulder, used her legs to shift her weight, and roll to the left. She turned around to see Kiyoshi and Airi trading blows.
"Ha! Wah!"
"Guh! Gch!"
The two Samurai's moves were all a blur, Kiyoshi suddenly disappeared into thin air. He reappeared a split second later, his leg in the air.
Airi ducked underneath the kick and jumped back. Kiyoshi landed on one foot, launched backward, and flipped to Emora. He reached back and whipped his fist out in a thrust, Emora doing the same.
"KAHH!" Both of them gut out. Their fists dug into each other's hearts, jabbing their entire bodies into a few seconds of trauma, and rendering their stamina temporarily drained.
Airi rushed forward, she leaped into the air, her fist raised. Kiyoshi turned around, grabbed the Nobushi's arm, and launched it forward. Airi ran head-on into Emora, both of them colliding into a wall.
With a puff of smoke, a sudden blast of wind, and a swift grunt, Kiyoshi kicked Airi on the side of the head, sending her flying to the right, and then kicked Emora in the stomach, down the stairs.
The Warden felt as her entire body was pummeled and ruffed up by every single sharp wooden step. She tumbled and crashed down the staircase, her body feeling completely broken and destroyed. She finally came to a stop, slamming her forehead onto the ground. She saw as her vision became flooded with red, her blood lining her face.
As if every single bone in the Warden's body was completely shattered, Emora lay on the ground, completely still. Tears mixed in with her blood as she struggled to move. The Warden's entire body was shaking, she shifted slowly, afraid to move her neck.
"Gah...Tgh...Kah...Oh...God...AHH!"
Emora looked at her shoulder and saw that it was clearly not where it was supposed to be. The Warden tried to stay calm, but she could hear Airi and Kiyoshi grunting and coughing up above her. Her legs and knees ached as she got up onto them, trying to lift herself up to her full height.
"C-Come on...Come on!"
The Warden gritted her teeth as hard as she could, her jaw painfully crushing her teeth, her ears ringing from the tension. She used her one good arm to help her grab onto the railing. She staggered back against a wall, holding her shoulder.
"This...Is going to hurt..."
Airi ducked and dodged blows that seemed like lightning. Kiyoshi grunted rhythmically with every blow he took, Airi responding with her own grunts as she blocked. The Shinobi attempted to slash endlessly at Airi's throat and chest, but the Nobushi kept knocking at his forearms, preventing any solid hits. Airi yelled out as she plunged her kneecap into the Shinobi's side, smashed her fist into his jaw with an uppercut, and then clocked him clean in the face with a right punch.
"GAAHH!"
Kiyoshi jumped back and slid back on the floor. The two fighters stared at each other, both panting heavily when suddenly, a loud, sharp cry could be heard from down below.
"Emora!?" Airi cried out.
"Your guard's down!" Kiyoshi yelled as he rushed forward.
The Nobushi's blood boiled as she turned back to the Shinobi. She watched as he disappeared from sight with a swift puff of smoke. She gasped as she shot her arms out in front of her, blocking his kick.
"You're mine!" Kiyoshi yelled.
Rotating his legs in the air, he threw another roundhouse kick, and after being blocked, he came back around for a risky back-kick. Airi's block only half worked as she managed to tank through the Shinobi's boot in her temple.
"AH!" Kiyoshi cried out.
"GUHAHH!"
Airi launched his leg aside, plunged her fist deep into his stomach, jumped up, and brought her forearm down on his neck, slamming him into the floor and onto all fours. The Nobushi crouched down, grabbed the Shinobi by the top half of his body, and used all of her strength to launch him towards the stairs.
"AHHHH—EEAAHH!"
The wooden railing instantly shattered as Kiyoshi crashed through it, and slid down the steps. Airi leaped forward, jumping over wooden fragments of the staircase, and stomped down the steps. She hopped over the railing, hoping to jump down on top of the Shinobi with an air attack from above.
"Oh! AHH!"
Kiyoshi dove out of the way and back-flipped back into an upright position. He skipped forward, placed his left-hand flat on the floor, and launched the rest of his body forward in a driven heel-kick, striking Airi right in the torso, and sending her hurtling back into a small wooden drawer which was quickly destroyed with the force the impact.
The Nobushi moaned in pain as she slowly pulled herself up to her feet. Her back stung with waves of pain, her arms sore with exhaustion. She pushed her own hair out of her face as she looked around, panting steadily.
Emora held her shoulder, quietly grunting with surges of discomfort. She began to rotate it, slowly, and then faster. She stretched it forward, moaning with pain. The Warden frowned as she shook her arm, turning to Kiyoshi, her expression listless.
The three Heroes looked at the ceiling, trying to somewhat shield their eyes. Smoke entered their lungs, and they all began to cough. They all turned to a corner of the room and managed to see the fire begin to crawl up the walls. It sparked and flared brightly, filling the room with unbearable heat. All three fighters felt as beads of sweat began to form on their foreheads and necks.
"Kiyoshi...We're..." Three coughs. "We're all going to...To..." Another cough. "We're going to die!"
Emora staggered forward, coughing loudly. Airi reached for the Warden but stopped when Kiyoshi put out his hand.
"This is how we all die. In the flames, all of us will be—" The Shinobi chocked on a restrained cough. "All of us will be forgotten. This fight has reached its peak. The only thing we can do now is to wait until we are all burned by the unforgiving fire of death."
Emora shook her head, her face pursed with fatigue. "Gah...No! This fire ain't shit! Airi, follow me!"
The Warden grabbed onto the Nobushi, rushing for the staircase down to the second floor. Suddenly, both girls yelped out with sharp pain. They felt as they were yanked back by Kiyoshi's kusarigama's, their sharp blades dug into their shoulders.
"Neither of you shall leave!"
The Shinobi decked both Heroes on the back of their heads. Airi and Emora smacked into the ground, groaning and quietly cursing with frustration.
"Tsk...Kiyoshi, stop being so stubborn, damn it!"
Emora swept her feet towards Kiyoshi's legs. The Shinobi fell to the floor, catching himself with his arms. He thrust his legs out, attempting to perform a low-kick. The Warden felt as Kiyoshi's attack flew over her shoulder. She reached out, grabbed onto the Shinobi, and threw him towards the center of the room.
"Kch! Why you—Huh?!"
Kiyoshi put up his guard as he watched Airi and Emora charge at him, their fists out in perfect synch. A difficult, fast-paced pattern of punches battered the Shinobi's body. His arms quickly became barraged by huge amounts of pain as he struggled to block the blows. He found openings in the pattern and began to try and sneak his blades of legs into the fight, but everything was moving too fast.
"You both...You both can't..."
A fist cracked into Kiyoshi's cheek.
"Ghah!"
Another stabbed into his ribcage.
"Tugh!"
A third blow jabbed into his chest.
The Shinobi staggered back, his kusarigama tangled on his arms. He shot one of them out to his side and began to swing it. He set his eyes on Airi and yelled out when he charged forward. He jumped up into the air and kicked the Nobushi right underneath her chin.
"NNGNGH!"
Airi felt her jaw slam shut, her teeth nearly shattered completely. Her head snapped back with a rocking pain, her mouth feeling absolutely obliterated.
Kiyoshi, still in the air, swung his chain throughout his attack, simultaneously managing to attack while charging up his ranged attack. He set his feet on the ground, shot his arm forward, and sent his kusarigama cutting through the air. It wrapped around Emora's neck, catching the Warden by surprise.
"Come here!"
