絆 | bond | gojo satoru

じゅうはち | eighteen

絆 | kizuna | bond

18

THE MOON HUNG IN THE SKY LIKE A BLOODSHOT SENTINEL, casting an eerie crimson hue upon the relentless rain that poured from the heavens. Each raindrop felt like a painful reminder of the world's cruelty, and yet, Yuri ran barefoot through the muck and the mire, her tattered clothes clinging to her battered body. She sprinted toward the hidden sanctuary, her heart pounding with desperation, not caring about the filth and blood that marred her skin.

Entering the concealed refuge, Yuri's frantic eyes scanned the dimly lit space, desperately searching for him. Her breaths came in ragged gasps, and her voice trembled as she screamed his name, "Satoru!" She fell to her knees beside him, her heart aching as she took in the extent of his injuries.

Satoru lay sprawled on the ground, his body mangled and bloodied. His groans of pain sent shivers down Yuri's spine as she gazed upon him. His injuries were a gruesome tableau of brutality, with deep lacerations, broken bones, and blood oozing from multiple wounds. His once-handsome face was marred by a swollen eye and a split lip, and his clothes were torn to tatters. It was a grotesque testament to the savagery inflicted upon him.

But as Yuri knelt beside him, her anger and grief threatening to consume her, Satoru mustered a smile through the pain. His trembling, bloodied hand reached out to cup her cheek, his voice barely more than a whisper as he said, "Y-You finally came."

Yuri's eyes welled with tears, but they were not tears of relief. She couldn't comprehend the depths of cruelty that humans could sink to. Ignoring his words, she coldly asked, "Was it the bounty hunters who did this to you?"

Satoru shook his head slightly, a pained expression on his battered face. "Zenin," he managed to utter, his voice strained.

Yuri's heart seemed to shatter into a million pieces. "Zenin," she spat out the name with venom. "Fucking Zenin!" Her voice trembled with rage and despair. The Zenin clan had already taken Akira from her, and now they had ruthlessly torn Satoru apart.

Satoru, despite his excruciating pain, finally realized the depth of Yuri's suffering. He looked deep into her eyes, recognizing the tumultuous storm of emotions that raged within her. He gently squeezed her cheek, an unspoken reassurance that he was here with her.

As he examined her disheveled appearance, his gaze fell upon a single strand of crimson in her beautiful raven hair. It was a symbol of the ceremonial ritual she had undertaken, a path he knew was fraught with danger and sacrifice. Despite the agony he endured, a faint smile graced Satoru's lips. "It suits you," he whispered, his voice filled with tenderness. "I like it."

Yuri's tears fell freely now, mingling with the rain that continued to pour, as the weight of her losses and the depth of her emotions overwhelmed her. In Satoru's presence, she found solace amidst the chaos, a momentary respite from the torment of their world.

Yuri's voice trembled with guilt and anguish as she looked down at Satoru, his battered form a cruel testament to the violence that had befallen him. She took a deep breath, her words heavy with sorrow. "Satoru," she began, her voice barely above a whisper, "You shouldn't have met me. None of this would've happened if we hadn't crossed paths in that cursed forest."