Hoshi : Insurrection

Chapter 18 : A fortuitous reunion.

In someone's head a bittersweet memory emerged,

A boy was getting beat up by a bunch of bullies of the same age range. He was lying on the ground shielding his vital organs with his limbs as he was constantly getting kicked. He was sobbing the entire time and was desperately awaiting someone to save him. They were in a small alleyway where no adult was around to reprimand them.

"Tamura?" An older boy noticed the oppression as he was walking past the alleyway.

He came running towards the bullies and punched one in the face, throwing him back. The others diverted their attention towards the new boy and all lashed out on him at the same time. Despite sustaining an abundance of injuries, the boy's persistence and undying spirit made him win the fight to drive the bullies away.

The older boy smiled as he forwarded his hand towards young Tamura.
"Good thing I was nearby, let's go home now."

"Brother. They seriously hurt you. Why did you jump in knowing you would end up like this?" young Tamura asked, looking at his brother's fresh abrasions and bruises.

"Huh? What kind of question is that dummy? I am your big brother! And I can't let my favourite little brother get bullied like that," the older boy replied as his eyes brightly shined.

"But I am your only little brother." Young Tamura pouted.

"That's right." The older boy chuckled but the sudden pain from his bruises made him stop a moment later.

"If only I wasn't so weak and worthless. You would laugh as much as you wanted," said Tamura as he stood up.

"You are not weak. You love all types of life and have a good heart. That's something even the meanest looking people don't have. I will save you from every danger forever because you are the only one who makes me laugh and forget my pain every time." The older boy hugged the younger one.

"(Big brother.. All this time you were the one who always saved me. Even when I killed all those warriors and was sentenced to death you went out of your way and tried to give me a new life. Just let me save you this time.)"

Tamura constantly coughed up blood and found it difficult to breathe for some time as his hands shook.

"You. Why did you?" Erashi was still perplexed.

After a few seconds of silence, Tamura took a deep breath once he stopped coughing and spoke, "I couldn't let him kill my favourite big brother."

"What are you saying? Let who? Don't tell me...," Erashi stuttered.

"I am glad I got to talk to you one last time." Tamura looked up to reveal his soft smile to Erashi.

A few tears escaped Erashi's eyes as he slowly moved towards Tamura.

"What is going on here? Why have they all frozen like that?" Hirishima unsettled.

"Hirishima! Look." Subaru pointed at a guard who began turning into ashes.

"Are they all..." Hirishima looked around and noticed more guards sharing the same fate.

"Save me, I don't want to die!"
"Please, I never asked for this."
"I am going to die? Why? My life can't be that short."
"Please! Save me!"
Barely Audible voices originated from the fading guards.

"Are they asking for our help?" Kieri mused.

"They really were being controlled beyond their will, poor bastards." Xiang got up to his feet.

"Please, let me see my son once."
"Sir Tamura why did you do this to us?"
"Please sir! Save my life!"
Before fully fading away a few guards crawled up to the two elite warriors' feet.