The Shinobi pulled Emora towards him with all his strength, using her momentum and his own raw strength and brutality, he elbowed Emora on her cheekbone, destroying the side of her cheek, blood flailing out into the air. He then savagely gut his knee into the Warden's stomach.
"GLUAAGAAH!"
Blood splattered onto the ground as Emora's mouth shot out with a red spray. She hunched over the Shinobi's leg, her eyes wide, her face red, her neck strained, her mouth wide open with horrible pain.
Finally, Kiyoshi used his other Kusarigama to slice up Emora's stomach, piercing her bandages, and cutting her even further. He grunted as he harshly slashed his blade at Emora's head, knocking her to the ground.
The Warden collapsed with a loud thud and a desperate cry of agony. Her right cheek bled with a fresh cut, her left cheek bled heavily with a nasty looking bruise. Blood seeped from the corner of her mouth; her eyes were dull, only half open on the ground. Her stomach leaked with blood that spilled out onto the floor in a slowly growing pool.
Airi groaned as she held her head, standing behind the Shinobi. She let out a gasp once she saw that Emora was on the ground, Kiyoshi bending down to slice her neck clean open, and decapitate the Warden.
"NO!"
"Hm? AH—"
A wooden pike found itself lodged into Kiyoshi's back. The Shinobi let out a short cry before angrily ripping it out. He turned around, only to feel his head get spiked the other direction, a hard fist up against the side of his face. He staggered over the Warden's body, almost losing his footing. It didn't matter, however. The Shinobi flew back into a wall as Airi landed a clean roundhouse kick on his side.
Airi hurriedly rolled Emora over, her breathing panicked and uneven. She ripped off her entire sleeve, revealing her sleek and robust arm. She quickly tied the cloth together and tightly knotted it around Emora's waist and stomach. The Warden groaned as she spat out a wad of blood, she looked up at Airi, her eyes watery and reflective.
"Get up, Emora!"
"I'm...Trying!"
Kiyoshi stumbled forward, slowly picking up his speed. Emora dropped her guard as she realized that the fire had spread far too much, and was already reaching the ceiling, and beginning to burn the area around them. The entire area grew black with heavy smoke, all the Heroes unable to see, or fight, or breath, or talk.
Emora waved her arms around, smashing through the windows of the third floor, trying to vent some of the air. She squinted towards the stairs, recognizing the railing that was still intact but fuming with smoke.
The Warden reached for Airi and took off down the stairs, Kiyoshi not far behind. They all let out screams of fear when they were met with a fiery, deadly inferno. The fire was everywhere, the ceiling above them crumbling and collapsing.
They felt as the ground began to shake and sink in on itself, the staircase down to the base floor completely blocked by fire and burning wood. Kiyoshi released both of kusarigama, reaching for the two Heroes.
"GH!"
Emora dodged the chain but felt as Airi was being tugged away from her grasp.
"NO! AIRI!"
The Nobushi stumbled towards the Shinobi. Kiyoshi grabbed onto Airi and held her by the neck, his blade to her throat. He coughed into the back of her neck, one of his eyes closed, the other one-half open. Airi's dirty face was dusted by ash and soot, both of her eyes shut tightly. Kiyoshi's gritty looking face wasn't fazed at all. He coughed repeatedly, his hair draping over his eyes, his breaths slow and deep.
"I can't give him any satisfaction. This will finish it all; my brother will rise on without me, and live his life to the fullest, with absolutely no worries, no debts, and no distractions!"
"You're...You're none of those! Fuck, you're his brother! His best friend, probably his only friend! What will he do without you!?" Emora cried.
"He'll move on, and sooner or later, he'll be gone, completely unstoppable, pursuing whatever it is he wants to do with his life. I'll help him break through the door that blocks his path, and he'll emerge stronger than he ever was before!"
Kiyoshi let out a wheezing laugh. He tightened his grip on Airi's throat, causing her to whimper and gag quietly.
"I'm very sorry Emora, but the time has come for me end you and your beloved Hakushi. But in this situation...It shouldn't really come as a surprise."
He paused to cough into his shoulder.
"Our fates are sealed, death cannot be stopped!"
Emora stared at Airi, looking at her null face, her slow, gasping breaths, going in and out of her mouth. The Warden's throat was stinging, her chest felt empty, her head ached with a sharp pain that stabbed her behind her eyes.
"You really think so? Death is something we'll all see one day, but that doesn't mean that it can't be delayed. Kiyoshi...Let her go."
The Shinobi shifted uncomfortably. He wrapped his chain around Airi's neck and began to slowly tighten his grip. He glared at Emora, watching as her rage grew. She wiped blood from her mouth and chin; she passed her arm across her forehead, wiping off heavy amounts of sweat. She coughed onto the floor, rubbing her eyes.
Suddenly, wooden beams and floorboard began to rain down on the Heroes from above. They stabbed through the floor and sped up the crumbling process. Kiyoshi looked at his feet, his chain still wrapped around Airi's delicate neck.
Emora took her chance; she sprinted forward, dodging a fiery piece of lumber from above her as she sprinted forward blindly.
"AHHH!"
The Warden picked both of the Samurai up and slammed them into a wall. Kiyoshi's body was obliterated from the impact; his legs gave out under his weight with a loud cry. Airi moaned as she fell forward into Emora's arms, her breathing dense.
"Airi!" Emora could breathe anymore. "We...I'm..."
"D-Don't...Leave me..."
The Warden's eyes became filled with tears, she wiped them off, hating the stinging sensation. She swallowed her tiny amounts of spit, realizing how dry her mouth was, and how much she wanted water.
"Airi...I'm...I'm not leaving. I'm never leaving..."
"H-How..."
Airi pointed up at the air, at the black smoke that filled the room.
"How will we survive...?"
Emora exhaled and glared at Kiyoshi.
"I'll see what I can do."
Kiyoshi growled under his breath as he slumped off of the wall and stomped forward. He yelled out in shock as he jumped out of the way of a burning bookshelf. He picked one of the books up, his gloved hand protecting him. He launched it Emora with a grunt.
"AHHH!"
The Warden flailed her arms out, knocking the book away in midair. She rubbed her arm, feeling how tender her skin was, how red it was.
"KIYOSHI! WE DON'T HAVE MUCH MORE TIME!" Emora roared.
"Do I really need to repeat myself? We're dying here! THIS IS WHERE OUR GRAVES WILL BE!" The Shinobi yelled as he ran forward. Emora, in defense of Airi, jumped forward, covering her body from the embers of nearby burning wood.
The two Heroes punched each other in the face at the exact same time. They both retorted and then retaliated with their own attacks. Kiyoshi launched his fist out in a punch, his kusarigama in hand, ready to slice at Emora's head. But she was too fast to block. She knocked the Shinobi's arm away and then seized his throat. She lifted him up into the air, and with a powerful yell, choke slammed him into the floor.
"GAAHHH!"
Spit flailed out of Kiyoshi's mouth as he cracked into the ground. He clawed at the top of Emora's smooth hand, panicking at her strong grip.
He kicked his leg out, striking the Warden in the thigh. He then thrust his arm forward, taking the Warden by surprise once he struck her in the jaw.
"SHINE!"
Kiyoshi struck the side of Emora's neck with his hand. He watched as her eyes went blank, and she collapsed to the floor, saliva streaking out of her mouth.
Airi got up onto her feet, crying and coughing to no end. She fell to her knees, looking up at Kiyoshi.
"We're dead...Just kill me! I don't want to burn! I don't...I don't!"
Kiyoshi's eyes widened.
