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The sound of blade against blade rang through the air. His heart beat boomed in his ears; pace accelerating with every second that passed by. He pressed his sword into her's with all his strength.
"Give it up." He couldn't tell if the Raiden Shogun had actually said that, or if it was his subconsciousness giving in. His lips formed into a snarl as he started to feel angry.
He thought of his dear friend. He thought of how he promised on his grave to stay alive for him. To live out his life for him. To get revenge. He couldn't go out the same way..
Or could he?
His hands began to shake. He was losing. Baal's sword was growing closer and closer to his neck. Adrenaline was pumping through his veins, though he was feeling weaker as the moment ticked away. His eyes clouded with tears. His brain was screaming.. Or maybe he was audibly screaming? He couldn't tell anymore.
As his legs gave out, he felt the warm grass against his back. Pain seared through his body. His head was fuzzy with confusion and shock.
"Kazuha!" His name was being called repeatedly. A man came into view. Someone familiar. Bright purple eyes beamed at him. Color drained from the man's face as he looked down at Kazuha's body.
"I- I was just- just tending to Signora's... stupid fucking wounds. She couldn't handle herself apparently. B-but I should've been here. Hell, I shouldn't have left your s-side- fuck!" Scaramouche stuttered, quite loudly. His words were muffled. Was he mumbling? Was he yelling?
"S-stop..... It's...... it's okay..." Kazuha stammered. He forced a small smile to the Balladeer, failing to reassure him. Scaramouche gently grabbed Kazuha's limp body, holding him close. Scaramouche was warm. Kazuha melted into his arms; unintentionally, but not regrettably. He blankly stares into the boy's face. He felt a hand touch his cheek. It took him a second to realize it was Scaramouche's. He stroked Kazuha's cheek lightly, tears starting to roll down his own.
"You're gonna be okay.. You..... Oh.. Okay... I'm here...." He choked. Kazuha couldn't help but smile, closing his eyes in the process.
"S...Scaramouche..." He painfully spoke.
"Yes, I'm here. I'm listening."
Kazuha weakly opened his eyes once more. His arms felt like they weighed a thousand tons. He struggled to push his hand up to Scaramouche's face. He held it there for a second. The harbinger's face twitched with fear, sadness. His body was burning with anger.
"I love you." Kazuha said, breathily. A hot tear fell down his bloodied skin. Yet the smile never left his lips. Scaramouche gaped at him, tears coming down faster,
"I-I l-love you, Kazuha. God, I love you so much. Fuck you." He buried his face into Kazuha's hair. He breathed in his scent; salty ocean water, faint caramel. Oh how he loved his smell. He felt Kazuha chuckle lightly under him, but shortly after wince in pain.
Scaramouche shot a glare in Raiden's direction. She stood, a few feet from the two men, sword in hand. Not an ounce of emotion on her face.
"You've changed. You've changed for the worse, sister." He yelled at her. Tears stung in his eyes as they threatened to pour down his face once again.
"Eternity is the onl-"
"Shut your mouth." He said sternly. The tone of his voice almost frightening Kazuha. Scaramouche turned his glance back towards the wounded boy, giving him a soft peck on the head.
"Hold on for a bit longer. Please." He begged, carefully placing Kazuha onto the ground under him.
He then stood, electricity fuming in his palm. He faced Raiden. Kazuha's eyes widened.
"N-no!" He coughed blood. "Sca- Scaramouche don't! Plea-" More coughing. Scaramouche shot him a look. It seemed like lightening struck within his pupils. His face was almost as emotionless as the Shogun's had been when she gave her strike to his chest.
"Please. I can't lose you too." Kazuha said in barely audible whisper.
"Worry about yourself, idiot!" Scaramouche screamed. Kazuha heard the sound of battle not far from where he lay. "Get up, get up, get up." His brain said over and over, the words burned into his head. He tried to push himself off the ground. A sharp pain in his abdomen caused him to gasp and fall back down. He wanted to help. He wanted to defeat her, take revenge. And with Scaramouche by his side. He felt useless. He felt like he hadn't truly tried his best. He could've done better. All the years of training just to be taken out the same way Tomo had been.
He looked up into the dark sky. Lightening struck and thunder boomed above him. His eyes fluttered.
Time felt as if it was moving in slow motion, though his own time bomb was ticking away.
He felt a thud against the ground near by. Something gripped his hand. He turned his head, only to see those purple eyes once again, not shining so brightly any longer.