KINTSUGI ⊳jin sakai x yuna

いち (one)

It takes a second to sink in.

Killing has become muscle memory for Jin. Stabbing a katana, shooting arrows, even slicing throats open from behind has all become an instinct.

Yet, when he withdraws the Sakai tanto from Lord Shimura's abdomen, the weight of the world seems to rest on his shoulders alone. Every bone of his feels like it's about to crack.

He's killed his uncle.

His adoptive father. The man that taught him everything he knows, made him everything he is — that same goddamn man slumps against Jin like dead weight. Because he is dead weight.

His uncle is dead.

By Jin's hands.

He glances down at his two balled fists, and the tanto, at the slashes across his own arms and torso, then, utterly terrified, his glance finds his uncle's corpse.

That is when he understands.

Tears well up in his eyes. Everything hurts; the crushing realization that this is only a fraction of the price he will pay settles in.

This was never his uncle's punishment. Watching Lord Shimura's blood-speckled face slowly lose color, seeing the blood begin to crust on the bright red leaves, having to deal with his hyperactive mind, which replays hours upon hours of dueling and talking and laughing together...This is his punishment.

He doesn't know how much time passes, however he feels his muscles ache from the way his uncle's dead body rests against him. Yet he doesn't mind. If anything, Jin is thankful for the peace that follows, for the way the leaves continue to fall around him, the way the wind still blows ever so lightly. It reminds him that the world continues its flow, with or without him and the ones he has lost. It's soothing...like a cold hand on an open wound.

"The bastard killed the jitō!" A male voice pierces the air, before an arrow comes flying the next second. It digs itself into the red leaves, centimeters away from Jin's ankle. "Don't let the Ghost get out of here alive!"

About fifteen men come running out of the cemetery.

He should've known, Jin thinks to himself. Of course the shogun's men would be hot on his trail.

Not even getting a chance to blink away his tears, Jin bolts up to his feet, his body protesting against every move.

His uncle's body falls onto the leaf-covered ground.

I'm sorry, are the only two words on his mind. He abandons his uncle's corpse and whistles for Kage. A slash on his thigh begins throbbing when he slings himself over the stallion's back.

He ducks, chin against Kage's mane, and avoids another arrow.

"Leave his face untouched! The shogun wants his head!"

The golden reins almost slip out of his still blood slickened grip as he whips them.

Kage neighs, gallops towards the cemetery. The only way out aside from jumping in the lake.

This won't go well, Jin thinks to himself as he wipes his right hand on the ronin attire and draws the katana once more.

His gut makes no mistake. Only a second later, an arrow whistles past his head. Into his left shoulder.

To avoid tipping over from the impact, Jin has to take a moment to steady himself, which slows Kage down considerably. Before he knows it, unfamiliar hands grip his right arm and thigh. His back collides with the stone paved ground.

His usual nimbleness shines through in spite of his injuries. He drags himself up to his feet within seconds, using his katana as support.

There isn't more time left for catching his breath, Jin has to deflect another katana's blow the second he's standing.

His enemy stumbles backwards from the collision of their two swords. Jin uses that moment to his advantage and slashes his katana across the man's chest. Gurgling with blood, he falls to the ground.

"You want my head?" Jin speaks up, watches as the remaining warriors appear to be frozen in place. The man he has just killed must've been one of the most skilled among them to leave such an impact, Jin realizes. Good. He rips the end of the arrow stuck in his left shoulder off, then grips his katana tighter once more. "Come and get it!"

Doubt has already been seeded, it's palpable in the way one of the Shogun's men charges towards him. That gives Jin some much needed advantage, though not a lot of it. Luckily, he doesn't have to give his stance too much thought — all of his hunters are samurai, and thus, sword-fighters.

The shrill sounds of metal clashing against metal, along with anguished screams is all that can be heard.

By the time Jin's managed to cut through about seven of the men, he's left panting, vision darkening, head spinning. Every move of his seems to drag, his hands and feet tingle with numbness. The feeling is familiar. Blood loss.

One of the men charges at him, the best he can do is dodge the katana. He can't lose. Not now. Not here.

But he can't defeat the rest of them. Not at this rate.

Jin understands that killing his uncle may have been the last time honor has dictated his actions. Not anymore.

He finds his final smoke bomb, drops it. He may be as blind as his enemies now, but he's managed to get a rough idea of where almost every one of his enemies is.

Another advantage he has over the men: he knows every inch of the cemetery. The hours of scrubbing gravestones and meditating here as a child pay off.

The second his surroundings start to gain color again, he catches sight of Kage. Climbing onto the saddle uses up some of his final strength. Fleeing was the right choice, Jin tells himself as he whips the reins. This time, he manages to make an exit without gaining any other injuries.

·𖥸·

I just finished this AMAZING game and really couldn't help myself. My mind is filled to the very brim with ideas for fics about Jin, and, more specifically, also Yuna.

I don't know how much traction this fic will have, and I'm sorry there's no Yuna in this chapter, but there will be more fluff from here on. However, while this is a Jin x Yuna, I will center it more around Jin, and his thoughts and characterization, especially in the epilogue, because SP didn't insist on it enough imo.

Thank you to those who have gotten through my terrible action writing skills. A reward for that awaits you in the coming chapters. Let me know what you think!