riptide | kyojuro rengoku

XXVI | protect

TWENTY THREE. Kyojuro counted in his head, swinging his sword repeatedly. Your legs had slight burn marks on them, but other than that, you were unscathed. Your arms moved with utmost grace as the waves had mostly evaporated his attacks. You had even lured him further in the water, letting you make out his stances.

"I don't want to fight you," His sword lowered and he spoke. You could make out the broken tone in his voice. Part of you wanted to give in; you wanted to believe in his sincerity and press your hand against his temple like you had done so many months ago in an effort to see if he was lying.

Instead, you willed yourself to fight. You didn't want to believe in Rengoku Kyojuro anymore; he was one with the Fire Village. It didn't matter anymore. To you, they were one and the same: an enemy. You swung your hand, a wave knocking him to the side as his attack faltered. He skidded on the sand, stopping swiftly.

Twenty-three strikes later, you were still standing. You were shaking too; he could tell, but you were in a far better condition than him. His entire chest felt like it was on fire and he was sure that if he tried a little less than a handful more of breathing techniques, his entire throat would be charred to nothing.

So, he settled for dodging.

Unlike you, he moved sharply. His dodges were jagged and unpredictable as he grew a rhythm for it; the speed of your waves unable to keep up with the swiftness behind his ducks and dashes. "You don't want to fight me, but you wanted to kill me. Tell me, is this how you protect your village?!"

He wasn't able to dodge this one as he braced himself, a large tide knocking him straight into a rock as he groaned. Kyojuro coughed harshly, his eyes trailing towards your figure. Just like him, you were shaking with pain. Anger, sorrow; they were one and the same and it hurt him that you didn't realize how alike you two were.

Two pawns were settled on the chessboard, both simply a move away from taking out the other. And eventually, one of the two players would smirk, murmuring a "checkmate" as the entire game came to an end. "I'm meant to protect my village," Kyojuro sharply stated. He didn't take kindly to the way you bad-mouthed his homeland.

"Then protect it!"

"I swore to protect you too!"

Your attack wavered and that was all he needed to swing forward, his sword lighting up with flames. Yet, he stopped, holding it against your chest as you coughed. The heat nearly licked at your clothes, but you knew it wasn't going to engulf you. No matter how much you denied it; you trusted him.

And still, a part of you believed that he was better than this. "Kill me," You stated as if daring him to. There was a hint of determination in his voice as he refused to set his sword down. He spoke clearly, his voice slightly raspy from the use of his Fire Breathing. "No." You laughed dryly. "Do your promises mean that much to you?"

"I'm a man of my word,"

"Did you swear to kill me?"

"I swore," Kyojuro swallowed. "I swore to protect the village. I swore to make sure Senjuro grew up in a safe place where he isn't in harms way. I cannot decide between the two of you and even if I love you, I can't bring myself to turn on my people." He spoke confidently and your breath hitched, the waves slowly diminishing.

"What do you mean?"

His expression dropped. You didn't know anything. Not a single thing about the people that raided and attacked the village for your sake, wanting to steal you away. There were numerous pirates, sailors, and all kinds of citizens that had come to attack the Fire Village believing they kept an Ocean Seer in their wake.

Yet, you knew nothing.

Kyojuro's lips parted and you murmured his name, both of you breathing heavily. "Check," He said, his voice soft as he sheathed his sword. You felt for his hand and he instantly laced his fingers with yours as your other hand moved up to his face, pressing against his temple. He wasn't lying. He meant what he said, every bit of it.

"Did I. . . put the village in danger?"

He nodded, leaning into your hand. Your heart dropped. Is this. . . is this why he had been planning on killing me all along? If he had killed me and brought my body as proof, they wouldn't be attacked anymore. He could've abandoned me too. . . "You're saying you swore to protect me, but you could've killed me before making such a promise."

You gasped, his hand sharply tugging yours as your hand pressed against his heart. "I'm human, Y/n. No matter what, I'll refuse to kill. Even if I had the strongest resolve possible, I would never be able to kill someone. The fact that it was you of all people just made the task even more impossible." He held your hand there.

You felt the pounding of his heart, the ocean stilling as you moved your other hand, both pressing against his chest. The water cooled his chest, and Kyojuro breathed a sigh of relief, his warmth seeping into your cold frame. "The world is cruel and unjust, but the people are even more so. I don't want to be one of those people to you," He said.

There was intense sincerity behind his voice and it scared you. Yes, you had been manipulated for your entire life; you wanted nothing more than to break from those chains. And now that you were given a chance to have your own freedom, it terrified you. "You already have," You pushed him slightly, but he threaded his hands over yours, pushing himself closer instead.

"Let's go back together. I'll protect you; I won't let them do anything to you and if anything happens. . . we can run away together."

Your heart pounded in your chest and as you parted your lips to answer, a gunshot rang out.