One And Only Ichi (Yuiitsu Muni No Ichi)

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"Stop this already, Arata. You can still change." Ichi backed up as Arata moved forward, stabbing the air in between them.

"Maybe you're right." Arata said with tears in his eyes. "But it's too late for that now, don't you think? I've gone this far."

Their feet slowly made its way to the train tracks, past the broken barrier. Arata swung his weapon yet again, this time grazing Ichi's arm. Ichi winced as blood trickled down his hands.

"Do you know why I've always hated you, Ichi?" Arata asked, the black flame making itself seen once more. Only the second time around, it didn't flicker away. It consumed Arata's entire being, entering his mouth and covering his eyes.

"It's because seeing you makes me hate myself. You've had it worse, why didn't you turn out like me? I almost killed you so why won't you take revenge? Everyone! Everyone chose you over me, Kai, Fumiko! But do you know what I can't stand the most? It's that I can't blame them."

"Arata, you haven't lost them." Ichi said weakly from the blood loss. "They still care about you. Start over."

Arata shook his head. "This is the end for me but it will be for you too."

Ichi froze in genuine fear. He's never seen such powerful force before. But he was awakened by a loud horn and the sound of an approaching train. Ichi whipped his head to its direction, creating an opening for Arata to lunge forward and pierce him on the gut with the knife.

Ichi felt the wind knocked out of him followed by the tearing of his skin that penetrated deep into his midriff as Arata pushed the weapon in further before abruptly pulling it out. Ichi instinctively put a hand over the area only to feel something warm and thick gushing through his fingers.

Simultaneously, the train inched closer and closer. Ichi looked down on his hand and found it covered with blood as well as radiating a white glow. Then he turned back to Arata who was trembling from what Ichi recognized to be regret.

Ichi strained to speak. "A-Arata..."

Arata started to back away but stopped when he heard voices coming from the other side. "Ichi!" They both quickly recognized Fumiko's voice. Running behind her were Kai, Chiharu along with Jiro and Felix.

Kai grabbed Fumiko as she tried to launch herself onto the train tracks. "Fumiko, no!"

The train was coming in fast, the headlights of the wagon burning brighter into the night sky. 

"Ichi!" Fumiko shouted.

"Ichi! Arata! Get out of there!" Kai yelled, not letting go of Fumiko.

"Arata!" Jiro and Felix called out, waving their hands. "Move! The train—"

Arata couldn't make out what they were shouting anymore but his eyes brimmed as he watched his friends and his cousin worriedly call out to him. Then he heard Ichi utter,

"Arata," He said difficultly. "Save your...self."

Arata turned around, the dark fog clearing from his face. "W-why would you..."

Ichi was on the verge of unconsciousness and had no hope of escaping. But a split second away from impact, he heard Arata say, "I'm sorry, Ichi." Before he felt a pair of strong hands grab him on both arms and pushed him out of the tracks.

As Ichi fell backwards, he was certain that he saw the white light extinguish the black flames surrounding Arata. Mixed emotions washed over him, sadness, relief but he couldn't stay awake.

"Aaaaaaah!" Fumiko screamed as the train raced at an incredible speed before them, the two boys disappearing from sight.

Kai and the others could only look away. The wait for the train to pass was painfully long but as the last wagon moved away, the tracks cleared and lying unconscious on the other side was Ichi in a bloody mess.

Fumiko hurriedly broke free from Kai and ran over to him, holding Ichi in her arms while crying uncontrollably. "Ichi, wake up!"

Chiharu approached Kai who was desperately glancing around. His head hung low as he realized the train had taken Arata with it. Chiharu wrapped him in a tight hug while Jiro and Felix shook their heads.

At that moment, the sound of sirens rang in the night and a look of hope crossed Fumiko's face. "Ichi, hang in there. Hang in there."