Chapter 31: Last Hope
TETSU'S POV
I don't know what overcome me as I began my training with Ryouma. Somehow, I found myself lost in my own thoughts. No matter how much I tried to concentrate I couldn't keep my mind straight. Memories flashes before my eyes like an instant replay of a movie my dad and I used to watch every Saturday night. I found myself even more lost in them than ever before.
That night, I watched my comrades' fall one by one. A deep pain rushed through my body within a short length of time. My heart rate accelerates increasingly. Blood glide down from the side of my head. A few stream glide down from my hands and chest, though they were not my own, I could still imagine how painful it is. My heart beat accelerate even more as the last enemy goes down. Above the corpse, a single soldier stood its ground protectively. It wasn't until the moon comes up that I discovered the shocking truth.
Tears overflow my eyes as I reach out towards the unmoving soldier. My trembling feet started to move slightly forward. Step by step, my heart sank lower and lowers until nothing was left. Upon reaching the corpse, I touched its face. A dead drop of tears glides down from its face in a pace that requires elegant that only he would have. The bloody sword in my grip fell to the side with a thud, yet his sword remains with him; in the grip of his hand where it was always meant to be from the day they were born. Even in different times, they remain together.
I pried the sword away from him as tears fall. "I promise," I paused to regain my senses, "I promise I would," I paused again to hold back my tears, "I would do the… honor…" I choked the word out, "to take part… in your seppuku."
Lowly my head and got down on my knees, I gave my last respect to one of the most important people in my life. With a single quick slash, his head was detached from his body. Blood spurted out everywhere. Some manages to get on my face. A single drop of blood manages to get on my forehead and onto the ground, and with it, my tears escaped my eyes.
"Hi-Hijikata-san…" was the last time I ever spoken that name.
NORMAL POV
Ryouma stopped in his track as he noticed the dripping tears coming down the little one's face. Tetsu gripped the bamboo sword tightly in his clench fist as he cry. Ryouma approaches him, "Are you ok?"
Before he could consider waiting for the boy's answered, Tetsu fled from the dojo and dash off. "H-Hey!" he called after him.
Tetsu rush down the hallway as quickly as he could. Tears were still coming and it was hard concentrating all his strength in this. I don't know why, but that memory is trying to tell me something. I have to stop Hijikata-san before he goes. I don't know why, but I must! I have to! "Hijikata-san!" he shouted as he came to a stop outside Hijikata-san's door. He quickly slides it open, "Hijika-"he was cut short when he found it empty. Adrenaline rushes through his veins. A deep fear grows rapidly through him within a short amount of time. No!
He left the empty room and dash towards the main gate of the dojo. Tears were forming again as he ran. There's no way Hijikata-san would leave without a good-bye right? He thought for sure Hijikata-san would come say good-bye before. He thought before was only to tell him. He couldn't have already left could he? Please!
He swung the main gate open as he burst through. Hijikata-san nor the car was there. The only ones there were Yamanami-san and Akesato-san. They turned to him and gave a sad smile, "Oh, Hijikata-san left already. You're a little too late, Tetsu-kun."
His leg finally gave out and he sunk to the ground with tears. Once again, he couldn't stop anything. Once again, he was left behind like back then until he lost everything completely. "Tetsu-kun?" Akesato-san asked quietly as she knee down beside him. No answered. She turns to Yamanami-san with a concerned look.
"What's going on?" Ryouma asked as he finally appeared through the halls. Everyone looks up except Tetsu. Once again… I lost. With that, Tetsu drop the last ray of hope.