Writer 1 Waffling in Author's Note at the end of the chapter, ENJOY.
Blood Demon Art: Turbulence: Kamikaze.
Ali screamed as he held his fist ready to strike with the relentless vigour and viciousness that had been so intensely boiling inside him in this entire pursuit of vengeance. His heartbeat accelerated and pounded so hard that he could feel the pulse through his entire body. His emotions were so intense they held him in a chokehold
One hand gripped around Kaze's neck, and one ready to punch. His eyes were wide. They glared at Kaze with blazing intensity. He saw tears. Tears travelled down the side of Kaze's face, down to the Earth they both lived on.
Ali's lungs expanded to their fullest capacity, but he felt as if there was no oxygen in his body at all. He stared at Kaze beneath him.
He was ready to punch. All he had to do was smash his fist down on Kaze's body, then the wind produced from his attack would creep into every small gap in Kaze's body and rip him apart inside out. He would have his… revenge.
Ali's fist trembled as his gaze remained locked on Kaze's tear-flooded eyes.
Eyes. Aren't they weird? Weird, but strangely gorgeous and so diverse. Many are similar but none are the same. Everyone's eyes are unique to them and perhaps that is the beauty of it. So many writers, poets, film makers and any form of creative find the eyes as windows to the soul. The backbone of facial expressions and the true capturer of emotion and nature. Whether a person can use their eyes or even has eyes. The eyes are the person. The unique iris patterns, the beautiful colour no matter how dark or light. The emptiness within those eyes, occupied by the soul.
Ali's jaw was clenched so hard he could feel his bottom teeth digging into his top teeth. His heart slammed at his body, it felt like a constant and steady punch. Tears from Kaze's eyes mixed with the recently split blood.
Ali wondered if Kaze was thinking of his mother and his family. Something Ali never had, or felt. The universe's energy was condensed into these two beings. Ali closed his eyes. He was ready to punch. His arm was ready to strike down.
HE WAS READY TO KILL KAZE.
Ali's markings slowly lost their glow and retracted back into their normal crescent shape. His Blood Demon Art deactivated as he lowered his fist slowly and loosened his grip around Kaze's neck. Kaze's blurry vision slowly focused, he witnessed Ali's empty eyes slowly move towards his blood-covered hands.
"Why did you kill Akaza?" The statement that previously had been screamed in rage, was now spoken in a low sorrowful tone, but still eager for an answer.
Kaze inhaled deeply, he felt his body tingle with a numbness from the lack of oxygen in the past two minutes that Ali had his fist lifted up ready to strike. The two minutes when his life was so close to ending. Kaze exhaled and inhaled again. He stared at Ali. He could recognise that broken and grief-filled expression.
"I…" Kaze went into a coughing fitting, his throat throbbed with agony. His voice was hoarse.
"I didn't kill Akaza, Ali," Kaze panted as he spoke through his hoarse voice, "Eira did,"
The wind, the moon, the stars. They all stopped in Ali's perspective as his mind began to rapidly accelerate in response to Kaze's statement. Kaze didn't beat around the bush, now that he knew the issue, he was going to be as direct as possible with Ali.
"She organised a squadron to... Ambush him. And she also ordered the production of powerful Wisteria poison, " Kaze recited the main points of the letter that he hadn't bothered to move from his bedside table since he received it. He gulped tightly as he attempted to get up.
Ali stood up, his eyes were wide and his fists clenched. His mind was plagued, rightfully so, by a streak of deep deep deep envy. The very image of Eira, which already was unpleasant in his mind now only made him seethe pure hatred and disdain. He brought his hands to his face and grunted as he tightly gripped his own face. His nails dug into his forehead.
"Ali," Kaze slowly stood, his body hunched as he felt the aftermath of Ali's brutal punches. He limped towards Ali.
Ali, out of reflex, got into a fighting stance as Kaze etched closer. Kaze stopped to reassure Ali he wasn't going to hurt him.
"I… know what it's like," Kaze sighed deeply as he attempted to reach Ali, "I lost someone very close to me too, my… father,"
The moon provided dim lighting to the two souls that differed in so many ways but were united at this moment. They shared the grief losing a loved one.
