Untimely Goodbyes [Private Yami]

A trail of crimson stained the sands; what was once nearly pearlescent was not tarnished with plasma. The kick of wind would slip through tattered clothing. Satoshi was covered in fresh wounds. It was just one strike that afflicted him with a burn-like decay from his chest to his mid-section. The Uchiha fell to the sand, aiming to reach the bounty station.  Blood curled and fell from his mouth and nose; even his ears seeped with blood. His body felt weak, and his spirit waned. All he could remember was the red and silver Knight that invaded his heist.

His mind flashed back to that moment. The moment of the mysterious knight’s appearance. He was on a solo mission to gather some extra funds for his brothers and himself. He figured that he could manage it all on his own. It seemed possible, and the score was massive. But it shouldn’t have gone the way it did…

“You’ve picked the wrong outskirts for your malicious intent… I’ll give you only one opportunity to turn around and walk away while you still can.”

The mysterious knight barked, but his voice was calm, oddly. Satoshi, his Sharingan, was fixed on the man. He stood almost majestically before the Uchiha. Something was off…but despite his better judgment and survival instincts, Satoshi felt he could deal with the obstacle.

“That’s funny. Are we reading from the same handbook, or did you steal my line? The “opportunity to turn around and walk away while you still can” part I mean.”

He responded while reaching for his blade as subtlely as he could. But before his very eyes, the knight vanished. Satoshi widens his eyes, desperately looking to track down and find the man. He immediately thinks to himself if this is the workings of a genjutsu, but his eyes pick up no trace of it. He couldn’t even sense the knight's chakra; he didn’t realize up until now that he couldn’t the entire time.

“So you’ve chosen to die…that’s quite unfortunate.”

A haunting, blood-crippling sensation overwhelmed Satoshi. He thought to himself: how did this man get behind him? As he turned to face and attempt to attack, he was met with an eerie chakra that looked as malicious as he was supposed to be. All he could do was retreat to his dimension, but even doing that, he was still hit and suffered a nasty consequence for it.

Returning to the present, he was on his last leg. He needed to see his brothers. He had seen them before…, but he couldn’t again. He rested his back against the station's exterior wall. He needed to rest, but he felt himself fade slowly. This was the rendezvous spot for him and his brothers.

The rain drizzled in a soft, relentless patter, mingling with the blood pooling on the cold stone floor. The dimly lit Bounty Station echoed with the steady drip, a grim reminder of the violence that had just unfolded. Yami Hakuoki knelt beside Satoshi, his fingers trembling as he pressed them against the wound that nearly cleaved his companion in half. The blade of one of those Nova Corps—a relentless enforcer, as deadly as he was disciplined—had almost ended Satoshi’s life. Only Yami's quick thinking and Satoshi's use of his Kamui saved him from inevitable death.

Satoshi’s breaths came in ragged gasps, his eyes fluttering open as he struggled to stay conscious. He whispered something, his voice barely audible over the rain and the distant sounds of the bustling village of Yugakure. The village they had tried to plunder, hoping to seize its riches and prove their worth after the crushing blow of losing their mission to another. But the mission had turned sour, and now they paid the price.

"Save your strength," Yami murmured, his tone uncharacteristically gentle. He tore a strip of cloth from his cloak and pressed it against the gaping wound. The blood seeped through instantly, staining the fabric a deep crimson. "You’re going to make it."

But the lie hung heavy in the air, both knowing the truth. The wound was too severe. Satoshi had lingered too long, chasing after something that had already slipped through their fingers.

Hikari stood a few paces away, her eyes flicking between Yami and Satoshi, her face a mask of conflicted emotions. "This isn’t how it was supposed to be," she said, her voice laced with bitterness. "We were supposed to finish what we started, to claim the bounty ourselves, not be hunted down like dogs."

Yami’s jaw tightened, but he said nothing. The memory of Seto Yomiyama loomed large in his mind. The Yuumei Vessel had been a force of nature, a man of such power that he had played a crucial role in defeating Stein of Konoha—one of the most feared shinobi of his time. Yami had witnessed it from the shadows, seen the sheer strength that Seto wielded with such ease. It had been a sobering reminder that forces were far beyond their reach.

"We shouldn’t have strayed from the code," Yami finally said, his voice low. "We were mercenaries, not common thieves. We’ve lost our way."

Hikari’s eyes flashed with anger. "And what did following the code get us? Someone else took Stein down; someone else claimed the bounty. We’re nothing but tools, discarded when no longer useful."

Yami didn’t respond, his gaze fixed on Satoshi. His friend was fading fast, the light in his eyes dimming with each passing moment. The River’s Orphan code was clear: when one of their own came close to death, the gift of mercy was to be given. It was a kindness, a final act of loyalty to spare them from the suffering that awaited.

He reached for the kunai tucked into his belt, his fingers brushing against the cold steel. His mind raced, torn between the bond they had shared and the duty he was bound to fulfill. Satoshi’s eyes met his, a flicker of understanding passing between them. There was no fear, only acceptance.

"Do it," Satoshi whispered, his voice barely a breath. "Don’t let me suffer."

