~.~
[Kamui]
[Get stronger]
[In order to protect them]
[Your mother and your little sister]
[You have to get stronger]
I will, Dad
[Kamui]
[You have to take care of your little sister]
[As her big brother, you have to protect her]
[As a family, you'll have to stick together]
[Always]
[Promise me, Kamui]
[I know it's selfish]
[But you're not only my son]
[You're a man whom I'm so proud already]
[Please, promise me you will]
[This is your Mami's last wish]
I promise I will, Mom
[I'm sorry, Kamui]
[I made you carry such heavy burdens on such a small back]
I'm a man already
[Please]
[Don't force yourself anymore]
But— Look at me, Mom!
[It's okay to live the way you want]
I've gotten stronger!
[I thought I told you to get stronger, Kamui]
I AM stronger, Dad!
[You're mistaken about what strength is]
…But—!
[Quit those absurd fights of yours]
It's not—
[Don't be reckless]
I didn't—
[Learn to wield your power]
…
[Or it will be your undoing]
…how?
How could you know about my 'fights'?
How could you know about my 'strength'?
HOW COULD YOU KNOW ANYTHING WHEN YOU'RE NOT EVEN HERE!?
[Kamui…]
Stop
[My dear Kamui…]
Stop it!
[Mami is really tired…]
I SAID STOP IT!
WHY IS NO ONE EVER LISTENING TO ME?!
*GASP*
Kamui jolted as he woke up, his body in sweat and heart racing.
It had been ages since the last time he had dreams -or nightmares to be exact- about his parents. So many years already, but apparently not enough for him to forget.
He remembered the pressure they had put on him with their selfishness as if it was yesterday...
Trapped between the last wishes of his dying mother and the never-ending expectations of his father always absent, crushed under the weight of his own weaknesses, confused by his feelings...
Well, even if sometimes, the past was still trying to hunt him down, Kamui could still escape its claws thanks to his sist—
"Kagura!"
Hurry! He had to hurry and save her before it'd be too lat—
"Huh?"
Looking around him, he realized that he was in a cell, both his ankles and wrists bound with heavy handcuffs. These walls and room... he could tell he was into the prison of the Harusame's stronghold.
-I see you're finally awake~ How do you feel?
The redhead glared at his jailer, the idiot and sickening Abo Admiral.
-Where is she…? He growled at the Amanto.
-Huh? She? Who ar—
-My sister. Hissed the redhead. Where. Is. She?
The green Amanto frowned. That woman was a real pain... Even now that he had finally achieved to get rid of her, she was still putting a spoke in his wheel...
What could he do to make his lovely Kamui forget about that disgusting creature?
-Don't worry about it, he reassured with a smile.
Slowly, he extended his arm beyond the bars of the cell to stroke the pale and flawless skin of the Yato.
-I'm sure she's feeling better where she is now~
Blue eyes narrowing with both rage and disdain, Kamui didn't want to acknowledge what these words possibly implied, but the memories of the girl smiling while blood seeped from the corners of her lips flashed in his mind...
Kagura? Falling on the battlefield?
No.
She was a Yato and a damn strong one, perhaps even stronger than himself, so how could someone like her lose against some mere bullets?
Kamui would never admit such a thing even possible.
His little sister was not dead.
Not before he had tried everything in order to save her, and certainly not before he was dead himself!
Why? Simply because anyone wishing— no, anyone even thinking of harming one of her hair would have to kill him first.
Before the Admiral could even graze one of his watermelon-colored hairs, the Yato bit one of the creature's fingers so hard that the strength in his jaw cut both the flesh and the bones.
Screaming in pain, the Admiral abruptly drew back his bleeding hand and Kamui spat the limb back at his owner's face.
He snorted, wondering if that Amanto was descending from some porcine breed as its cries sounded like a big fat pig.
-I love Kagura. And if I have to slaughter every fucking being in this universe to find her… then that's what I'm gonna do, he growled. You may try to lock or chain me down, he warned with a smirk, but know that nothing will ever stop me.
Somehow, the alien's greenish skin seemed to have turned red with anger, reminding Kamui of smoked ham. Quite funny, to be honest.
-So you're finally admitting that incestuous relationship of yours?!
-Oh? Did I ever deny it? He blinked, incredulous.
-Tch! How disgusting! Spat the Amanto. And here I was ready to make an exception for—
Abo's words died on his tongue at the sight of the Yato rising on his feet.
Slowly closing the distance to a minimum despite his indestructible jail and the handcuffs restraining his ankles, Kamui showed a wide and creepy grin which made the Amanto instinctively take a step back.
-Dare to repeat these words in my face without all these things to hold me down~? Teased playfully the redhead.
Abo gulped, cold sweat running down his spine while cerulean and deadly eyes shot glares at him.
-Disgusting? Chimed Kamui. A man and a woman, even among siblings are still following the nature's laws. A man and another man on the other hand… this is truly disgusting in my opinion…
-Yo-You won't understand, anyway! Retorted the Amanto.
-So it seems~! Cheered the Yato. But… tell me something, he began, are you usually the one being ass-fucked or the one doing it…? Just curious~
Abo flushed even redder than he already was and if Kamui had first thought of a roasted pig, he was now imagining his Admiral as a boiled lobster.
