With and Without You (AetherxAyaka)

Chapter 37: The Thin Line Between Life and Death

It all happened in an instant.

Strings of minutes in time, connected from one intense incursion to another  made such a long period feel like a matter of seconds.

They had crossed the jump together, the three of them; They ran, though the knew it would take more than running to get the Shogunate of their backs, especially if the Raiden Shogun herself chose to pursue.

Thoma didn't say it allowed and nor did Aether or Paimon. They didn't want to think about it, but they both subconsciously did.

Weaving left and right to dodge incoming arrows and even some bouts of spears and magical incatantions.

Lighting, steel, or feather, didn't make a difference. Whether they felt the brazen heat of an intrusion from hostile weaponry didn't matter either.

They had one goal on mind. That was a goal so strong, that they were to focused on to feel anything else.

Survive.

During his faltering sprint Thoma had focused what little ability he had left on keeping his barrier around Paimon.

He was sure he could take an arrow or two if he had too, but he couldn't say the same for the fairy.

It hasn't occurred to him at some point the flying arrows had stopped at some point. It hadn't occurred to Thoma that the other person tailing behind had been gone too.

Only when he had encroached the outside of the Komore Teahouse had he realized.

His friend, whom was undoubtedly in a worse state than him, had taken the Shogunate away from Thoma and Paimon.

He took he deep breath, hoping that Aether knew what he was doing before slipping into safety...

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Aether knew exactly what he had to do, even though he was damn near spent.

Sure, Thoma would have been an excellent capture for the Shogunate. Afterall, they could steal his vision in the name of the decree. It would boost morale and if they chose to further penalize him, fear could be used as a weapon also.

But Aether knew for as long as his presence was known, Thoma was the smaller fish they wanted to fry.

Aether resembled of that which compromised the Shogun's ideal Eternity.

He was an anomaly in the system.

He was a bug that needed squashed.

For as long as he was with Thoma, the more he put his friend in danger. It was a fact, but a bitter one to swallow nonetheless.

So Aether did the selfless act everyone had known him for. The act he felt was right, even if Thoma wouldn't have agreed with it.

Aether once more threw himself head first into problems, in the hopes that it meant others didn't have to.

Its not like he had a choice anyhow. This was his burden to bare, his responsibility to take.

He had to grit his teeth past the pain and exhaustion that he already pushed him to the brink.

He had to avoid thinking too much.

What he focused on was the dissipating sound of his two friends and the profound onslaught of attacks that's had been directed towards him.

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