(Rewrite) Life & Death | Akatsuki no Yona Fanfiction

Chapter 21: Death's Curse

"Well, well," the brute said, cloak brushed away in the wind, "how lucky I must be to find you so quickly." He tutted. "Only thing... not much of a hunt, huh?"

The dancer didn't get to reply, grunting as another man punched him in the gut. As he heaved rasps to the ground, the attacker screamed as a sword flew through his arm.

He and his nub scrambled back with his buddies, eyes wide as the cloaked woman stood over their target. Her sword pointed its fresh blood at them, daring another step.

Under, Yamiyo coughed. "Mori." She hummed. "We need to ru—"

"No." They both froze as a mountainous shadow creeped over them, shivering fear through their spines. "I think... you'll stay right where you are, Kensuki."

Slowly, the siblings glanced back, and the tower of a man grinned toothy. His cloak was missing, adorned only by armor and a mug any citizen of lower Yamato would know.

Their own god of war and suffering.

The most infamous and idolized— a perfect depiction of his godly ancestor. The Warborne himself.

"General... Tensō." The man hummed; murderous discord painted on his wide toothy smile.

"Perfect. That saves us the pointless introductions," he said, adjusting his handguard, "Kensuki no Yamiyo, fugitive of Kawara, I hereby declare your formal arrest."

The dancer paled, and Mori glanced at him. Beside them, the general tisked.

"So... troublesome. A mouse finally escaped their wheel. Tsk," he breathed, regarding the fugitive before him, "that's not why I'm here though."

He stalked closer, pausing as Mori flicked out her other sword. "Not another step."

As he ticked a brow, Yamiyo cursed. "Mori— no."

Around them, more of that laughter erupted. Hearty yet... malicious. Their general, however, simply huffed a smile.

"Sweetheart, toothpicks won't do you much here," he said, grabbing the blade with his bare hand.

Eyes wide, the siblings watched as her sword shattered with a painful screech. The laughter hollered louder.

The brute, Tensō, lifted his fist, sprinkling shards like salt to the snow before them. Mori blinked up as he showed her his unharmed palm.

He smiled. "Drop them, girl," he said, voice lowering, "I don't think I need to show you what I can do to bones?"

Yamiyo blinked as her swords— what was left —crunched into the snow by his head. Slowly, she rose her hands, and the brute beamed.

"Good girl," he said, smiling before gesturing behind her with a nod. She snapped around just as soldiers, now bare of cloaks too, snatched her. "Burn her along with the village."

Yamiyo winced.

"Mori!" Eyes wide, Yamiyo jumped up only to grunt as the brute stepped to his back.

"Stay, dog." He froze, coughing as the general leaned more weight onto his back. "I wasn't jesting about the bone part."

As his breathing strained, the general peered up boorish as his men... struggled. To tie down a little girl. His face irked.

He took a breath as she stood in the center of hesitant samurai, knives bloody and plenty as she glared. A few bodies lined her persistence, plumps ready for the snow to newly bury.

The remaining standing? Kept distance as they threatened with their long spears, afraid to near any closer. Cowards.

Tensō glanced at two near him.