"I'm sorry," Ali spoke softly, his fists lowered. Kaze's eyes lowered to the ground. He stared at his callous-filled hand, rough from holding a sword in his hand.
"He collapsed in the dojo we owned, and… I never found out how he died," Kaze limped closer to Ali, as the centimetres between them grew smaller, Ali felt a break from the intense emotions of hate, fury and anger. Just for now, he felt as if he could relate to someone for once. He didn't feel so… alone.
"Akaza's death must have been so sudden to you," Kaze sighed deeply as he attempted to smile softly at Ali, "It was similar for me with my father, someone I thought would be there forever. Someone I looked up to for guidance, and strength just… dies,"
Kaze's hand reaches out slowly, trembling, but steadily reaching Ali's shoulder.
"It still feels weird that he's not here," Kaze places a hand on Ali's shoulder.
A demon and a human should never be this close without killing each other. Yet, once again, Ali is the anomaly. Whether in a way that made him feel bad or good, Ali was always singled out in his life. There were only specks of moments where he didn't feel as if he had a sore thumb. When he was by Asumi's side. Now, when he shared a moment of connection with Kaze… And… perhaps Ali felt shame in admitting now but, he truly felt like Eira was one of the few people he met who accepted him for who he was. She had her quirks and would ask stupid questions, but the way she was eager to learn more about Ali's past and heritage was an extremely rare reaction in a society that ostracised him.
"You know… I… don't know if I even deserve to have the title he once had, 'The Shadow', so many times I question myself and ask… Do I deserve to be called the same title as him?" Kaze began to unravel his inner thoughts to Ali, "I'm sure you can relate to that,"
Ali's hand went to his face. His light brown eyes now read Upper Moon Three. The eyes that came from the death of his mentor. So many thoughts had flooded through Ali's mind when Akaza's eyes were in the palm of his hand. Was he ready?
"You know, we have a lot more in common than I thought," Kaze laughed weakly as he removed his hand from Ali's shoulder. He took a deep breath as he stared at Ali. Lost in thought.
"I don't feel like myself," Ali admitted to Kaze. The two who were just punching each other five minutes ago were now fully vulnerable and open to each other. Ali clenched his fists together and tightened his jaw as he remembered Akaza's death.
"When I'm done with a fight, I look at the state that I left the other demon in…" Ali recalled his recent fights, "And I think, I did that? Am I that brutal? You know?"
Ali gulped as he struggled to compose himself.
"I'm just so lost, and angry…" Ali's body tensed as he felt anger at this whole situation boil up again, "I don't know who I am,"
Ali looked up at Kaze for any answer. Kaze's eyes softened with empathy, a slight smile appeared on his face as he stared at Ali.
"You're Ali," Kaze laughed, "Asumi's lover, and my friend,"
This simple sentence was so much more impactful on Ali than one would believe. It was such an honest answer yet pulled Ali back into a reality he knew. Akaza's death had slammed him into a realm of confusion. He didn't know which way he was walking, sometimes he'd find a mirror, and every time he wouldn't recognise himself.
Ali's throat choked as he reached inside his pocket. It had been a while, too long. But, his hand slowly reached down to the wooden box.
He stared at the wooden box he unconsciously kept so safe. Even after all the tumbles, attacks, and slashes. The box remained relatively untouched, there was only one time when Ali accidentally dropped it down a cliff… not that he'd ever tell Asumi.
Ali's fingers gently opened the box and stared at the blue flower that had lived so long and yet not aged a day, it pulsed its signature glow. He gulped and tears formed in his eyes as a whole week's worth of confusion, rage, grief and sorrow now crashed down on him.
"I'm sure Akaza would've killed me in your position but," Kaze smiled as he saw Ali look like himself again, "He'd be proud of you,"
"Man, I hate you…" Ali fought back against tears at Kaze's sincerity, but a laugh escaped his mouth as a single tear dropped from his eye, "Don't look at me,"
Kaze laughed as well, the pain had subsided a bit. He reached out to Ali and pulled him in for a hug. Just then, Ali began to cry.
