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"i close my eyes and find you in my memories your warmth is still here, your melody is still alive, it's just your body that's gone" _____________________________
Snow covered Satoru's entire body as he jolted awake. His body felt frozen as he shook uncontrollably. Every icy breath he took burned down his throat and into his lungs. He slowly stood up, his bruised abdomen and fractured shoulder causing immense pain.
The moon illuminated his path as the Tsukinaga stumbled over to Koari's cold, lifeless body, falling to his knees in front of the man. "I'm so sorry... I'm... so... sorry, Koari. I promise I'll kill him." He whispered, pressing his forehead against Koari's before he stood up. He walked over to the katana he had dropped previously, grabbing it by the hilt. He ran two fingers along the cold blade before securing it back on the scabbard on his back.
Satoru's emotions were a whirlwind, processing the reality and weight of Koari's death crushed his soul. His mind was clouded with questions and doubts about his own worth, how he was going to kill Masaki? How he was going to continue on with his pitiful life?
In this vulnerable sate, Satoru found himself desperately holding on to Koari's memory. It had been less than a day since the man died, but he didn't want to forget him. He couldn't forget him, not the way he'd forgotten his own brother and mother.
He wanted nothing more than to rewind time, to go back to the day before. He wanted to be in the Onsenmen Village with Koari again, enjoying hot springs and ramen shops. Instead, he was standing a few feet away from a dead man, his dead father.
Satoru turned away from Koari, wiping the tears flowing from his eyes as he started to trudge through the snow, making his way to the Heiwakage building. He felt sick to his stomach walking away from Koari, just leaving him there in the snow, but he so desperately had to find what stone tablet and power Masaki was talking about.
'I'm so sorry Koari... I promise I'll take you back to the Leaf Village after I figure out what the hell's in this basement.'
_____________________________
Satoru stood in front of the Heiwakage building, his fists clenched. After Masaki disowned him, Satoru showed up to this building everyday, begging Masaki to train him, to love him. Now, he was walking into the building to find the key to killing Masaki.
He pushed open the doors, dust and bitter cold hitting him in the face. He looked to his right, the stairs leading up to Masaki's office a harsh reminder of the past. He quickly turned his head away, pushing down the anger bubbling inside of him.
