The Last Bargain

Chapter LI: A Bargain

Raito's breath came in ragged gasps as he hit the ground, skidding across the dirt before rolling to a stop. He groaned, forcing himself onto his hands and knees, his heart pounding in his chest. He barely had time to process what had just happened when the realization hit him like a hammer to the gut.

"Shin!" he shouted, turning his head toward the gate that was now closing, the swirling portal shrinking with each passing second. Zento landed beside him, still reeling from the sudden throw, his eyes wide with confusion.

"What... what just happened?" Zento gasped, pushing himself to his feet. His heart was racing, every nerve in his body on edge. "Did Shin just—"

"He threw us out," Raito interrupted, his voice tight with disbelief. He rose unsteadily, his eyes fixed on the now-closed gate. His mind struggled to catch up with the truth of what had just occurred. "Shin... he's still in there."

Zento clenched his fists, his body trembling with adrenaline and confusion. "Why would he do that? What the hell is he thinking?"

Raito's gaze darkened, the realization slowly sinking in. "He knew." His voice was low, filled with a mix of frustration and despair. "He knew we wouldn't have made it if we all stayed. So... he stayed behind."

For a moment, silence stretched between them. The weight of Shin's actions, the sacrifice he had just made, hung in the air like a leaden cloak. Zento's heart sank, and his hands balled into fists, shaking with helpless anger.

"He... he's not coming back, is he?" Zento's voice was quiet now, filled with an overwhelming sense of loss.

Raito didn't answer right away. His eyes remained fixed on the gate, a thousand thoughts racing through his mind. Shin had made the choice without warning, without giving them a chance to protest, and now they were on the other side—alive, but without their friend.

Before Raito could respond, a brilliant light suddenly split the sky, casting the landscape in an ethereal glow. Both Raito and Zento's heads snapped toward the source, their eyes widening as beams of light shot down from the heavens, illuminating the lands in the distance.

"Look!" Raito exclaimed, pointing toward the horizon.

...

In the gods' domain, the atmosphere crackled with divine energy. The Seven Lucky Gods closed in around Shin, their eyes filled with a mixture of fury and disbelief. Bishamonten stepped forward, his naginata raised high, the blade gleaming with deadly intent.

"You dare stay behind?" Bishamonten growled, his deep voice echoing through the vast domain. The other gods, their forms radiating power, surrounded Shin, prepared to strike.

But Shin remained calm. His face was expressionless, his body still as he stood alone before the gods. He didn't flinch, didn't show a hint of fear. He had made his choice.

Before Bishamonten could strike, the god who had offered the failsafe earlier raised his hand, his voice cutting through the tense atmosphere. "Wait," the god commanded, his tone firm. Bishamonten paused, his eyes narrowing as he glanced at the other god.

The air grew heavy with anticipation as the gods waited for an explanation. The lead god, his eyes fixed on Shin, stepped forward. "You have stayed behind willingly," he said, his voice calm but laced with curiosity. "Why? What are you here for?"

Shin met the god's gaze, his voice unwavering. "I'm here to bargain."

...

The light pouring from the heavens grew stronger, casting long shadows across the land as Raito and Zento stared in disbelief. They rushed toward the source, their feet pounding against the earth as they made their way toward the once-erased estates. What they saw took their breath away.

In the distance, where the lands had once been swallowed by the gods' erasure, the estates had returned. The buildings, the lands, and—most importantly—the people. They were back.

Zento's heart leapt in his chest as he saw familiar figures moving in the distance. His family, the Dassou clan, all of them restored as if nothing had happened. He stumbled forward, his eyes wide with shock. "The estates... they're back. The people, everything—"

Raito's eyes swept over the scene, his mind racing. The Kasetsu clan estates were standing tall once more, their structures gleaming in the soft light. People were emerging from the buildings, confused but unharmed, as if waking from a long dream.

"He did it," Raito whispered, his voice filled with awe and disbelief. "Shin... he brought them all back."

Zento stood beside him, his chest tightening as the full weight of what had just happened crashed down on him. "But how?" Zento's voice trembled with emotion. "How could he...?"

Raito's gaze darkened, his hands clenching into fists as the truth slowly became clear. "He stayed behind to bargain with the gods," he muttered, his tone heavy with understanding. "He sacrificed himself to bring them all back."

Zento's face paled as the realization hit him like a physical blow. Shin had done it—he had given up his life to restore everything they had lost. The weight of the sacrifice, the enormity of what Shin had done, pressed down on him, leaving a hollow ache in his chest.

"He knew what he was doing," Raito said quietly, his voice thick with grief. "He knew from the start that this was the only way."

The two of them stood in silence, their eyes fixed on the restored estates, their hearts heavy with the knowledge that Shin had given everything to bring them back. There was no going back. Shin was gone, and they would never see him again.

Several days later, a solemn funeral was held in Shin's honor. Both the Dassou and Kasetsu clans gathered to pay their respects, the long-standing rivalry between the families forgotten in the face of their shared grief. The skies were overcast, a light rain falling over the assembled crowd as they stood in silent reverence.

A shrine had been built in Shin's memory, a symbol of his ultimate sacrifice. The shrine stood tall, its simple design a reflection of the man who had given his life to save them all. Around it, flowers bloomed, their colors vibrant against the gray sky.

Zento stood at the front of the crowd, his heart heavy with sorrow. He had lost a friend, a brother in arms. Shin had been with him through everything—through every trial, every battle. And now, all that remained was the memory of the man who had saved them.

Raito stood beside him, his expression somber, his eyes cast down. Shin had been more than just a comrade—he had been the glue that held them all together, the one who had never stopped believing in what was right, even when the odds were against them.

As the final words of the funeral were spoken, Zento felt the weight of Shin's absence more acutely than ever. The rain fell softly, a quiet, unspoken acknowledgment of the hero they had lost. Shin had been the one to make the ultimate sacrifice, the one who had bargained with the gods to restore what had been taken.

And now, they would carry on without him.

As the clans dispersed, Zento and Raito remained, standing before the shrine in silence. Zento closed his eyes, his mind filled with memories of their time together, of the battles they had fought, the friendship they had shared.

"He's really gone," Zento whispered, his voice barely audible over the sound of the rain.

Raito nodded, his throat tight with emotion. "But he'll never be forgotten."

The shrine stood tall against the sky, a lasting tribute to the man who had given everything. And as the rain continued to fall, Zento and Raito knew that Shin's legacy—his sacrifice—would live on forever.