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It still didn't feel real. How had this been the way everything had to end? Why couldn't he ever seem to just be able to do something right without anyone getting hurt? Was he cursed to have to witness suffering as hard as he tried to prevent it?
Takatora let out a sigh as he stared back at where Masahito had taken his final breath, if you could call it that. This wasn't what he had anticipated at all when he first came here. The past really seemed to want to haunt him.
He walked through the corridors, having one place he still needed to see. He couldn't finish this job until he had done one last thing.
Takatora entered the area where a certain someone lie. He stood at the entrance for a moment, and then slowly walked over to where Kagemasa laid on the ground. Takatora stepped around the blood that had flown down the ground and knelt beside the younger boy.
He paused. Why did it... it couldn't be. He was seeing things. But...
He swore he could faintly make out Kagemasa breathing. It was barely noticeable at all, which made him doubt what he was seeing. Takatora placed a hand on Kagemasa's neck and froze as he in fact felt a sign of life.
The freeze up only lasted for seconds. He quickly jumped into action, cautiously scooping the boy into his arms and making his way to the others. Hopefully... hopefully there was a way to save him still.
Everyone was running around, starting to repair the damages. A few sent glances at Takatora as he walked, but no one stopped him. Did they even know who he had in his arms right now?
Takatora found what seemed to be the temporary clinic and headed in. There were a lot of people he didn't know there. But, the designated nurses took charge as he entered.
He stammered out a brief explanation of what was wrong with Kagemasa, keeping his identity as best a secret he could. The boy was taken off of him and quickly treated. Takatora watched them work, feeling a little anxious.
Would they be able to save him? After everything this kid had been through, he deserved a chance to live a better life. Please...
Takatora had no idea how long it was. The nurses did what they could and told him they'd just have to wait and see. Takatora had stayed by his side, letting those in charge of his mission here know he might be a bit late to leave. He couldn't leave unless he knew the fate of Kagemasa.
Time passed, and eventually exhaustion took over. He hadn't even realized he fell asleep until he was being woken up. He had been disturbed by the sound of muffled crying.
Takatora opened his eyes, expecting it to be some other person stuck in this clinic who got upset or maybe was hurting too much again. Instead, he found Kagemasa had woken and curled onto his side, burying his face into the pillow and crying.
"Kagemasa...?" Takatora spoke quietly, not wanting to startle him or disturb anyone else around.
The crying stopped and there were now too eyes staring at him. Tears were still streaming down his face. Takatora moved to get level with him, which ended with him kneeling on the floor.
"I'm... alive?" Kagemasa asked quietly, his voice shaking.
Takatora nodded, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Yes. You're alive. It's quite a miracle you survived that."
Kagemasa looked away. "I don't want to be alive..."
"Why not?"
"I have nothing left... there's no reason to keep living... I'm all alone..." The tears were getting worse.
Takatora had to take a minute to figure out his reply. It was true. Kagemasa's family was pretty much gone. At least, his immediate family was confirmed to all be deceased now. Takatora didn't know the details about any extended family and wasn't sure if he should pry. So what did he say...?
"I... I know you've lost everything. I'm sorry I can't change that." He said, "I know we got off on the wrong foot but, I will help you. If you'll let me."
"You can't bring my family back."
"I know... but I can offer you a second family."
Kagemasa looked at him warily. "A second family...?"
Takatora nodded. "You can come with me, if you want. I think I owe it to you to offer my home as yours."
Kagemasa looked away again and seemed to be pondering his options. Takatora hoped he would agree. He could probably leave him here with everyone else, but wasn't sure if everyone would accept him here. It was safer for him to start anew somewhere away from this place of trauma.
"You... mean it?" Kagemasa asked quietly, trying to finally rid his face of tears.
"I do. I know I can't replace your family, but I can be there as well." Takatora replied.
"I... I'm willing to... try."
Takatora nodded. "Then... once the nurses say you can get up, we'll leave here together. Okay?"
Kagemasa nodded. He seemed nervous at the prospect, but also seemed ready. Takatora just hoped he'd be able to give him what he needed. He hadn't exactly done the best job with Mitsuzane. Hopefully this time he could do a little better.
He knew it wasn't going to be easy. Kagemasa had a lot he needed to work through. He had just lost his family. Been almost killed by his brother. He was going to need time to process everything.
But, Takatora was hopeful things would work out. At least he had enough friends back home that maybe knew how to handle someone like this better than him. If he did struggle, he hoped someone else would know what to do instead. This might be a bit of a group effort by the end of this.
And hopefully Mitsuzane wouldn't mind getting a sudden new addition to the family like this.