Kaedehara 'Kujou Killer' Kazuha

The End of the Kujou Killer

Upon hearing the name he stilled, frozen. He hardly needed the huge spikes of ice to pin him into place. There was a scratching sound, one that replicated the sharpening of a sword. Footsteps wrung out and his eyes remained cool as he watched Sasuke slowly step towards him, sword dragging along the ground. His other two friends weren't with him.

Instead of fear Kazuha only felt rage, even after all this he still hadn't managed to achieve his goal, he may be forced to face his fate but he wouldn't go without a fight.

'Sasuke' his voice came out calmer, almost void of emotion. So unnerving it caused Diluc's hair to stand up. 'You've changed'

Sasuke Hamasaki certainly had changed.

He seemed to carry the weight of the world on his shoulders, or more his waist where his new vision hung. His face was taunt and he emanated the energy of a soldier who had fought in many a war. He had matured since Kazuha had last saw him, the funny, carefree idiot was gone and in his place remained something tougher, more sinister. No less a warrior but still something so broken. Kazuha's face twisted into a satisfied sneer.

He did that, it was him who had pushed Sasuke over the edge and broke him.

'Shut up' the reply came through gritted teeth. Kazuha smiled, he may have changed considerably but he was even easier to rile up now. 

'Wonderful that we've met again, I've missed you'

'I said shut up' Sasuke kept stepping towards him, slow and deliberate. His face adopted a similar mocking smile to Kazuha's, an abrupt change from his cold fury.

'You've changed too...who would've thought? our Zuha keeping his head out a novel long enough to fall in love' 

Kazuha's smile disappeared as he felt burning humiliation wash over him. Sasuke simply laughed in response 'Why so shy now Kazuha?'

'Kaedehara' came the soft reply.

Confusion flickered on Sasuke's face before realisation morphed it back into a hard smile 'You're not worthy of that name'

'You thought I was a naive fool when I let you escape, in truth I was at first. I still harboured love for you, we were once friends, and while I couldn't give you a second chance a small part of me still wanted the world to give you one.' He paused, taking a deep breath before continuing 'That was until I saw you could never change, I blamed myself at first for those innocent lives you took in Liyue. I should have never let you get away and this time I won't.' 

He slowly lifted his sword and pointed it at Kazuha, the blade glistening in the light. 

The massive icicles that held Kazuha in place slowly inched away, enough for him to wriggle free. Sasuke smiled humourlessly 'Goodbye Kazuha'

and with that he plunged his sword into the domain floor, lighting the weathered cracks of the ground up with bursts of gold. Rock points tore through the ground in spikes towards Kazuha.

This time there was no way out.

but as sharp rocks of geo flew towards him, erupting through the stone floor of the domain. All Kazuha could think about was how Diluc would get away, he would not die without achieving his last goal, he never failed to get what he wanted.

With one last scream of rage he, instead of blocking any attacks, used his vision to throw his sword. It sliced through the air, straight for where Diluc knelt, tied and unable to move. He watched, a manic glint in his eyes as Diluc watched the sword fly towards him, close his eyes tight, showing fear for the first time. He let out a maniacal laugh at the sight.

Time seemed to freeze as he waited with bated breath for the blade to run through Diluc, straight through his heart. Jagged rocks would pierce through him any second now but he didn't care, he just waited.

His grin was wiped off his face when something, someone, blocked his vision of Diluc. Kaeya knelt in front of his brother, quickly brushing a strand of red hair out of his face. Diluc's eye's widened in panic as he frantically struggled but it was too late.

'NO' an anguish yell ripped through Kazuha, it was replaced with a bloodcurdling scream as rocky spikes tore through his body. Shrieks echoed through the domain as he felt arrows pierce through him and bolts of electro burn him.

The sword drove through Kaeya's body as he gasped in pain. Diluc let out a muffled scream, eyes wide and frantic as tears rapidly fell. Kaeya closed his eyes in pain momentarily before looking at Diluc. He looked through half lidded eyes as his face drained of colour, he managed a gentle smile 

'I..told you' he coughed, struggling to get the words out 'I...I won't let anything happen to you...' 

Diluc tore through the rope bindings with newfound strength and dove forward, catching Kaeya as he eventually collapsed, lying in Diluc's arm in a pool of his blood, fading in and out of consciousness.

'KAEYA'

The scream was guttural, sounding out from deep within his soul as he held his brother, not daring to believe it, but no matter how loudly he screamed, how hard he wished, how many times he promised that he would look after Kaeya, he wouldn't leave this time, they would be brothers once more all Kaeya had to do was stay awake, stay awake for him. No matter how much he pleaded he couldn't get his brother to keep his eyes open. 

He looked up at the scene before him as Sasuke drove his blade into Kazuha, his ears rung at the scream as he watched blood spurt onto the walls. Kazuha's head drooped and he took one last look at Diluc through wide, bloodshot eyes. They had an animalistic look in them, the last shreds of sanity gone. Kazuha choked on his own blood as Sasuke rammed the hilt of his sword into his back, forcing him into a kneeling position as blood streamed from his gaping wounds.

He forced his head up looking at Diluc, face taunt with unbridled rage despite the pain he was in. 'It was meant....to be...you' was all he managed to cough out before he gurgled up more red liquid. Sasuke still hadn't realised, he was focused on Kazuha but the sudden proclamation made him glance in Diluc's direction. Kaeya had informed him of Kazuha's strange hatred towards to Diluc, he knew already Kaeya would use his brother as bait, ensuring nothing happened to him.

His blade clattered to the ground as Kazuha's knees gave way and he slumped to the side, his eyes no longer filled with hatred, empty. Glassy and staring at nothing. 

Sobs sounded out throughout the now silent domain as Sasuke stared at his friend lie in his blood, eyes fluttering as he struggled to stay awake.

'Kaeya...' He didn't yell or scream, instead he stepped over the still body of the kujou killer and knelt by the one who gave his life for him. He reached for Kaeya's hand and watched as Kaeya struggled to turn his head. Diluc watched, face stricken as silent tears streaked down his face. Sasuke gently cupped Kaeya's face. 'It's okay, you're okay' Kaeya tried desperately to speak but choked instead as blood trickled out his mouth. Sasuke quickly shushed him 'I'll get help, Kaeya hang in there' he rose and turned sprinting out the domain.

Diluc let out a choked sob as he looked down at his brother who still had a ghost of a smile on his face. Tears mixed with blood as Diluc held a limp Kaeya in his arms.

'Why? why did you have to save me when I never saved you' His words were bitter and angry.

He blinked through his tears when he felt a soft movement. He started as Kaeya struggled painfully, managing to lift his hand high enough to gently touch Diluc's face and wipe away a tear before dropping it, exhausted.

They stayed that way, two brothers intertwined, one limp in body the other in soul as the ground stained red.