"Hakushi, I'm happy you've accepted your fate. It seems that Knights are just to blunt, don't you agree?"
The Nobushi held back a sob.
"Y-Yes..."
Kiyoshi raised his kusarigama, but as he did, Airi lunged forward, tackling the Shinobi's legs, and bringing him to the ground. The back of his head struck the wooden floor, stunning the ninja for a few seconds. Airi scrambled over his body, unwrapping his kusarigama from only one of his arms, and not managing to rid him of his other one.
"Nanda—Kch, get off of me!"
Kiyoshi punched Airi in her left breast, bringing forth a loud, hurtful cry from the Nobushi. She fell onto the floor, her hands clutching her chest.
Kiyoshi closed his eyes as he got up onto one knee; he looked up to see Emora beginning to wake up, her entire body shaking.
"No! Stay..."
The Shinobi pounded his chest, trying to clear room to breathe. But he couldn't seem to do so.
"DAMN IT! CURSE YOU BOTH!" He thundered, his voice cracking and breaking.
Emora rose to her full height, her blonde hair still messily tied in its ponytail, her long bangs draping over her face and on the sides of her head, covering up her ears.
"Kiyoshi—This could've been avoided. This didn't have to fucking happe—"
A loud crack spiked through the ears of all the Heroes. Their eyes widened at the piercing sound, their jaws dropped, and their hearts all stopped.
"SHIT!"
"AIRI!"
"YAAHH!"
The floor below them collapsed entirely as pieces of wood slammed into the floor and all around them. The ground gave in and the Heroes felt as they became weightless, their bodies being struck by waves of searing heat.
After falling straight through a burning floor and a metal chandelier, the bodies of the three Heroes slammed onto the ground, all three of them lying motionless as the tower began to crumble on top of them. Outside, screams and yells could be heard, some Japanese, some in broken English, and some just simple gibberish that couldn't be properly heard.
Emora opened her eyes; a wooden chair fell right in front of her face. It was on fire, so it shattered on impact, the embers burned her head and smoked her hair. The ground was covered in a layer of ash and soot. All around her, the ceiling was collapsing, the fire was raging, and two figures lay also motionless.
Her heart jump-started as she recognized one of the figures. She gripped onto the floor with both of her hands, performing the hardest push-up she had ever done. She grunted and quivered, trying to lift up her own body.
"The heaviest weight someone can lift...Is their own...Body!"
The Warden grit her teeth and held her breath. She began to yell as she lifted herself up off of the ground. She slowly slid her leg underneath herself and pushed up with all of her strength. She panted heavily as she staggered back, feeling as fire brushed up against her back.
"AHHH!"
She stumbled forward, patting her back, her eyes wide with fear. Emora looked ahead, squinting through thick smoke. She leaped over burning beams of wood until she reached Airi, who was on the ground face down, not moving at all.
"Airi! Airi! Please be alive...Please...Airi?!"
The Nobushi didn't respond, she only lay on the ground, her eyes shut, her body limp.
Behind her, Emora could hear Kiyoshi grunting as he stood up. She turned around, rage in her eyes.
"Kiyoshi...The exit..."
The Warden and Shinobi looked to the wide entrance of the tower, only to see that it was locked by a chain. Emora looked back to Kiyoshi, her face filled with anger.
"You sealed it. Didn't you?"
Kiyoshi face grew into a grin as he looked at the Warden.
"Yes. I told you. This time, you cannot avoid your demise."
Emora turned back to Airi, her fists clutched.
"No matter what you say, no matter what the odds...The only one who decides that...Is me."
The Warden turned around and picked up Airi. She held her gently in her arms, slowly nudging her, and softly shaking her.
"Airi...Airi wake up..."
The Nobushi's head was leaned back. Emora placed her hand on the back of Airi's neck and helped her sit upright. The Samurai moaned as she sprung back to life, her eyes barely open, her lips parted to allow air to sift through.
"Emora...?"
"Airi, get on your feet. We're getting out of here, now!"
Emora tugged on the Nobushi's arm, helping her to stand. The two girls stood before Kiyoshi, who was standing alone, pieces of fiery wood falling all around him, embers hovering in the air, surrounding his body.
"You can't escape." He shouted over the sound of crackling flames.
"Watch us!" Emora yelled.
She let go of Airi, giving her a single nod before turning to the sealed door. One by one, Emora found places where wooden beams weren't engulfed in flames and grabbed ahold of them. Her body mere inches away from the fire that was reaching out for her, wanting to burn her skin, and end her life.
The fire was relentless and angry. It lashed out at Emora when she got near, trying to remove the wooden beams on which it lived on. The Warden didn't let up. With grit teeth, narrowed eyes, and a good amount of rage, she lifted countless beams, all caught on fire and launched them out of the way. Airi and Kiyoshi watched in silence, their hearts pounding, their throats on fire, their mouths dry, their breathing shallow and sedate, and their stances sluggish and fatigued.
"HNGHH! GHAAHH!"
The Warden threw aside another beam that was caught on fire. She blew on her hands and rubbed them together, sweating and panting profoundly. Emora cracked her back and snapped her neck. She clutched and unclutched her fists, flexing and straining her arm muscles. Her dirty midriffs were exposed, her thin waist, her lean stomach, her strong, sore arms were all covered in a layer of sweat.
She walked forward and set her eyes on the largest support beam she had ever seen. She looked up and let out a short yelp, watching as pieces of the third floor came crashing down, fiery embers flailing everywhere. She leaped back, watching as they exploded in front of her. With a short huff, she stomped forward and kicked the rubble aside, setting her eyes on the final obstacle that blocked the exit door.
She carefully placed her hands beneath the support, trying to avoid burning her arms. Her fingers stung as she curled them around the dry wood. The fire that was quickly spreading on the surface of the beam reached for her hands as it continued to blaze.
The fire reflected in the Warden's eyes. Their golden color shined with bright torches as she let out a huge yell. Her throat felt as if it was being ripped apart as she forced her body to push. Her hands stung and tingled, her arms ached, her back became stiff, and her legs turned to steel.
"COME ON! GNHHGH! HAAAGGHHH!"
With every ounce of strength in her drained body, she lifted the final beam, using her left shoulder to push it to the right. She launched the beam into the inferno, embers, and sparks flying out at her, burning her skin a bit, the Warden merely flinching in response.
"Ha...Hah...Hah...Huah...Ugh..." She panted heavily; sweat dripping from the tip of her nose and her eyelashes. More sweat fell from her jawline and soaked her neck.
Emora looked to the door and stood before the sealed exit. She gripped the lock on the chains and began to pull back on it. She yelled out with rage as she placed her foot on the door and pulled back, using her leg for support.
"RAAAAHHHH!"
"Emora! What're you doing?!" Airi cried.
"You can't break through solid steel chains! It's over, Warden. Just give up!"
"You think I care?! I'm...I'm getting us out of here! I put it on everything! I swear it! I WON'T LET YOU DIE—GAAAHHHH!"
Emora's blood began to drip off from the chains as she pulled back on them with her blistered, tired hands, which were now bleeding. She continued to yell, her throat feeling as if the fire itself was burning within her body. She huffed and gasped for air, the muscles in her arms bulging with strain.
Kiyoshi gripped his only kusarigama. He watched as Emora continued to pull back on the chain, the door itself catching flame. He watched silently, his mouth open with astonishment.
"Kchh—Krrgh...HAH! CAH—TCH...UAAHHH! JUST...FUCKING OPEN!"
"Emora, move!"