Hikari turned away, unable to watch, her shoulders trembling as she fought to keep her emotions in check. Yami steeled himself, his grip tightening on the kunai. He raised it, the blade glinting in the dim light, and with one swift motion, he plunged it into Satoshi’s heart.

The body went still, the tension draining from Satoshi’s face as the pain finally left him. Yami pulled the blade free, the weight of the act settling heavily on his shoulders. He had given the gift of mercy, as the code demanded. But the cost of it, the loss of another brother-in-arms, was a burden he would carry with him always.

"We need to go," Yami said, his voice hollow as he rose. "The Nova Corps will be hunting us now."

Hikari nodded, wiping away the tears that had escaped despite her best efforts. "Where will we go?"

Yami sheathed the kunai, his gaze distant as he considered their options. "We’ll return to the Old Man. We need to regroup and find a new path. This isn’t over yet."

They left the Bounty Station in silence, the rain washing away the blood that stained the stone floor. Yami glanced back one last time at where Satoshi had fallen, then turned his back on it, the shadows of his past trailing behind him.

The world was a dangerous place for a River’s Orphan, but Yami had always been awake—aware of the threats that lurked in the dark. And now, with Satoshi gone and their mission failed, he would need to be more vigilant than ever. The road ahead was uncertain, but Yami knew one thing: he would not let another of his comrades fall, not as long as he still drew breath.

(WC: 848)

Satoshi’s vision blurred as the world around him faded into a haze of pain and darkness. The relentless rain drummed against the stone floor, mingling with the blood that poured from the deep gash across his torso. Each breath was a struggle, every gasp a reminder that his time was slipping away.

"Yami..." he whispered, his voice barely a breath, more a feeling than sound. He could feel Yami's presence beside him, the warmth of his friend’s hand pressing against his wound in a futile attempt to hold back the inevitable. Satoshi knew, though, that there was no saving him now. The Nova Corps’ blade had done its work well.

As the darkness crept in, memories began to resurface. A flood of images from a life lived in shadows, from a childhood spent in the unforgiving world of the River’s Orphan. He had never allowed himself to cry, not once, not through all the pain and loss. But now, in these final moments, something deep within him broke free.

The pain receded, replaced by a strange warmth. Suddenly, Satoshi was no longer lying on the cold, blood-soaked ground. He was standing in a familiar clearing, surrounded by the towering trees of the forest where he had spent his childhood. The air was thick with the scent of earth and moss, and the soft chatter of children’s laughter filled the air.

He looked down at himself, surprised to see that he was a child again—small, with wide, curious eyes and a mop of unruly hair. His heart pounded in his chest, not with fear, but with an unfamiliar, almost forgotten sense of joy.

"Satoshi!" a voice called out, warm and full of life.

He turned to see a boy running toward him, a broad grin on his face. It was Kyuuri, his closest friend from those days. The two of them had been inseparable, partners in every mischief and mission, until that fateful day when Kyuuri had fallen, taken by the cruel hand of fate long before his time.

"Kyuuri...?" Satoshi’s voice trembled as he spoke, tears welling up in his eyes for the first time in his life.

Kyuuri stopped in front of him, still smiling, his eyes filled with the same mischievous spark they had always held. "Yeah, it’s me. You made it, Satoshi. You’ve grown so much, but it’s okay now. You can come and play with us again."

Behind Kyuuri, more figures began to emerge from the trees, their faces familiar and yet distant—children of the River’s Orphan, all those who had perished before they had the chance to grow up. Some were faces he had known well, others he had only heard stories of, legends from the Warring States period when their order had been founded. And there were others still, children who had never been part of the order, but whose lives had been claimed by the senseless wars that plagued their world.

Satoshi’s vision blurred again, not from pain or fear, but from the tears that now streamed freely down his face. He had never cried before, never allowed himself to feel this depth of emotion. But now, in this moment, he couldn’t hold it back. He was overwhelmed by the bittersweet mix of joy and sorrow, the pain of leaving behind those he loved, and the peace of reuniting with those he had lost.

"I... I missed you," Satoshi choked out, his voice cracking as he looked at Kyuuri, then at the faces of all the others. "I missed all of you so much."

Kyuuri stepped forward and wrapped his arms around Satoshi in a tight embrace, just as they had done so many times as children. "We missed you too, Satoshi. But you’re with us now. It’s okay. You’re home."

As Satoshi looked over Kyuuri’s shoulder, he saw more figures waving at him—his brothers and sisters, all those who had shared the same harsh, unforgiving life, all those who had been part of the same family. And among them, he saw figures from further back in time, spirits of the past who had fought and died long before he was born, yet who were bound to him by the same unbreakable chain of the River’s Orphan.

Satoshi’s heart ached with the thought of those he was leaving behind. Yami, with his unyielding resolve and fierce loyalty. Tokito, always quick with a joke to lighten the darkest of days. And Hikari, the quiet presence who had always been there, even if Yami was the only one who could truly see her.

But as much as it hurt, Satoshi knew it was okay. He had found peace, a place where he belonged. And somehow, deep down, he knew that one day, they would all be together again. He would see Yami, Tokito, and even Hikari once more. But for now, he was with his other family, the ones who had been waiting for him.

