THE PRICE OF WAR [Taka x Reader]

XIV. Loss

When Yrion reached the top of the hill, several soldiers were already there, including Yusuke-senzo. Little by little, the others arrived too and thus, the entire camp ended up gathering on the hill watching the sunrise and the horrible result of the assault. Some knelt to honor and pray for their fallen companions. Others, like Kyria, were simply trying to hold back their tears as they watched a black horse trying to wake up another white horse to no avail. Sometimes it galloped and kicked among the corpses, making the saddest and most startling moans that any animal had ever uttered. Then it fell back on the ground and buried his head next to its friend's lifeless body, trying to protect and care for him at all costs.

The soldiers descended the hill and began to collect the bodies scattered across the field. Yrion approached the black horse as a river of tears bathed his flushed face.

"I shouldn't have left him alone ..." he wept.

But the black horse didn't flinch from its spot.

"Forgive me ..." he implored as he knelt down and gripped Duymir's mane.

"Yrion"

Kyria was standing behind him.

"Let's go" she said after abruptly drying her tears with the back of her hand.

Yrion stood up heavily and Kyria gave you her condolences with her eyes. Then they went to help the rest of the soldiers while Taka and his friends were still at the top of the hill. Ryota and Tomoya cried silently while Taka continued observing the scene without being able to assimilate what had happened. He stepped forward with the intention of helping you, but Toru grabbed his shoulder.

"You can't help her" he said "Not this time"

A whole day passed and the sun began to set. The soldiers had created a cemetery under the old cherry tree and buried the bodies of their companions. It was unfair and painful to see how everyone was so close to their home and even then they could never come back. The entire camp was in mourning and pain and death were everywhere. Still, you had to collect the camp as soon as possible and march before the enemy could return.

"Where's Yumiko?" Tomoya whispered.

Taka looked at the hill.

"She's still there?" he asked worried.

"Please, take her at least to her tent..." Ryota begged.

Taka got up and quickly went up the hill. He found you in the same place as that morning, hugging Duymir tightly with your whole body. The only thing that had changed was your physical appearance. He went down the hill and got closer. Now he could clearly see the horrible state Duymir had ended up in. He was lying in a large pool of dark blood. A huge wound pierced him from the stomach to the shoulder and the meat had begun to rot. His eyes, always alive and expressive, were now a dull black stain, and his owner now laid beside him, covered in blood and hugging him like a child hugging her pillow at night.

"Yumiko..." he managed to pronounce.

But his voice had no effect on you. You were completely gone.

"My love..." he called back as his voice cracked even more.

Seeing that nothing seemed to get you out of that state, he decided to kneel next to you and hug you in the same way that you were hugging your horse. Taka's warmth made you come back to live and you began to mourn again. Duymir had been, as well as Erymid, the only one that had always remained by your side unconditionally. He had been your faithful companion and friend to the end, and you couldn't help but remember all the moments you had lived together since he appeared in your garden with a bow tied around his neck. One by one, they stabbed you inside without letting you breathe while Taka tried to calm you down.

"We have to go back..." he whispered to you.

You shook your head.

"You can't stay here, Yumiko..."

Slowly, he managed to get you up and scooped you up in his arms as you sobbed and blood dripped down your bodies. Little by little, he started the way back to the camp leaving Duymir's body and the battlefield behind. When the others saw him come down the hill with you in his arms, they came to help him.

"Take care of her, I'm going to prepare her a bath" Taka said.

And saying this, he put a bucket of water to boil while Yrion hugged you tightly as you thought you could never overcome all that pain.