The Warden looked up and saw as a large board of wood hurdled towards her from above. It was caught on fire, it glared at Emora with the intent of killing her, digging straight into her body, not only killing her but charring her afterward.
"AHHHH!"
Emora dug her feet into the ground as she lunged backward, still holding the chain tightly in her hands. Mere inches away from her hands, the sharp board fell in front of the Warden, striking the chain with a horrible cracking sound.
"Wah—Huh?!"
Emora staggered back, holding onto the door's lock. She stared at the broken chain, watching as the wooden board was sticking out of the burned floor.
At the perfect time, she had moved out of the way to avoid being cut in half by the burning board. At the same time, she pulled back on the door's chain, causing the board to strike it, and cut it clean in half.
"Nandato?!" Kiyoshi cried out.
Emora grit her teeth as she threw the lock aside and stood in front of the exit. With a powerful kick, the two doors flew off and disintegrated, already being frail from the fire damage. Black smoke flooded out through the opening out into the open air, brushing past Emora's body as it escaped the tower.
She stood proud, the black smoke rushing past her body, the hotness of the air around her, combined with the cold of the normal air, Emora's body felt half hot, half freezing.
She turned around, extended her arm, and reached out for Airi. The Nobushi ran forward, grabbed ahold of the Warden's tender, sweaty, bloodied hand, and pulled herself towards her.
"Emora...H-How...How did you do that?!"
The Warden shrugged. "I'm scared."
Airi kissed the blonde Knight, tears falling from both of their eyes. Their lips locked and unlocked, their tongues brushing back and forth every time their mouths sealed.
"This isn't over! You think I'm going to let you leave!?"
Kiyoshi rolled forward, dodging huge support beams. A fiery explosion went off behind him as he walked forward, his one last kusarigama extended, dragging along the ground, slowly.
"I won't let you leave. Not you...Ryon..."
Emora pulled away from Airi and pushed her behind herself. She clenched her teeth together; she sucked air in through her dry nostrils, her chiseled nose dripping with sweat.
Kiyoshi spun his chain. He put his hand out and closed one eye.
"You die along with me!"
"AIRI, GO!"
"NOO!"
Emora cocked Airi back with her forearm, striking her in the chest, right below her neck, strategically knocking the rest of her body backward, while draining her lungs of all air for a few seconds, rendering her stamina shattered. The Nobushi staggered back, her hands flailing for the Warden. She collapsed onto the floor sucking in air.
Emora felt her arm become entranced by a hot metal chain, it seared her skin, causing her to release a blood-curdling cry. Dust and hot air engulfed the Warden and the Shinobi. The tower began to come down entirely, debris and pieces of the structure began to rain down all around the gardens, striking soldiers and civilians.
Cinder and Cyrus rushed to Airi, their swords on their backs.
"Airi!"
"Are you okay!?"
The Nobushi choked on heavy sobs, she gasped for air, tugging on the two Wardens.
"Emora! Emora is still in there! Help her!"
"Emora?!" Cinder yelled.
"Fuck! No!" Cyrus shouted.
Elea, Katsue, and Cindra rushed over, their eyes wide. They spread out to avoid getting hit by falling pieces of the tower. The grass soon caught fire, and the fight was broken up. Seinaru Guards retreated towards the garden gates, fleeing the Manor entirely. The civilians raised their blades in victory, watching as the tower continued to come down.
Alban and Apollo came last, panting, drenched in sweat and covered with cuts and light slashes.
"What's happening?!"
Airi was on her knees, her tears wetting the grass below her.
"HELP HER!"
Alban looked to the tower; he spotted the blonde Knight, standing on the other side of a wall of fire, looking the other direction.
"Emora!"
He ran forward, dodging everything that came from above him. He stopped when a large piece of the tower wall landed in front of him, creating another wall of fire in front of the entrance. His blue eyes became welled with tears as he watched Emora cry out with power.
"EMORA! EMORAA! GET OUT OF THERE!"
The Warden held onto Kiyoshi's chain, she pulled back with everything she had. Her boots slid against the floor, the Shinobi's doing the same.
"GAAHHHH! NOOO! YOU'RE STAYING HERE! WITH MEEE!"
"TCCHH—DON'T DO THIS! YOU CAN LIVE! YOU DON'T HAVE TO DIE! JUST...COME...WITH...ME!"
Emora raised her head in the air, her eyes shut, and her mouth gaping into the air, her jaws widening more and more as her yell grew louder.
Kiyoshi shook his head as he was losing this life and death game of tug of war. He reached for his belt and launched five Kunai at the Warden. Every single one struck her, two in her left thigh, one in her right thigh, and two hit right above her breasts, hitting her center-chest line.
Blood shot out from every wound, and the Warden lost some of her grip.
Kiyoshi pulled back, yelling loudly and endlessly. His face was red, his eyes filled with rage. Emora was yelling too, her throat strained and veiny. Her arm muscles were bulging, her hands lined with her arteries, her entire body flexed with everlasting perseverance.
"YOU...REALLY DON'T...KNOW...WHEN..."
Kiyoshi sucked in one last breath. He set his boots flat on the ground.
"TO GIVE UP!"
The Shinobi pulled back, using the rest of his power. Emora staggered forward, a piece of the ceiling nearly cracking her skull open. The Warden's torn short was covered in her blood, her dirty pants black and torn, and her boots worn and scuffed. Her hair was flowing with the outside wind, dirty and gritty.
Kiyoshi glared at Emora, his eyes wide, not being able to breathe at all.
She held on to him, to his chain, using everything she had to try and save him. The Shinobi couldn't believe it. How could someone like this exist?
Emora, through all her fatigue, her exhaustion, her wounds, her discomfort, her physical and emotional agony, and her shattered wishes for peace, she still held on, trying to save someone who swore to kill her. Using her own broken and battle-destroyed body, the only body she'll ever have, the only body she's ever had, she pulled, with almost no force at all. Tears streamed her face, those mesmerizing, captivating, enchanting golden eyes staring at the Shinobi, begging for his life, begging for him to give up, and come with her.
"Ryon...Ryon Emora...A Warden whose love is far too great for this dark, pitiful world. Just where did you get this golden heart? With a vague past, a seemingly normal life, and far too many difficult decisions to make, how in hell did you become like this?"
"Warden!" Kiyoshi yelled out.
Emora flinched. She looked up, her expression was miserable and horrid. "Kiyoshi! Come with me, please!"
"You're far too forgiving, Warden. That can be dangerous in battle, you know. But at the same time, you're the type of person to never give up when they have a cause, or something driving them. You'll do whatever it takes to meet your objective, am I right? No matter what gets in your way?" The Shinobi asked.
"Y-Yes! Of course! Especially if it means a lot to me! And right now...Your life means a lot to me! Please just let go! Let me save you!"
Kiyoshi's will was finally broken. The guilt he felt in his heart was far too great. An enemy, someone who he swore he would kill, trying her hardest, giving it her all, risking her own life, to try and save him, give him another chance.
The Shinobi didn't want to live. He thought he didn't deserve to live. Being spared by an enemy, seeing a Knight who he barely knew commit such an act of inhuman kindness and generosity, was something unusual and scary to the concealed Samurai.
"You're a complicated human being, Ryon. I somewhat admire that. You care too much. Your compassion and purity influence other people in a way that penetrates through whatever defense they had and reaches straight to their heart. I know this because I have been touched by your humanity."
The Warden didn't respond. She only looked at Kiyoshi with her teary eyes which were still releasing passionate tears.
"I've realized something. Some people don't deserve you. Some people don't deserve to be given another chance...Another chance to be spared."
