Hayate Igarashi is a Tokyo rich kid who finds life extraordinarily boring, that is until his attention is gripped by the angel-faced Touma Kirigaya who ebbs him every time he looks at him. Why can's he forget about Touma?
Not only that, but one nig...
Hayate saw what happened to Jinshiro. He turned to black sand. From dust to dust.
Hayate's heart ached. Here they were again. Just like before. Once again, he had lost his chance to say goodbye. It seemed this pair of brothers were not meant for farewells. Only reunions.
"Now, now, Naguchi, don't look away."
Akira smirked at him. He was still holding Touma in a headlock.
They were still in a stalemate. Katsu did not quite seem to know which side he was on. He did not seem to like the idea of siding with either Hayate or Akira.
Katsu inhaled sharply. "Obake." She fell down from the ceiling, perching herself on his shoulder once again. "Get rid of the second King."
"No!" Touma exclaimed. Obake, of course, only listened to Katsu. She made a beeline for Hayate. Ryuu growled but with his massive size he could not enter the building. "Tenko! Protect him."
Tenko tackled Obake to the floor, snarling at her. She pinned Obake to the concrete. Her tales swished from side to side like they were swaying with the wind.
Obake shrieked. Their joined sounds of aggravation reverberated through the building. Ryuu stirred above them, making the building groan with his weight. He peered inside through the window.
"Let go of me!" Touma snapped at Akira, who still held him in a headlock.
"Would you just be quiet?"
Katsu glanced at Akira. "Let him go."
Akira sneered. He threw Touma forward, causing him to stumble. "I was never going to hurt him." Katsu's eyes narrowed on him. The truth of his words was dubious. Akira stepped back.
Katsu looked sideways, at Touma. A blue and silver katana had appeared in his hold. He unsheathed it from its scabbard. He pointed the tip at Katsu. "This needs to stop."
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Disappointment washed over Katsu's face. He closed his eyes, sighing. A katana of bronze and green appeared in his grip.
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"If you really wish to do this, then I will respect your wishes." He unsheathed his own katana.
Metal clashed against metal—blade against blade echoed through the building. The two wrestling Spirit Beasts' snarls and shrieks added to the symphony of violence.
Hayate wanted to help.
'Do not intervene.'
He glanced at Ryuu. "Why not?"
'It is not your fight. Be patient.'
Hayate dragged a hand through his hair. He watched Touma's movements. Lithe and smooth like a river. He fought just like Yuuki.
But of course, he did. They were the same but different. That was just how the cycle of reincarnation worked. One was reborn with the same soul, but a different upbringing and DNA and environment, however, there were certain things that stayed ingrained in one's body and soul.
Neither Touma nor Katsu found joy in the duel. They did not wish to fight with one another. The father and son pair were truly alike. It was like a performance, rehearsed to perfection. They neither halted nor hesitated in their dance of swords.
The rhythm of their duet became repetitive. Over and over again. Swing. Dodge. Stab. Block. Kick. Dodge. Swing. Parry.
An error occurred in their rhythm.
Touma failed to block the blade that came for his abdomen.
Hayate's eyes widened. Fear twisted his stomach. From where he stood, he was powerless.
The sword almost seemed to move in slow motion.
A type of realisation filled Katsu's eyes. His brows furrowed.
Touma thrust his sword forward. There was no block, this time. There was no pain where he should have been slashed.
Touma's eyes slowly widened.
The sword in Katsu's hand vanished.
He coughed. Blood spilled from his lips.
Touma's knuckles turned white from how tightly he gripped the hilt of his sword.
Katsu's knees buckled. Touma sank to his knees with Katsu.
"Father..."
Katsu shuddered. "It seems I have been bested."
Tenko and Obake had frozen in their struggle. They peered at their Wielders.
Obake floated to his side. She whimpered. Katsu reached out a hand to her. She took it, pressing her face to the top of his hand. "It's okay," Katsu breathed, "It is time, don't you think?" For only a moment, she stared at him, resigned. Then, Obake faded away in a cloud of blackish-green mist.
Blood dripped down from Katsu's chin. His lips were stained with the deadly colour red. He reached out a trembling hand to touch Touma's face. He smiled weakly. "I am proud of you, my son." His head fell against Touma's shoulder. His body went limp.
Touma's shoulders shook. His weapon vanished. The floodgates opened, sending tears streaking down his cheeks. "I'm sorry," he muttered through snuffles. His voice sounded like it had when he was a child, when he had accidently slapped Katsu.
Katsu's final words repeated in his mind over and over and over again. 'I'm proud of you'. Had he predicted his fate? Was there nothing he could do to make Katsu hate him?
Despite everything that transpired, Touma had loved him. Katsu was the man he had spent his first childhood looking up to. The man he developed the purest kind of adoration for. The man who protected him and comforted him and stood up for him when necessary. The man he missed when he ran away from Akagi. Katsu was his first father. And when one loses one's father, there is a special kind of sorrow and loneliness that comes to live in one's heart.
Tenko nudged Touma's arm. She sniffed his hand and licked it, providing him comfort.
Touma laid Katsu out on his back. His eyes, still open, were lightless. Traces of his smile still played on his face. Touma shook as he closed Katsu's eyelids.
"Rest well, Father," Touma said softly. His voice was steadier now.
Touma looked over his shoulder in search of Hayate.