Kyuuri pulled back from the embrace, his smile never faltering. "Come on, Satoshi. Everyone’s waiting."

Satoshi nodded, wiping the tears from his eyes as he took Kyuuri’s hand. Together, they turned and walked toward the group of children, all laughing and playing without a care in the world. The pain was gone. The fear was gone. All that remained was the warmth of friendship, the bonds that had never truly broken.

As he took his first steps into this new world, Satoshi glanced back one last time. He saw the faint image of Yami, still kneeling beside his body, the kunai in his hand. Satoshi felt a pang of sorrow, but it was quickly replaced by a sense of calm.

"I’ll see you again, Yami," Satoshi whispered, his voice carried on the wind. "One day, we’ll all be together again."

With that, Satoshi let go of the world he had known, stepping fully into the embrace of those who had been waiting for him. His tears finally dried as he found his place among the River’s Orphans once more.

[Claiming Satoshi’s Death]
((WC: 1,000 / TWC: 1463))

Satoshi Kazama wrote:

[Claiming Satoshi’s Death]
((WC: 1,000 / TWC: 1463))

Approved

The rain continued to fall as Yami and Hikari made their way through the deserted streets, the night wrapping them in its shadows. The scent of wet earth and blood lingered in the air, mingling with Hikari’s soft sobs as she walked silently beside him. Her tears streamed down her pale face, but only Yami could see her grief.

Yami’s thoughts were elsewhere, weighed down by the events that had just transpired. Satoshi was gone, yet the echo of his friend’s last breath still lingered in his mind. The act of mercy he had performed felt hollow, grief seeping into the cracks of his resolve. But there was no time to mourn—not here, not now.

As they turned a corner, the dim light of a streetlamp flickered, casting long shadows across the wet cobblestones. Beneath the lamp stood a tall, unassuming man with a pale, featureless face. Dressed in a black raincoat that glistened with moisture, he waited patiently as if he had all the time in the world.

Yami halted, his eyes narrowing as the man approached. The figure moved with an eerie calm, his footsteps barely audible on the wet pavement. There was no malice in his presence, no threat—only an air of quiet professionalism.

"Good evening, sir," the man said, his voice smooth and polite, betraying no emotion. He inclined his head slightly in deference, his gaze fixed solely on Yami. He neither acknowledged Hikari nor noticed her tears.

"Would you like to make a dinner reservation?" the man asked, his tone as formal as he was addressing a guest at an upscale restaurant. The question hung in the air, its meaning apparent only to those who knew the code.

Yami hesitated briefly before nodding. "Yes, I would. For one."

The man offered a small, nearly invisible smile and reached into his coat, producing a small, intricately designed scroll. He held it out to Yami with both hands, bowing slightly as he did so. "Everything will be taken care of, sir. You have nothing to worry about."

Yami accepted the scroll, his fingers brushing against the cold, smooth paper. The man straightened and stepped back, his movements precise and methodical. "We appreciate your business, sir," he said with a final nod. "The scene will be cleared, and the reservation will be honored promptly. You were never here."

With that, the man in the black raincoat turned and walked away, disappearing into the rain-drenched night as silently as he had arrived.

Yami watched him go, the scroll heavy in his hand. By morning, there would be no trace of what had happened in the Bounty Station. Satoshi’s body would be preserved, stored away in the cold, unfeeling embrace of the corpse storage scroll, awaiting whatever fate Yami chose for him.

Hikari’s sobs grew quieter as she clung to Yami’s side, her presence a fragile reminder of the life they had lost. Yami gently touched her shoulder, his gaze still fixed on the darkened street ahead. "It’s done," he whispered, his voice steady though his heart was anything but. "Let’s go."

Hikari nodded, wiping her tears with the back of her hand, though the sadness in her eyes remained. Together, they continued their journey into the night, the rain washing away the blood and sorrow that clung to them. The world around them remained unaware of the grief that had settled in Yami’s heart, unaware of the silent farewell given to a fallen brother.

The night was still, save for the sound of rain and the distant murmur of the village. As they walked, Yami held the scroll tightly, its weight a constant reminder of the burden he now carried. The River’s Orphan code dictated their actions, their lives, and their deaths. But even in death, Satoshi was still with him, part of the family they had forged in the darkness.

As the rain fell, Yami knew this was not the end—only a pause in the endless cycle of life and loss. One day, they would all be together again, reunited in whatever world awaited them beyond the shadows. But for now, Yami would carry on, with Hikari at his side and the memory of Satoshi forever etched into his soul.

And in the cold silence of the night, the man in the black raincoat continued his work, ensuring that the past would remain buried and that the River’s Orphan would live on, unseen and unbroken.

(Exit)

(TWC: 1585)
Claims:
- 1500/1500 Shattered Blade Strike
- 30 AP
- Satoshi's body and belongings

Yami Hakuoki wrote:

(Exit)

(TWC: 1585)
Claims:
- 1500/1500 Shattered Blade Strike
- 30 AP
- Satoshi's body and belongings

Approved