"W-What are you saying..."
The Warden's desperate voice drowned out of Kiyoshi's ears as he closed his eyes and prayed for his brother to forgive him. He thought in his head about how much he truly cared for him. How much he meant to him. How much his protection was really worth to him.
Turns out, it was worth everything.
Kiyoshi opened his eyes, looked at Emora, a slight smile on his face.
"Emora..."
The Warden was now yelling, continuing her effort to save the Shinobi's life. She was on the floor, her legs kicking and scrambling against the ground. Her arms were stretched out; gripping the chain tightly, her screams and cries of effort were worthless without any strength behind them. For the first time, the Warden couldn't win. She couldn't do anything to fight. She was on her side, her body shuffling backward on the floor.
The Kiyoshi was standing still, holding his own chain. He was putting in minimal effort, watching as Emora tugged and pulled, all to no avail. The Shinobi looked at his forearm, saw where his chains were tied around.
He let out a small chuckle as he began to unwrap the chain from his arm. He could feel the tension of the chain from Emora pulling on it. He pulled back until he was ready. The Shinobi's heart was beating; he was just now realizing how scared he was to die.
"Emora!"
The blonde Warden gasped. She opened her eyes, gasping for air. Her exuberant eyes shimmered with a glitter of hope. Her face became drowned with dread as the Shinobi shook his head, smiling.
"I will always cherish what you've shown to me, Warden. This was a great fight...One that...I now feel proud to be losing. To you, I give my honor...My respect...My complete condolences. Please...I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive everything I've done...And everything I've said. Perhaps I was a fool to believe I was doing my brother justice by going through with this...And maybe you knew...But you just did not tell me, in order to protect me from myself."
Emora was stunned. She opened her mouth to speak, a burst of air shot out, and she was left breathless. She moaned and got up on one knee, trying to cough and breathe at the same time.
"K-Kiy...Kiyosh..."
"Do not fret, Warden. It has been an honor to fight with you. I wish you nothing but happiness and pleasure in the future. Take care of yourself; take care of your friends, and take care of Hakushi. But I doubt I need to tell you that, right?"
"KIYOSHI, WHAT'RE YOU DOING?! COME WITH ME!"
Both Heroes were holding onto either end of the chain.
Kiyoshi winked at the Warden, his white teeth showing in a wide grin.
"Arigatō, Emora-San."
The Shinobi let go of the chain, causing Emora to fly back with her own momentum.
"NOOOO!"
The Warden scrambled to her feet. She watched with teary eyes as Kiyoshi fell back into the fire, and instantly became engulfed in its flames. His screams were drowned out by the ringing in Emora's ears. She tried to run forward, holding onto some non-existent hope that he could be alive. But something grabbed onto her, stopping her completely.
Emora staggered back, feeling as she phased through a wave of heat, her body became surrounded by a surge of unbearable discomfort. She suddenly became relieved of her pain by the feeling of cold air against her skin. She felt herself be released, and unconsciously, she fell to her knees and collapsed onto the cold grass.
"Emora!" Airi cried.
"Holy shit...Emora, are you okay?!"
"Guys, we have to move, come on!"
"MOVE!"
Emora shook her head, refusing to be dragged along. She resisted against all the attempts of her friends, her silent crying confusing them all. She could hear Airi's loud cries, yelling out her name, calling out for her.
The Warden stood up, still clutching something in her hand. She watched as the tower collapsed in on itself. A huge cloud of smoke emerged from the base level, towers of smoke rising up into the air. The cloud of dust expanded and expanded, rushing out towards the Warden.
Emora closed her eyes and put her head down, her tears streaking down her cheeks.
Airi watched as Emora was eaten by the cloud of dust, completely devoured. The Nobushi looked on with wide eyes, her body paralyzed.
"Oh my god...Where is she?" She asked.
Cindra squinted towards the location where the tower used to stand. She shielded her eyes from the dust and waved away any light smoke.
"She...She's in there somewhere..."
Alban and Katsue stood side by side, Cyrus, Apollo, and Elea all sitting on the ground, catching their breaths.
"She...She was almost crushed..." Alban whispered.
Katsue huffed.
"What was she doing?"
Alban looked at the cloud of dust, which was now clearing.
"Trying to save the Shinobi that held us captive in that cellar."
Katsue crossed arms and smiled.
"She must've seen the good in him. I don't doubt she got to him."
The Highlander looked at the young Shinobi, smirking.
"I don't doubt it either."
"EMORA!" Airi cried out.
The Heroes watched as the dust cleared, and the air became clean again. The moon shined down on the Warden, who stood in the midst of the tower ruins, her head up, her hands at her side, her hair blowing in the wind. Airi rushed forward and gently grabbed onto Emora's arm from behind.
"Emora...Are you okay?"
The Warden didn't respond. She only stared at the pile of rubble that used to the watchtower. The fire was still shining in the knight, the Urutora civilians cheering all around it. Emora's face was solemn and dull.
"Emora...Talk to me...Why didn't you follow me out? Why...Why did you push me out of the tower?! You made me leave you, Emora!"
The Warden relaxed her shoulders. She blinked a single time, maintaining her silence.
Soon after, her other allies were around her, observing the battle damage, and asking far too many questions.
"What were you doing, Emora?
"You could've died!"
"Why would you run into a fire?!"
"What was happening?"
"How did the tower come down!?"
"We thought you were dead!"
Emora was clutching something. She looked at her left hand and uncurled her fingers from whatever they were grasping. The Warden's eyes twitched once they set sight on Kiyoshi's kusarigama chain.
"Kiyoshi..."
The Warden grit her teeth, trying to stop herself from crying.
"Emora, what's wrong? Talk to me..." Airi said softly, rubbing her other hand.
"That chain...Does it belong to that Shinobi?" Alban asked.
Emora nodded her head. She turned to look at all of her friends, scanned their faces, thanked the gods above that they were all alive. She walked to Katsue and fell into her arms.
"E-Emora...W-What happened? Are you okay...?"
The Warden cried into the young Shinobi's neck. She sobbed quietly, the others watching with small smiles.
"Katsue...You're alive...You fought the poison..."
The Shinobi's purple eyes sparkled with pride. "Yeah...Worst hours of my life...But I made it. It's all thanks to you, Emora. Thank you..."
"No, thank all of you. I could've never done this alone. It's because of all of you that I'm alive right now. Who would've convinced the civilians to rebel if it wasn't you guys? Who would've helped the civilians if it wasn't you all? Who would've stalled Daigo's henchmen if it wasn't you guys? Tell me that much!"
Emora had to stop and breathe. She began to cry loudly, doubled over, her hair draping over her wet face.
"Who...Who would've taken those beatings for me...If it wasn't you guys?! You...You all look horrible! I'm so sorry...Please forgive me...Please...I'm sorry!" Emora pleaded. The other Heroes all shook their heads, laughing and comforting the Warden, tears of their own in their eyes.
"We were prepared for this, Emora!" Cinder laughed.
"You thought we could come in here and come out unscathed?" Elea asked, giggling.
"Yeah, we knew we would all have to take hits. Did you expect us to not get hurt in enemy territory?" Apollo chuckled.
"No...I...You all...You didn't have to come. You all came with me out of the kindness of your hearts...I would've died here...I would've been killed so easily! I was going to come here alone...But you guys didn't let me...You all came for me...And I can't thank you all enough..." Emora sobbed.
Alban put his hand on the Warden's shoulder. "Of course we did, Emora. We owe it to you. You've made our lives wonderful. Your simple presence is enough to make up all happy. We can all agree on that much."
