Brothers of Heart

All around me were the very nightmares of Hell itself. I was surrounded by dead and wounded men, dying in vain on the battlefield. As I swung my sword again, I was back to back with him. My best friend, my comrade, and my lifeline. He dragged me out of the freezing embrace of depression when our village burned, and I would do anything for him. Twirling to the side and parrying a potentially fatal blow, I thrust my sword into someone's chest, and steeled my soul for another slice. It hurt every time, and yet I was lured to battle by the captivating thoughts that I would become a champion, rich with the spoils of battle, name feared around every enemy household. But nobody mentioned the horrors aswell. The smell of the dead soldiers losing control of their bladder, and the tempting whiff of blood that creeps into your senses and won't come out. The sounds of men in agony, screaming at the pain, somebody else, themselves, or just the world in general. Bodies, littering the plains assaulted my vision. The feel of this handle, and the feel of flesh being brutally ripped apart when I killed someone. Or, the taste of my own tears, running down my face as I regret taking another life.1

A scream pierced the air, different from the others. Whirling around, I see him fall, clutching a stomach wound. I stare in shock for a moment, before slowly raising my head to the offender. Suddenly, every sense fades, except for the pounding of blood in my ears, and the trembling of my muscles. Moving quickly, I cut off his head. Then, I dropped down and kneeled before my friend. His face was white with pain, face straining, muscles twitching. Blood and tears course down his face, and I know he won't make it. I think to myself, why? Why him? I feel a squeeze of my hand, and I know what I have to do. My brother, not of blood, but of heart, would want me too. My soul will feel the pain, but then Death's loving embrace will numb it completely. Taking out my sword, red clouds my vision, and I attack. Cleaving enemies left and right, I'm lost in the heat of battle. I sense a spear pierce my back, but I keep going. Snarling, I thrust my sword deeply and carry on. Eventually, I pick up another one and start to go on a frenzy. Time stalls, and knights stop fighting long enough to see me, armor soaked in blood. Numerous weapons finally draw me to a halt right beside him. Dropping to my knees, I will my arm to move to his face. Caressing it gently, I smile. He looks so peaceful. He cracks open his eyes and smiles at me. I melt and feel my resolve not to cry slowly breaking away.2

He grasps my hand like the lost child I once was, and the resolve breaks away completely. Tears stream down my face, and I put my head on his chest and cry, ignoring the searing pain when the weapons just bite deeper inside. He pats my head like when we were little, and memories flashed before my eyes.3

'Nyah nyah nya nya nyah!! You can't catch me!' Hiro was running around, and I was chasing him. Our laughter echoed in the air. Such happy times those were. Unfortunately, it didn't last. As we were playing tag, they came. Sweeping through the village, they set fire to our houses, and killed men, women and children, viciously cutting them down like prey. Me and Hiro huddled in a corner, I was crying shamelessly. Hiro was patting my head, and whispering sweet nothings into my ear.4

'Don't worry Kajuo..everything's gonna be alright, I promise.' Somehow, I believed that Hiro could make anything better, so I just nodded and watched with pain the scene unfolding before me.5

My vision was dimming, and my muscles growing weaker. I could feel my very essence fading away. With heaviness and pain in my soul I realized this would be my last time ever seeing that reassuring face look at me with such kind eyes. Now, all I could see was sorrow and dulled agony in those half closed windows. Heaving, I tried to speak, even thought it probably just increased the rate in which I would finally break free of my mortal body.6

'Hiro..I..I wish I could see y-you..again..but..I'm not..going t-to the..same place..as you.' I close my eyes to stop from seeing his face. 'You were always there for me, even..w-when I was..never there..for you. B-but..' I stall, as I choke up. 'F-for the last..time...I..I..I'd like to be with you in the end. It..it would be..the only thing..to dull m-my soul.' I grasp his hand and my body starts shaking with surpressed sobs. My heart feels like it's about to burst in two, knowing I won't survive eternity without him. I open my eyes, but panic as I see only the faintest outlines of his face. My strength is sapped, and I lay down on the bloodstained ground. As I drift off into my last slumber, I swore I heard his sweet voice whisper to me, and only me.7

'Don't worry Kajuo..everything's gonna be alright..I promise.'