Chapter Text
Dark hair, dark eyes
Wide, bright smile
Humbling and stumbling
You fall into my arms
Bruises color your knees
There’s dirt beneath your nails
I’m worried for your injuries
But you drag me to play outside
“Brother,” you say. “I’m fine.”
Taller now
And you’ve tasted war
Our brothers lay too still
Hugging close— can’t let you go so far
You squeeze back with
A watery laugh
Glistening eyes whisper
“Brother, I’ll be fine”
For all your complaints
You nag as much as me
This illness wasn’t much a surprise
So you’re not too pleased
Father said stay from the rain
But the storm’s become a part of me
Now I’m cold and sick
And you’re really not pleased
But you wipe the sweat from my brow
And take my responsibilities
Guilt tightens my chest
You say:
“Brother I’m fine,
Don’t worry about me— for once I know how you feel”
Waggled eyebrows
You’re quick to tease
The Elders want me married
It sits ill with me
Because I like the gender
that’s the same as me
My shame is yours
And it makes me sick
So you shoo them away
“Love who you love, Brother, it’ll be okay”
A young man
And you fight everyday
But you make time to fall in love
These little prices to pay
Injuries for heartbeats
You worry when she’s away
But you catch me worrying
Smile, laugh
“Brother, I’m fine” you say.
Dark eyes bleed red
Protectiveness runs deep
You care for everyone
Their hurts and pain
You’ve become a shield
Dented and damaged
You grin at me
“Brother, I’ll be fine—
We’ll soon have peace”
We’re planning your marriage
The Clan needs an heir
You just want the wedding
And your love won’t wait another year
The battles are getting worse
And the clan’s a little weak
But you sob in the temple
Joyous as can be
I go to wipe the tears
But you catch my hands to stop me
“Brother I’m fine,
Brother, I’m so happy”
Dark hair, dark eyes
Bloodstained smile
Determination that lists away
And gaze that still whispers to me
“Brother I’ll be fine, I’ll be fine”
Gasped between clenched teeth
“I’ll be fine, I’ll be fine”
The light’s dimming
Fingers losing strength
Your wife sobs harshly
Our tears are mingling
I’m begging, I’m praying
Izuna, for once, won’t you listen to me?
You’ll be fine, you’ll be fine
It’s a promise I made
A promise I’ll keep
You’re shaking, breath hangs heavy
Doesn’t enter your lungs
You whisper “I’ll be fine”
Voice cracking like your broken ribs
“I’ll be fine”
While you die in my arms
Even before you can hold your kid
“I’ll be fine”
You whisper for the last time
Izuna you know
I always hated when you lied
Your voice haunts me
And I’m chasing your visage
Your wife’s moved on
And your child has grown away from me
There’s no one to my name
No balm to my pain
The more I look
The more you drift away
My bandage, my soul
The light of my life
I’m forgetting you
How you laughed and smiled
I’m forgetting you!
How you fought and feared
I’m forgetting you because you’re not near!
Izu, I’m losing my mind
Without you, I can’t even find air
I’ve died every moment
I awake to see I’m still here
I need you back
This life has no meaning
It’s bleak, it’s—
Your murderer doesn’t care
He’s not sorry at all
He mocks me, you know
Passionate, fiery, fierce
How dare he act like you?
He thinks me a monster
Yet all our loved ones
He steals them from me
I’ve lost them
I’ve lost you
Crazy, they call me
Cruel, it’s all they see
I’ve lost you
I’ve lost you
Izuna, how could you leave?
You didn’t make that choice
No, it was taken from you
Taken from me
And I’ll bring you back
Wipe those tears and blood with my sleeve
I’ll bring you back to me
You’ll have your world
You’ll have your peace
Everything you ever wanted
Izuna, I’ll give them to you
You didn’t have to leave
When you come back, you’ll see
And when you say “Brother, I’m fine”
This time, I’ll really believe