Definition » bsd

F r o z e n

Akutagawa

I couldn't move. Doing so meant killing Ougai and half of our men including Chuuya. But on the other hand, I watched in slow motion as she fell into the ocean.

Just before she slipped from view, she uttered a single word.

"Kyusai."

Silver branches erupted from her heart latching onto anything close, one of which wrapping around my arm.

It stung on impact, then it dawned on me. I couldn't move a muscle. Time around us stopped, the waves frozen in place like mountains.

Then she came, pulling herself back onto the dock. Blood slid down the branches until reaching the tips. It's warmth a contrast to the coldness of her ability.

Kyusai. Relief. These branches, the coldness of her heart amplified enough to physically freeze time. The most difficult phase her ability can reach.

Also the most lethal on both ends.

"Ice melts to water. Water boils to steam. Steam returns to water to freeze again. It's an endless cycle Natsuo. Fear, rage, acceptance, despair, numbness." Yoko muttered approaching the girl.

Blood continued to rush out of her chest and down the cold limbs.

"Ice is always stored away so it doesn't melt. Repressing the numbness so you don't rage. Do you feel it Natsuo? Can you feel my pain?"

Each word tore into me the branches gripping tighter to my arm.

"It's bad to keep emotions bottled up you know. They drive you mad until in the end you're hollow from all the ice. How do you feel Natsuo?"

Natsuo cringed in pain the branches on her body significantly tighter than my own.

"Try to break free Natsuo. Break free of the coldness of my heart. Make me rage. Make me suffer." Yoko demanded grabbing Natsuo by the neck.

"Ryu...nosuke. Say something... to her!" Chuuya yelled from behind me. The ice slowly killing everyone here. She was going to take us all down with her.

I looked over at Yoko, her glare intense and mind focused.

What do I say to her to calm the rage wanting to burst free? To melt her freezing soul...

"Yoko!" I yelled capturing her attention. Her grip loosened on Natsuo dropping her body to the ground lifeless.

The ice burned at this point, so cold it felt warm. Her eyes searched for something within mine.

"Yoko, I love you."

She cringed in pain gripping her chest where the banches were. All of them retracting from what they held on to.

Time began moving again, everyone watching her with fear in their eyes as the crimson liquid continued to pour from her body.

I walked over to her and draped my coat around her shoulders. It hung loosely, covering the hole in her body.

"Rashoumon. It negates passage. Nothing can touch you, and the blood has nothing to leave your body out of. After all, it's occupying the space that Rashoumon is now feeding off of." I sighed.

She gave me a soft smile before collapsing into my arms.

"Ryu?"

She reached up and grabbed the collar of my shirt angrily.

"Don't you ever throw yourself in the crossfire ever again. You hear me?!"

So much for a touching moment...