The Highlander looked to Airi with a smile.
"Your life was miserable...Even though you still put us in front of yourself. Airi was the only thing that could make you happy again...So even if there was a chance we could all die...We wanted to repay you, and make you happy again."
Emora shook her head in confusion.
"What did I do...? I didn't do anything! I swear to god...I'm nothing but a burden to you all!"
"Tsk, now you're sounding like Kiyoshi." Airi crossed her arms.
Emora fell silent as she looked back at late Shinobi's chain. Her lips quivered as small whimpers escaped her constricted throat.
"K-Kiyoshi...I...I..."
The Warden fell to her knees, Airi and Elea trying to hold her up.
"I failed you...Zhao...I'm so sorry...I...Failed to save him...Why?!"
Emora grew angry. Her face flushed with rage, her eyes filled with fury.
"Why wasn't I strong enough?! WHY?! FUCK! I...This...Stupid body! I can't do anything! I'm weak! I'm fucking weak! I couldn't...I tried, but I still couldn't..." Emora wept.
"Don't say that shit, Emora! You did...You tried to save him. It's not your fault!"
"IT IS! I could've convinced him! I could've!"
"But you didn't, and that's fine! Was it his choice, Emora? Was it!?"
"No—" The Warden cut herself off. She let out small stutters of opposition, but no solid words escaped her mouth.
"Don't you see? He had made up his mind, and you couldn't do anything to change that! Yes, you tried to convince him...But you have to respect the fact that he did what he did because he chose to. You also have to take a moment...To respect yourself. Take a moment, Emora. Calm down...Stop being so hard on yourself...Please..." Airi pleaded, on the verge of tears herself.
Emora fell onto all fours. Her tears dribbled down her face and fell from her jawline and nose. Her teeth hurt from being gritted together so much, her head ached, her entire body convulsed with terror. She paused when she felt a hand on her back.
"You've been through a lot, Emora. You're always willing to put aside your own priorities in order to help others, even if it's something stupid. Too much sympathy can be dangerous in a treacherous world like this, but you somehow manage to get away with it." Elea patted the Warden on the back, a genuine smile on her face.
"We all love you, and we're grateful for you. Your golden heart is something that can't be replaced, can't be replicated, and can't be taken away. No matter what type of evil or corrupt force of nature comes your way...You touch them with your pure soul...And you change them. You always see the good in people, and somehow always manage to eliminate all the bad. You're a blessing, the absolute love of my life, and the most beautiful girl I've ever seen." Airi kissed the Warden on the cheek, her cheeks flushed with a bright red blush.
"Kiyoshi said the same thing. I change people...Affect those I fight in a way they themselves can't explain." Emora mumbled.
Airi smiled. "He must've also recognized the fact that you're special."
Emora couldn't help but laugh, but her heart still ached. She looked at all of her closest friends, her own two commanders, her lover, and her five best friends.
"Whatever amount of trouble you've ever caused us if any, it doesn't even compare to the good you've brought to us," Katsue reassured.
"Hell, but you sure do give us a lot of scares. Try to work on that, alright?" Cyrus joked.
Emora's tears disappeared as she broke out laughing, holding her stomach in a bittersweet feeling.
Cindra scoffed and shook her head. "Tsk, you say we're messed up and beat? Look at you...You're..."
"Yeah...I know." Emora wiped sweat off of her forehead. She let Airi hold onto her as she looked up at the moon.
"Thank you. Thank you all, so much. For everything."
"No, thank you, Emora. You're a brave warrior, an honest Hero, a skilled fighter, and a wonderful person. Take pride in that." Cinder crossed his arms.
Emora slowly nodded her head, pondering her own heart.
"Heh..."
The Warden looked at all of her friends with a small smile.
"Whatever you say."
A few minutes later...
The civilians of the Urutora Clan were surrounding the Heroes, all looking at them for direction. The Hakushi Manor was still on fire but was burning much slower than the tower. Daigo was still alive, and Seinaru Guards still lingered in the area, ready to fight for what was left.
"Tell them to finish tearing down the Manor and to hunt and imprison any Seinaru Guards that are left," Emora told Katsue.
"Imprison? Not kill them?" The Shinobi asked.
"We don't need more blood to be spilled. They can be converted and drafted back into the Urutora Clan once it's brought back." The Warden replied.
"Okay, I'm on it." Katsue nodded.
Airi was holding onto Emora's hand, civilians clapping and shooting winks and glances at the two Heroes. Emora's blush was far too noticeable, while Airi only smiled and waved back to the people.
"Emora, they're looking at us!" The Nobushi giggled.
"Yeah, I noticed. Just pipe down." Emora huffed.
"Aw, what's wrong? You shy?" Airi teased.
"Shy? Pfft, nah. Just...Tired."
"Being tired doesn't make you blush."
"I think I have the Black Plague."
"Don't joke about that!" Airi snapped.
"S-Sorry..." Emora whispered.
Alban and Cindra walked up to the two girls, their faces serious.
"What do we do now, Emora?"
The Warden looked at her arm, where Kiyoshi's chain was wrapped around. She felt a strong sense of remorse and regret when she set her eyes on the chain, but it was his own choice, she had tried to save him, she really did.
"You can't save someone who doesn't want to be saved..." Emora thought.
"I have to look for someone...Zhao. Kiyoshi's brother. And...Daigo too. This fight isn't over." She said sternly.
"Right. We'll come with you." Alban clutched his fist.
"No, you guys should spread out and help the civilians round up the remaining Seinaru guards. Make sure to keep them safe, and make sure that this manor is burned to the ground, so that the Urutora Clan can rebuild it from scratch, in honor of Atsuto and Airina Hakushi." Emora countered.
Alban looked at the Warden for a few seconds before nodding.
"Alright. We can do that." The Highlander said with a grin.
"Thank you, Alban."
Emora watched as Cindra and the Highlander both walked away, heading towards the other Heroes and a couple of English-speaking Urutora warriors.
Airi tightened her grip on Emora's hand, catching her attention.
"What is it?" The Warden asked.
"There's no way I'm letting you go off by yourself," Airi said, her eyes narrowed, expression fierce and ruthless.
"A-Airi...I have to, I—"
"No! I'm not letting you!"
The Warden frowned. She looked Airi in her deep brown eyes, not breaking eye contact. The Nobushi stared right back, her gaze filled with love and care. Emora felt her body become enveloped by a soothing, comfortable warmth as her heart grew a thousand sizes.
"Airi...I can't let you come with me. I don't want you getting hurt...You have to understand that..."
"You don't have your sword or armor; I don't want to hear it!" Airi yelled into Emora's face, her voice desperate and emotional.
"B-But..."
"Shut up! I won't hear anything else from you! Emora, I'm not letting you out of my sight anymore! I...I don't want to leave you...And I don't want you to leave me!" Airi cried.
Nearby civilians began to look in the direction of the two Heroes. Emora shushed the Nobushi repeatedly, feeling embarrassed.
"S-Shut up! God...You're so loud..." The Warden said quietly.
"I don't care! Emora, I love you!" Airi yelled out loud, not taking her eyes off of the blonde Knight.
Cyrus and Apollo turned to look at the girls with smug grins on their faces. Nearby civilians and martial artists looked at them with confused expressions, they mumbled and gossiped amongst themselves, some of the women even giggling behind their hands.
Emora slapped her hand over her own face; she cringed internally, not daring to look at the people watching.
"Jesus. I hate you sometimes..."
"WHAT?!"
