Shifting Times | One-Shot Collection |

Hesitation

Synopsis: You would think during a fight that if your opponent suddenly hesitated to hit you, you'd use that to attack them. Mitsuzane had thought that too, but yet somehow that hesitation made him do the same and now he had to face his mistakes and try to fix them instead of continuing to run away like he had been

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Mitsuzane was expecting everything except what had happened. When he had met up with Takatora to finally settle things, he had expected the outcome to be one of them not making it out of the battle alive. He had hoped it would be him who succeeded, but he knew there was always a chance he'd fail to defeat his brother due to the difference in their strengths.

However, when he had been knocked down and was trying to get up, Takatora had rushed forward. Mitsuzane had fumbled for his own weapon to try and deflect, but instead of any of that happening, Takatora had paused. His sword was inches from Mitsuzane and was slightly shaking.

Mitsuzane moved to retaliate while he had the chance, but found his own hands to be trembling as he touched his driver. He couldn't get his hand to move anymore to begin his finisher. The brothers stared at each other. Even though their faces were hidden by their masks, it was obvious both were struggling to actually find the will to kill the other.

Takatora lowered his sword to the ground. He undid his transformation. There was a slight look of pain in his eyes as he gazed back at Mitsuzane.

Mitsuzane shakily reached and undid his transformation as well. Tears were threatening to spill from the corners of his eyes. This wasn't how things were supposed to end. He was supposed to kill Takatora and finally be free of everything he had been forced to endure because of him. Why did he fail? How did he fail? Why had Takatora stopped? Why was this not going as planned anymore?

"Nii-san..." Mitsuzane lowered his gaze.

Hands were placed on his shoulders. "I'm sorry... this is all my fault. I'm the reason you went down this path..."

"Nii-san... what do I do...? I've messed up a lot..." Mitsuzane whispered.

As much as he didn't want to ask Takatora for help, Mitsuzane didn't know what else to do. He had made so many mistakes. He had hurt everyone he had been trying to protect. Would any of them be able to ever look at him again if they learned he had almost killed his brother as well?

Why did all these regrets have to surface now? Why couldn't he keep pushing them away? Why couldn't he have just finished this fight and killed Takatora? Why did his plan crumble? Why couldn't he just do one thing for himself?

"I don't know, Mitsuzane." Takatora replied after a long silence. "I'm not sure how to fix any of this anymore. All I can say is we need to stop the overlords right now. Once they're gone, the rest will be easier to figure out how to fix. Okay?"

"Do you hate me, nii-san?" Mitsuzane hesitantly looked up at him.

"No. I don't hate you." Takatora replied.

Takatora stood up and held out his hands to Mitsuzane. After a long pause, Mitsuzane took his hands and let him pull him up. They stood still for a while longer again.

Mitsuzane walked closer to Takatora. Without a word, he hugged him tightly. Takatora returned the hug.

Mitsuzane hated this. Hated how he still deep down wanted his older brother. He was the only one who ever had shown him much love. Their parents had always been too busy. Takatora was the only one he ever truly trusted. And now look at where they were.

...

Mitsuzane didn't know what to do still. Takatora had eventually convinced him to come home. Mitsuzane had locked himself in his room. He didn't want to face Takatora anymore right now. Not while his emotions were such a mess.