"Why is everyone crying when I hug them today? First my mother, then Ali… Maybe I have a disease," A stray thought entered Kaze's mind.
Moonlight came down bright and soft as the moon watched her two favoured sons embrace. The fight was over, and a new brotherhood developed.
Kaze broke from the hug and looked around for his sword.
"I would… stay away from Eira," Kaze limped towards his sword, he looked back at Ali, "Revenge never works out,"
Ali took a deep breath, two thought processes clashed against each other in his head.
"Who told you I killed Akaza?" Kaze's mind remembered the entire debacle and struck the root of the issue.
Ali took a deep breath as he began to prepare for a waffling session. He and Kaze sat on a patch of soft grass as Ali explained the sequence of events from Akaza's death to now. It was… amusing, the fact that Ali and Kaze were now sitting like friends gossiping.
"The only way that could happen is if Eira worked with that demon, Kammu," Ali held his chin in thought as Kaze processed the story.
"But… Why would she frame me?" Kaze's heart ached with a sense of betrayal, "She must have a reason for wanting you to kill me,"
Ali shrugged and stared at the stars as he leaned back. His hands were planted amongst the grass beneath him.
"It hurts me to think about how Eira… turned out the way she is," Ali's eyes were lost in the stars for answers. He reminisced of their friendship, the memories stung.
Ali's eyes darted down to Kaze.
"So, you… have a girlfriend or something?" Ali questioned, attempting to lighten the mood with a better topic. Ali didn't know what he was getting himself into.
"I used to, her name was Xia…. but I prefer not to remember," Kaze stared at the ground as he plucked some grass. Ali's curiosity was now at his peak… which would inevitably lead to his own tragic demise. Emotionally.
"What, you broke up or something?" Ali laughed and playfully punched Kaze's shoulder.
"She died," Kaze looked up at Ali.
Ali wanted to die. He slapped his hand over his face. The shame was painful. He felt a blush creep up his ears as embarrassment took over his body for the first time in a long time. Should he just kill Kaze so no one would know of his stupid comment?
"She would've been on the floor laughing at your jokes though, you two have a similar sense of humour," Kaze laughed a bit, his mind reminded him of something. As if anything could save Ali from his act of embarrassment.
"You know what I found the day of her passing though," Kaze reached to his back and pulled out the familiar sword. Emerald green with a sharp wind pattern etching down the blade. Ali's eyes lit up and he was saved from his act of embarrassment.
Kaze handed him the sword and Ali got to swinging.
"I kept it all this time to return to you," Kaze closed his eyes and spoke with pride in his decision. His pride was broken when Ali dropped the sword back into Kaze's lap. He looked up at Ali in confusion.
"You know, if you gave it to me after I turned into a demon, I would've cried and thanked you at your feet, but now… What am I going to do with a sword?" Ali laughed at Kaze's face, "Wait… you were carrying that for like a whole year with you?"
"Yes…" Kaze stared at the sword and looked back up at Ali.
"Well… You can keep it, or sell it, carry it on your back for another year or… whatever you want" Ali cleared his throat awkwardly, fighting back laughter.
Ali couldn't hold it, he burst out laughing, soon to be followed by Kaze.
They spent most of the night talking, like best friends. Like brothers. Just not the fighting every day and petty arguments type of brothers.
"Well, I should find some refuge now, the sun is about to come up," Ali stood up and stretched, he helped Kaze up. Kaze groaned from the injuries and exhaled in relief as he stood upright. He stretched and felt his entire body explode with pain. He was going to find a Wisteria House already.
"I need to find a Wisteria House and say I was attacked by Upper Moon Three," Kaze laughed as he stretched his arm and sighed.
"Say you didn't stand a chance, but then Upper Moon Three so graciously spared your pitiful life," Ali patted Kaze on the back, a bit too hard as Kaze shouted out in pain. They both burst out in laughter again.
"Ali… Before you go. Whatever happens, with Eira or anything. I'll be your side," Kaze extended his hand to Ali.
Ali smiled.
Their hands met in the true embrace of brotherhood. A dap. The perfect dap echoed through the lands, the formation of a new brotherhood was now completed.