"I'm kidding! Ugh, why are you so uptight right now?" The Warden asked.
Airi grabbed Emora by the collar and pulled her close. Their noses and foreheads touched, and their eyes met directly. The Nobushi's face was stern and intimidating, while Emora was surprised and a bit shook.
"I don't know what I'll do if you end up dying. If you're going to go into that burning Manor looking for both Zhao and Daigo...You're going to have some fucking support, do you understand me?" Airi whispered, her voice angry and slightly unsettling.
Emora was shaking, her eyes wide, and her teeth chattering ever so slightly. "Y-Yes ma'am..."
"Good."
Airi abruptly pulled Emora in and stuck her tongue down her throat. She loudly kissed her, and then pushed her back. The Nobushi turned around to fetch her staff from a civilian she had asked to sharpen it.
The Warden stumbled back, her mouth agape, and her pupils dilated with shock. She stood there, paralyzed. Only when Cyrus walked over and slapped his hand onto her shoulder did Emora snap out of it.
"She's a frisky one, ain't she, Emora?" Cyrus laughed.
"Y-Yeah...She is..." Emora nodded slowly.
"Welp. That was hilarious to watch. You should see your face right now. Totally...Speechless."
Emora stared off into empty space.
"Uh huh..."
Cyrus chuckled, shaking the Warden's shoulder.
"Well, come on! We'll head to the Manor's back entrance, and then go from there."
"O-Okay...Let's go."
The Heroes all grouped up in front of the Manor, smoke rising up into the air from its rooftops. The civilians of the Hakushi Province gathered around, asking questions to the Heroes, mostly Katsue. Many of them separated into groups and began to light torches in order to spread the fire in the manor, as the current fire wasn't large enough to burn the entire structure down.
"Alright, I'm going with this group. We can try to take any prisoners we find to the front of the manor. I say we don't start lighting stuff on fire until we're sure that we've found all of these Seinaru bastards." Elea crossed her arms and grinned at her group of people, her axes on her belt.
"I can go with you, Elea," Cindra said with a smile.
"NEK!"
Cyrus walked up behind Apollo and slapped him on the back of the neck. The Centurion let out a loud shriek as soon as the loud clap erupted into his ears.
"Ow! Fuck you, dude!"
"HA! Alright, sorry. Come on, you and I can take this group of people. We'll go around and bind the prisoners we find using the rope the civilians brought with them." The Golden Warden grinned.
"Alright. It sounds like a plan." Apollo huffed, rubbing the back of his neck.
Alban stood next to Emora, his gaze set on the Manor.
"Why are you searching for Zhao? And...What do you plan to do to Daigo?" He asked.
The Warden stayed silent as she looked down at her boots. She sighed and turned to the Highlander with unsure eyes. "I...I want to tell Zhao about what happened to his brother. I also...Want to ask him how he felt about Kiyoshi, how he felt about the brotherly bond they had. Daigo...I...I'm not sure what I'm going to do with him."
Alban frowned. "You're not going to kill him?"
Emora shuddered. "That's what I felt like doing before. But now...I...I want to try and change him."
"What?!" Alban exclaimed, his voice mighty.
The Warden shrunk before the Highlander's unnerving aura. His face was filled with disgust, surprise, and question. He stared at Emora with a twitching right eye.
"I...I'm sorry..."
Alban shut his eyes and shook his head.
"Emora...He's done so much to us...He's done so much wrong..."
"Yes, I know...But...I get the feeling that he was a good man before all of this! Before I came along. M-Maybe he was only trying to do what was right? I know it wasn't his intention to get the Hakushi Manor burned down...What he did was a manifestation of his desire to fuse the factions together. He was just blinded by his objectives."
Alban was speechless.
"Alban...Please don't look at me like that..." Emora whispered, her voice soft and shaky.
"Tsk...What're you trying to connect?"
"If I hadn't come along, ruining everything, then the two clans would've fused, and everything would've been fine...Besides the fact that Airi would've been miserable. But...When he saw that the fusion wasn't going to happen...He got angry. There's a small chance that he isn't a corrupt tyrant...Maybe he's just not experienced enough. He's never ruled anything; he's always been a prince beneath his father who probably no longer wants to help him." Emora explained, looking at Alban with an honest gaze.
"He doesn't know how to rule, it's true. But what he did was his own attempt at trying to help the Myre. He wants to help his people, he wants to help the Dawn Empire...He just doesn't know how to. He tried salvaging the original plan by absorbing the Urutora Clan instead of fusing with them since the marriage wasn't going to happen. He grew angry...And in his blind rage, slaughtered Airina and Atsuto Hakushi. Yes, it's true he's done a lot of bad things...And is definitely controlled by his motivations and emotions...But in a way, so am I!"
"What?! What does that mean?!" Alban asked, his voice rising.
"I'm saying...I...I..."
"Say it, Emora!"
"I'm just...Daigo...He..."
"SAY IT!"
Emora stood right before Alban, mere inches from his face.
"MAYBE DAIGO AND I AREN'T SO DIFFERENT!"
Alban fell speechless. He found himself out of breath as he staggered back, holding his chest.
"W-What the hell are you talking about...?"
Emora swallowed her desire to cry as she opened her mouth to speak. "He did all of this...Because he wanted to help the Myre. It's true; the Dawn Empire needed a stronger leader. But because the fusion was canceled, and that was the only true way to save the Myre, Daigo saw it as his chance to play his part in the Samurai's enlightenment. In his anger about the fusion cancelation, he killed Airi's parents, knowing they wouldn't change their mind about the ceremony. He absorbed the Urutora Clan into the Seinaru Clan, trying to make his clan the leader of the Myre, in order to try and help it!"
"What does that have to do with you being in any way, remotely similar to him!?"
"I'm getting there! He sent his men after us because he saw us as threats to his plan. He knew we were here for Airi, but he still needed an Empress to rule properly. And yes...I know he fell in love with her...But who could blame him! He was supposed to marry her, and...She...She's beautiful!"
"Then how do you explain him beating us up, and him almost killing you in your fight!?"
Emora exhaled, her heartbeat going insane. "He was angry, what else? I interrupted his marriage ceremony. He had you all beaten because he saw us as pests. He wanted to kill me so badly because I recognized that I was the stupid-ass behind all of this, AND because I wanted to take his wife for myself!"
"Okay, AND?!"
Emora clutched her fists and threw them at her sides. "Don't you see, Alban?! Just like me, he's driven by his objectives and motives! He did everything he did because he wanted to help the Myre! He wanted to help his home! He wanted to help the Samurai! The only problem is that he just...Did it a little wrong. That's exactly like me! I did something fucking stupid too!"
"What is it?!" Alban asked.
"This entire...FUCKING THING! My motivation was Airi, my objective was to try and get her back because my own PATHETIC, LONELY ASS COULDN'T LIVE WITHOUT HER LOVE! I...I needed her! By body lusted for her, called for her! My heart ached at the thought of not having her in my life! She's the reason I wanted to do all of this! If you all hadn't come with me, and basically save my fucking life, I would've come here ALL ALONE, and end up fucking DYING!" Emora yelled, her voice thundering through the entire back garden.
Alban stared at the Warden, unable to say anything in return.
Emora panted profoundly, trying to catch her breath. "And not only that...But we're both driven by our emotions. He gets controlled by his anger, just like I do! He had you guys beaten because he hated the fact you were all trying to get his people to rebel! His massive hatred for me comes from everything I've done to him! Invading his new home with a group of rogue Heroes, killing his childhood best friend, trying to take his wife, ruining his marriage...EVERYTHING! He fought me out of his frustration and rage, that's what I'm trying to say!"
