Be warned, heavy angst XD DISCLAIMER: DOES NOT PERTAIN TO SAY MY NAME AND I’LL BE THERE(and no I’m not killing anyone off in that story you guys can relax cuz it’s a promise! I’d recite Teucer’s pinkie promise lines but I can’t remember them at the moment haha)
….
What was it that you cared most about? Was it the village you risked your life to protect? The safety of your friends and family? Him? Or your own life?
You didn’t really have time to think of an answer when yet another blow crashed into you and sent you flying into the field. The sickening crunch of bone as you hit the ground was probably heard by your offender. One last shot. One last shot. You grit your teeth through the pain and sat up, shoulder slack from the impact of their last attack.
“DIE HERE!” A mix of ice and flame torched your attacker, their screams echoing in the dead of night until they disintegrated into ash. But just as you thought the torment was over, your gaze fell to the ever-widening gash at your side. “Ah.” It appears my delusion and vision outperformed this time. A wry chuckle left your lips, and you sank back into the dewy grass that willingly soaked the blood up like it was an offering to the soil.
What did it all mean, in the end?
Hi, Xiao. Your whispers of a greeting reached the ears of the yaksha, who was somewhere south of here. I know it’s late, but I just wanted to say hello. What good would it do to call your dear friend here? You couldn’t feel your toes anymore; the tips of your fingers were becoming numb and the palms of your hands tingled. I hope your day went well. Have some almond tofu for me, would ya?
The arrogation of mankind won out yet again; this was a fitting end to your self-proclamation of godhood. That yaksha of yours would probably remind you of it if he were here right now. Truth be told, it’d be nice to have some company in your final moments, but it wouldn’t be right to have him witness the fall of another one of his companions.
Yet he knelt beside you anyway.
“Y-You shouldn’t be here,” a miniscule smile rose upon your bloody lips. “My village isn’t too far. Could you be a peach and make sure everyone is alright for me?”
Xiao’s fingers trailed to your side and peeled the fabric away from your skin, his face twisting into a scowl when he caught the glint of the delusion in your hand. “You shouldn’t have tha–”
“Come on, you know I can’t…I can’t help myself.” Your laugh turned into a coughing fit, and he retracted his hand. He didn’t seem at all surprised to find you at death’s door; that’s how reckless of a human you were.
“The wound is too deep.”
“Yeah, I know.”
“It will be slow.”
“I know.”
“Are you in pain?” How is she even conscious?
“I feel warm and fuzzy, nothing else.” The yaksha observed your labored breathing for a moment, the sound of the crickets filling the gaps of silence. “You should go. I’d like…to die in peace. Please.”
“Fool,” he growled. “I will not.” For he knew you well enough to know you wanted him, needed him here even though you said the exact opposite. Just like him. It was the main connection the two of you had; your minds both focused on protecting others by pushing them away.
“I’d rather not have someone,” a deep, slow breath, “watch me pass.” He was getting a bit blurry. “It’s creepy, you know.” So sleepy…
“Rest here,” he encouraged with a hand warming your forehead. He ignored the slight lump that had formed in his throat. The death of a companion was never easy, but he’d have to bear it. He will join his friends one day…but until then, this wouldn’t get to him. It couldn’t. He forced himself to hold your unsteady gaze and swallowed the hurt that began to constrict his chest. You will not see me break in your final moment. “Rest here, and die knowing I stayed with you to the end, friend.”
What a soft voice, a soft expression from your dear companion. “…yes…” You were determined to hold his gaze as long as your eyes allowed you to, and your hand met his warm one at your forehead. “Th-Thank you, Xiao.”
The lone yaksha let out a long, heavy sigh after you took your last breath.
……
ALTERNATE ENDING (Cursing warning. Also, this one is worse ;-;)
“Sh-Shit,” a half-hearted laugh left your lips when your hand retracted from your side to reveal a lot of blood. “A-haha, X-Xiao’s gonna make a fuss about this.” You forced yourself to lie down in the dewy grass, biting the inside of your cheek to refrain from yelping when your broken shoulder touched the ground.
Hey, Xiao. You blinked the tears of both fear and pain away as you stared up at the night sky. ‘Just breathe,’ you thought. ‘No need to panic.’ But the searing pain within your stomach told you there was a need to freak out a bit. You could only imagine how badly your organs were damaged…How was your day? Sorry if my prayers are a bit repetitive. It’s just nice to talk sometimes.
“Tch.” Another wince of pain and suddenly Xiao was standing above you. “Ah…you shouldn’t be here. M-My village is…”
“Do not speak.” The adeptus knelt beside you and peeled the fabric away from your stomach. “Your village is fine.”
“Promise?” Screw holding the facade, this hurt like hell. You squirmed when his fingertips grazed you. “Ngh! Stop!”
“The wound is too deep.”
“I know!” Reality finally set in, and your breathing quickened in a panic. At least the adrenaline numbed a little bit of the pain, but it paled in comparison to whatever damage was done to your stomach. “F-fuck, get away from me.” Your growl didn’t faze him, but something flickered across his face when you began to cough up an unruly amount of blood.
“It will be slow.” His gaze caught yours. “Painful.”
“I-I know,” tears stung the corners of your eyes. The pain was only getting worse. “Please leave me to die here. Go on, now. You don’t have to be here. Shoo.”
“Fool,” he sneered. “Of course I have to.”
“It’s creepy to watch me like this,” you forced a laugh, but more blood came up instead. “Ugh…haah, it hurts too much.” The yaksha stroked your hair somewhat awkwardly in an attempt to soothe you. “X-Xiao…I…please end it.”
Xiao watched you carefully, his hand stilling. “You want me to end your suffering?”
“Y-yes, please!” Every breath invited a pain equivalent to being burned, every movement invited what felt like knives into your organs. “P-Please. I know…I know it’s a lot to ask. But I’d rather it be by your hand.”
It wouldn’t be the first time he’s had to do this, but a pain still shot through him at the thought of your death. He was looking forward to your endless bickering for the next several years, looking forward to savoring this last banter with you, but if you were in that much pain, so be it. He summoned his polearm, and caught the brief panic in your eyes when you realized the blade was much bigger than you remembered. “You’re certain?”
“Just…Just make it quick, please?”
He lifted you enough so he could envelop you in his embrace. “Rest now, my companion.”
A sharp yelp echoed through the field as his blade pierced the center of your chest until it had pierced through the other side. Your grip on his arm tightened for a few long seconds as you drew your last breaths. “..th…thank you…” His stiff stroking of your hair soothed your anxiety of letting go, but the stiffness wasn’t attributed to awkwardness of human contact–instead, it was grief. Shock. Sadness. Whatever humans attributed this god-awful feeling to.
Yet another voice to haunt him.
So be it.