-Rejoice! Exclaimed Abo. You won't have to do anything to retrieve that sister of yours because I am the one who'll send you to her… in Hell, that is!
If the Yato would have normally skinned raw the one daring to even say such nonsensical and conceited words aloud, this time though, he kept calm and remained unfazed.
-Heeeeh~ is that so? He sneered. So kind of you, Admiral~! How many days until our lil' party?
-This'll be your execution Kamui, not a party! Launched Abo.
-Whatever~ Shrugged the redhead.
Locking his glare on his superior, he repeated -in a cold and menacing voice- his previous question once again.
-How many days?
-Three, retorted the Admiral. Enjoy your last three days in this world!
With this, the Amanto walked away and let the redhead alone in his cell.
Kamui's cheerful expression fell like a mask.
He couldn't believe it.
Was it really true? Was Kagura really...
Did she really leave for good...?
How could it be...?
How Kagura, how his precious little sister, how the woman he loved so deeply could just... die?
Protecting Kagura at the cost of his own life was -in Kamui's eyes- his utmost duty.
Because he was her big brother? –Indeed
Because he promised to their mother that he would? –Perhaps
Because he was in love with her? –Obviously
Because he was her Captain? –Right
But not only. Because since long ago, Kamui had made up his mind...
Back then, the kid that he once was cared deeply for his family and, perhaps because he had always taken care of his little sister from the moment their mother had fallen ill -means since the baby girl's youngest age- the big brother couldn't even think of letting her alone. Their bond was already far too strong to be broken.
On the day their Mami died, though, Kamui's promise died along with her. Because on that same day, all his beliefs fell into pieces. His heart and will crumbled apart. And his hatred toward their father exploded in an uncontrollable outburst.
On the other hand, the boy made a new promise. One that he swore to himself.
The loss of his mother was great and painful. So painful that he just couldn't –and wouldn't- imagine an even greater one by possibly losing Kagura, his most treasured half.
So no, Kamui would never leave his sister's side.
Yes, he would always take care of her. Yes, he would always protect her. Yes, he would always stay with her.
That was now his oath.
And in order to carry out the task, the boy would need to become stronger and he knew it could never be achieved by staying in this 'home' where he didn't feel welcome anymore...
From this point began the two Yato kids' journey among the Harusame and its 7th division.
Together, the siblings had shared tears.
Soon, they shared blood on battles.
Then, they treated the wounds of their bodies in the same room, and those of their hearts in the same bed.
Yet Kamui's new pledge was neither a proof of bravery nor strength. It was only due to his own selfishness and fears. Reasons for which the girl had to pay a heavy price...
Because of him, the kind and smiling little Kagura had killed.
Because of him, the pure and innocent Kagura had sinned.
Because of him, the strong and beautiful Kagura had grown into one of the most infamous villains in the universe.
And because no one -the Gods, his mother, or even himself- would ever forgive him for soiling such a clean soul, Kamui had long decided to offer his life in exchange of hers. Even if his worthless soul would surely not make the weight against all the blames whom he was the cause...
But in the end, none of this would make a difference because the truth is that he had miserably failed.
Kagura was gone.
She left him behind like the stupid Captain, the useless brother, and the weak man that he was.
Yes.
Kagura was dead.
And it was Kamui's fault.
Again.
Always.
Void filled both his gaze and chest.
Three days.
Three damn days to endure that killing pain all alone in this doomed world.
Three damn days before to meet back with his beloved one into another world.
Three damn days before to die in his turn.
"Forgive me, Sis'… I'll be here soon"
Recalling about a certain hairy and grumpy old Yato, Kamui laughed nervously.
-Ha ha~ I'm sure Abuto will complain again when he'll learn about it…!
-So you really intend to kill him, Admiral Abo? Inquired the samurai. Such a skilled man… what a shame.
-I don't have the choice anymore! If your men hadn't killed that woman, then perhaps Kamui wouldn't try to kill me!
-Forgive me Admiral, but you did order the Kihetai to kill her, and so we did. I even paid the price of losing one talented subordinate, you know?
-As if I'd care! Scolded the Amanto. You'll gain all these Yatos to lead in exchange, so stop complaining!
-I wonder about that… Will these men really obey the one who took their leaders' life so easily…?
-Yatos aren't even 'men' to begin with… they're beasts! Give them a target or a battlefield and they'll follow you everywhere! Plus, Abuto is still alive if I recall correctly. That one could easily replace that dead subordinate of yours, Takasugi.
The samurai hummed with a nod.
"If I can control all these Yatos… then nothing would stop me in destroying the Bakufu and crushing this country! After that, why not taking that dear Admiral's place to conquer outer space…?"
From his lone eye, the samurai looked at the stupid and doomed Amanto. A crooked smile on his lips, he was already scheming his next plan...
Please, don't cry everyone and above all; don't hate me! (T_T)
I know this was a sad chapter but I hope you still enjoyed it.
Next one might take some time but it'll come eventually, so bear with it.
I apologize if some of you felt offended by Kamui's words.
Please, remember that this is just a fiction, it doesn't reflect my real thoughts as I have no rights to judge someone's sexuality. I don't have anything against homosexuality and simply needed arguments regarding Kamui & Kagura's relationship to counter Abo's accusations.