Alban was no longer in an aggressive, shocked stance. He looked at Emora blankly.
"And fucking hell, do I even have to say anything about myself? Half the things I do, the usual reason why I kill my opponents...Is because of my anger, or because of something my opponent did to someone I care about. After seeing him forcefully kiss Airi the way he did...My hatred for him was born, and I was done trying to negotiate. But now...Now that I realize our eerie similarities...I understand him. I wonder..."
Emora looked at Alban with glistening eyes.
"Do you think he's suffering right now?"
Alban blinked a single time, before huffing.
"I don't know."
The Warden walked forward and grabbed the Highlander by the arm.
"I'm sorry."
"You scared me. The thought of you being even remotely similar to that son of a bitch...It makes my blood boil."
"I know that...And I thank you for it. But Alban...It's true, and you know it. We both hold those similarities." Emora said gently.
"In your own ways...Yes, I know." Alban nodded.
"Are...You two okay?"
Emora and Alban both turned to Katsue, who was armored up and ready to separate.
"Yeah...Just had an...Interesting talk with Emora." The Highlander said with a faint smile.
"Okay. Well...It sounded quite...Explosive. Are you two good?" The Shinobi asked.
"Yeah, we're okay. Alban, you should go with Katsue as her partner." Emora smiled.
"Okay, I will. Come, Katsue, we can take a group of people and start tearing this place to the ground." Alban grunted as he clutched his fist and smirked.
"Right after taking a few prisoners, of course." Katsue winked.
"I haven't forgotten. That doesn't mean I'll like it. Let's get going."
Emora watched as the two Heroes walked towards a large group of armed civilians. Alban paused for a moment, looking over his shoulder at the Warden.
"I hope you find Zhao. He deserves to know what happened. Just be careful." He nodded.
"Thank you, Alban. I will." Emora waved as the Highlander turned and ran to catch up with Katsue.
Airi came rushing back, her hair flying in the wind as she ran. She held her staff tightly in her hands, the silver blade shining in the moonlight.
"Okay, are you ready, Emora?" The Nobushi asked.
"Y-Yeah...I guess."
As the two Heroes began to walk into the back entrance of the Manor, Emora stopped, turning to one of her Commanders.
"Hey, Cinder!"
The Commander spun around his head in the air. "Yeah, what is it, Emora?"
"Do you have a group?" Emora yelled.
"I was going to go with my sister and Elea, as a team of three! Why?" Cinder yelled back.
"Come with us, I need you for something!"
Cinder nodded and waved goodbye to his sister and Elea. He jogged across the stone platform and up a short flight of entrance stairs. He stood in front of Emora, his black visor covering his face.
"Yeah, what's wrong?"
"Listen, Cinder. I'm sure you already know that I have my own personal thing going on. I have to find Zhao and Daigo, even if it means going through this burning Manor. But...I can't bring Airi with me. I simply can't." Emora whispered.
"But...She insists on coming with you! I saw what she did to you earlier." Cinder shrugged.
"Yes...I—I know. But I have to do this alone. Come here..."
The Warden leaned forward and whispered something into the Commander's ear. Behind his helmet, Cinder's silver eyes were wide with shock.
"Are you sure, Emora? She'll be furious."
"It's the only way. It hurts me knowing that I have to...Well, yeah, you know. But I just want her to be safe. This is something I want to do. She's the one we're trying to save; we're not trying to get her killed."
The Commander nodded his head slowly, sighing steadily. "Okay, I'll be right there."
Emora let Cinder enter first, she followed soon after.
"Airi! Where are you?" Cinder yelled out.
"I'm over here!" The Nobushi's voice rang out.
He walked up next to the Nobushi, his sword at his belt. The two stood side by side, looking around at the main hall, where the marriage ceremony took place.
"It already smells of smoke." Cinder exhaled.
"Yeah. I didn't know Emora was bringing you along." Airi teased.
"Yeah well...Here I am."
"Speaking of which...Where is she?"
The Nobushi turned around to see the blonde Warden behind her, rubbing her hand.
"Decided to bring more backup? That's good. You can't do everything alone, you know." Airi smiled.
"Yep...I can't." Emora laughed nervously.
Airi turned back around, Cinder right next to her, standing by.
Emora took a silent deep breath as she prepared herself. She rubbed her hand and closed her eyes.
"Airi...I'm so sorry. But this is for your own safety. I love you."
The Nobushi scowled with disgust. "God...I can't believe I almost kissed Daigo in front of—"
Emora made her move.
"AH—"
Airi's voice was abruptly cut off as all the air in her body was immediately sucked out of her. Her eyes went blank as saliva seeped out of her mouth; a quiet yelp escaped her lips as she fell forward, right into Cinder's arms.
"Holy crap...She's out cold..." He murmured, his voice stirring with anxiousness.
Emora nodded her head. "She taught me that move herself. A swift strike to the back of a person's neck, and they're rendered completely unconscious in an instant, fully knocked out. That was my first time doing it on a person...But by the looks of it...I did it right." She sighed, clutching her fist after performing the swift knock-out chop.
"Well...This is it then..." Cinder said solemnly. He placed his sword on his back and carefully carried Airi in his arms.
"Take her somewhere safe, Cinder. When she wakes up, tell her not to come looking for me, because by that time, the others will be burning the Manor down, and it'll be too dangerous for her to come after me." Emora explained.
"I understand. But...What if she insists?"
"Then go after her. Do whatever it takes to stop her from getting hurt. Please Cinder, I trust you." Emora said firmly.
"You don't have to worry, Emora. But...I am concerned..."
"About what?" Emora asked.
"About you."
Emora smiled. She slowly embraced her friend, digging her face into his chainmail covered neck.
"You worry too much, Cinder." The Warden giggled.
"I have to. Emora, please be careful. Get out alive...Just do that much for me, okay? Do it for my sake, for the other's sake, for Airi's sake. Don't...Die..."
Emora's eyes sparkled with pure honesty.
"I'll try. Now get out of here."
The Warden watched as Cinder nodded. He turned around and started for the door.
"Wait! Uh...One last thing."
The Commander watched as Emora walked over and kissed Airi on her still lips. He let out a small chuckle, smiling warmly at the blonde Knight.
"I love you, Airi. Sleep tight."
Emora sighed, looking at Cinder with a grateful gaze. "Okay, you can go now..."
Cinder nodded. He turned towards the exit, Airi in his arms. Right before the opening of the door, he turned around, his visor covering his teary, silver eyes.
"Good luck, Emora."
The Warden nodded in response, her expression serious. With that, Cinder exited the Manor and left Emora alone.
The Warden looked at herself, frowned with frustration. No armor, no steel plates, no weapons. Just some dirty pants and boots, half of a ripped, bloody shirt, and bandages on her arms, stomach, and bruised fists.
"Zhao...Daigo..."
Emora looked at her scruffy, gritty hands. She had dried blood on her palms, her fingers and nails dirty, her knuckles red with abuse.
"I'll find you both. I won't let what happened to Kiyoshi happen to you. Zhao...I don't know if I can give you the fight you wanted...And Daigo...I hope you can come to your senses...And accept my most sincere apologies for everything I've done to ruin you..."
A single tear trickled down Emora's face, made its way past her cheek, and then dripped onto the floor from her chin.
"Because I'm not coming to kill you. I'm coming to save you.""
Fuck me. Long chapter, right? Anyways, this is the second to last one!
