Knights of Shadows: Love and War

17

//Toya's Perspective

Toya felt his heart drop as I saw my own family pitted against me. However, Akito was his world. If he had to fight on the knight's side against his family members while under intense pain, Toya would endure it just for Akito. The group decided it was best to separate. Toya didn't really want to part from Akito's side as he knew he didn't have long left. But, when he saw Akito's face, determined to win, Toya bent to his world.

The plan was for Toya and Akito to go off on their own, so they had room to take out as many people as possible. Then, An and Kohane would go off together, as An was injured and couldn't be on her own, and Kohane had no prior battle experience. Toya felt his body resist his movement as he mercilessly slayed hundreds of his own soldiers. He felt weaker by the minute, all he knew was that he had to speed this up. He ran through hundreds more, not stopping for a second. All of these people were human beings. All of these people had lives of their own. Yet they were groomed to believe all that mattered was winning and losing.

These soldiers reminded Toya of his past self. Constantly fighting, but for no purpose. His heart was empty and full of resentment. He reflected on how dehumanizing war can make a person. However, thanks to Akito, he realized that his life had so much more meaning than he anticipated. Just like his 'family' did, it seemed that Toya had been overlooking his inherent worth as a human being. He smiled. Only someone as bright as Akito could bring that side of himself out.

Toya's weakening body tensed up as Princess Mafuyu appeared in front of him. "Toya, come on what are you doing? Taking your anger out on these soldiers? You should've known better than to think you could change their will." She questioned. Toya shook his head. "Mafuyu, I'm sorry. I'm fighting against them." Toya stated as he slowly blinked his silver eyes. Mafuyu showed a slight bit of emotion. "Huh... What is this feeling..? It feels as if I am being eaten alive. Why do I feel like this..?" She asked as she pulled her sword out. Toya softened his eyes. "So that means you're my enemy now, yes..? So, all I would have to do is eliminate you." She said as her body shook. She didn't understand why she was feeling anything. Toya wasn't supposed to mean anything to her, so why..?

Toya watched as his sister pulled our her sword and swooped in for battle. He struggled to dodge her attacks as his inner condition continued to worsen within the second. He grunted. Mafuyu immediately noticed his lack of ruthlessness. "Why are you holding back!? Huh!?" His younger sister yelled as her voice strained. She kept hitting him, he merely blocked with his sword. Neither his body nor his heart could bring him to attack his sister, even if she didn't know it, he knew deep down, that she cared about him.

After tirelessly attacking him to no prevail she crumbled on the ground. "Just kill me already. Quit playing with me, I'm a failure." She muttered. Toya shook his head. "I'm no going to." She grew desperate. "What purpose do I have if I can't defeat the enemy in front of me..?" Toya responded in silence. He understood how she felt more than anyone else. He began to walk away, she reached her arm out. "Why won't you kill me..? I hate you.. I hate you. I hate you..! I HATE YOU!" She screamed Toya shuttered at the harsh words. He knew she didn't mean them out they still hurt more than the physical pain of the poison slowly deteriorating his body.

Toya ran through more soldiers, his senses slowly becoming less focused and his vision blurred. He battled the urge to fall asleep as he ran. He blearily made his way through countless soldiers. Until eventually he encountered his parents. They were atop of a hill and he could watch as Akito, An and the other knights lead by King Tsukasa and Princess Saki pummeled through the soldiers all from above. He was relieved to see that they were doing so well. He turned towards his father. His father cowardly before him as Toya backed him into a wall. His mother remained silent.

"What do you say we end this, here and now..?" Toya said as he pulled out his sword on the father who never loved him. Who left him and his biological mother to die all those years ago. "Toya... Son... We can talk about this..!" Toya's father weakly exclaimed. Toya glared at him. Toya threw a white flag by his father's side. "If you want to live, surrender." Toya commanded as he looked over his neglectful father. His father remained silent. He'd rather die than accept defeat by Toya's hands. Toya's mother however, wasn't ready to loose him just yet. Toya prepared to take the life of his father as his mother grabbed the flag and waved it around. Toya's eyes widened as the war had been declared over.

//Akito's Perspective

I had been tirelessly taking out soldiers left and right. It seemed as if every new soldier I took down, a new one appeared. I eventually fought my way to Rui Kamishiro, who had been hiding from the conflict. I crossed my arms. "You contributed to this, why don't you take it like a man." I said unsympathetically. Rui sighed. "I only wanted to see your downfall. I had no intention of betraying the king..." He muttered. My eyes widened in shock. "What did I ever do to you..?" I was angered. Rui smiled. "You were always in the way... I just wanted to higher my position, but you took every opportunity I had. The king's attention only landed on your endless skill." Rui explained.

"Now I've really messed up, even attempting to kill you and An... That prince really is something, huh? Lasting this long despite being poisoned himself." Rui admitted. I felt my eyes widen. "Toya..? Poisoned..?" I shook my head. It was that glass of water wasn't it..? And Rui was going to blame it on the king if it ever came back to him, wasn't he. My arms swung the sword at Rui. I swung it, however I stabbed my sword in the ground beside Rui. "You aren't worth the effort." I sighed, as I ran to find Toya.

I looked up to see the queen of the rival kingdom waving a white flag. Toya stood in front of her with a sword. I ran over to him, my mind refusing to put him. on the back burner again. He had been suffering so much, and my tunnel vision had prevented me from seeing it. I was upset at myself for not realizing when I felt his forehead burning up that something was wrong. Instead I let the battle ahead get in the way.