I heard footsteps behind me. I looked up from Rin's body to Lens cold eyes.
"I'm-I'm sorry-" I began, my words tumbling out of my mouth like the tears that were pouring out of my eyes. He knelt beside me and took Rin's body from me.
"Bandage that arm up." He told me. His voice cracking. "I want to fight a fair fight. Not against an invalid."
I did as I was told, walking a few paces away, ripping a sleeve off of my shirt and tying it around my arm, clamping off the blood flow.
The moderators shouted at Len, told him to hurry up and fight, threatened him with torture, but he wouldn't listen. He just held Rin in his arms and stared at her.
"So this is it huh?" he asked, his voice a whisper. "This is going to be me?"
I stared at him. I couldn't answer. I couldn't move.
He sighed and laid Rin's body back down. Len turned to me.
"Lets go, Ryuu. Lets make this quick. I don't want Rin to be up there on her own for too long."
He charged at me, I was unprepared, unwilling.
In a few minuets he had me on the floor and almost unconscious.
Here, again, went the longest battle of my life. I had just killed my sister and now, now I was going to kill my brother.
********************************************************
I fell to the floor the same time as him. Panting, Bleeding, Wheezing. My side was throbbing and burning, gushing out blood. He had struck me deep, slicing my kidney open. I felt black tendrils pulling at my mind, wanting to paint it black. I wanted them to, I wanted to die, I wanted to be anywhere but here, anywhere.
"Get up!" Len shouted. the black tendrils suddenly disappeared, scared off by Lens voice.
I winced. I didn't want to. I couldn't. I wouldn't.
I had to.
Slowly, I got to my knees, my hand clamping down on my side, warm blood seeping through my fingers. I crawled beside him, sweat pouring down my face. I looked at Len, he smiled at me.
"That's better. Now I can see you before I go." he said.
I looked at him. A horrible wail came crashing through the room, one of despair and hurt. one of pain and anguish.
I realised that wail came from me.
Tears stung my eyes, dropped onto his cheeks, mixed in with the blood that pooled around us both.
"Hey. Enough of that, you've done me-and Rin- a big favour. One we can never pay you back for." he smiled, raising his hand and wiping away my tears.
"sorry for, you know" he said, indicating to my side. "Guess Rin did that number on your shoulder too huh?"
I nodded, wiping my tears with my good shoulder.
Len smiled sadly. "I know I've done your kidney in. take mine, like Rin told you to take her tissue"
I looked at him dumbfounded.
"How did you-"
"I know her. and that looks deep. She wouldn't have gone without giving you something back. so this is my gift to you. A reminder to keep on living, for both of us. Can you do that?"
I shook with tears.
"I don't think I can."
"Can. You. Do. That. Ryuu? for us?" he asked me more sternly, his voice a raspy whisper.
I saw his eyes, pleading with me. My brothers eyes.
I nodded.
Lens face filled with relief. "Good. You know, your really strong, stronger than me" he smiled. I couldn't say anything, my mouth wouldn't form the words.
"you have the potential to be a great Ninja Ryuu. Be the best Ninja possible, for me and Rin. Our dreams now reside in you. and do you want to know what our dreams are?"
I nodded.
"For you to have the best life possible. Become a great Ninja, become the best Ninja in the 5 countries, ok?"
I nodded, my eyes watering again.
Len let out a sigh of relief. "Looks like this is it Ryuu." he said. "I hope I don't see you up there for a long time" he chuckled sadly. I stared at him, unable to do anything.
"Oh and Ryuu" he whispered. "please smile for me. your smile is all that has kept me going through this year, yours and Rin's."
I smiled, forcing my muscles upward. forcing myself to do my best friend one last favour. Len smiled, one last smile back at me.
"Thank you"
And he too, faded away from me.
And just like that, again, the other side of my heart withered away.
There was no Ryuu anymore, just a hollow husk of an 8 year old girl.
I could not cry. I could not move. I even forgot to breath.
My throat made a noise. An even worse one than the one before, like a caged animal, a dying animal wishing to be put out of its misery.
And then, the hollow husk of a girl got her wish. The world went tumbling on its side, plunging me into darkness.
