the genius of slaughter

The End

▼十二大戦log by わ び

❝ guilty? I asked you—you needn’t worry. I apologize that I’ve been remiss or…vague, at the very least, ❞ the ox tsked. he considered waver a friend and yet he knew very little. ushii was accustomed, after all, to a degree of recognition among others. a part of him liked not being regarded as the natural born killer…perhaps that was why he’d waited. ❝ if I tell you it will make more sense, ❞

❝ a short explanation is that from the time I was very young I was trained as a warrior, a mercenary sent to put a stop to wars as the ox. every twelve years those who have the mantle of zodiac participate in a proxy war—nations and organizations that unquestionably control the majority of the world place their wagers. it is a fight to the death, last warrior standing. the winner is rewarded with any wish. this is what I prepared for. this is what I endured. my wish…was to be saved. ❞ ushii dipped his head. waver’s words struck a nerve. was he being selfish? to see her smile, to be locked in her embrace…but to be gone for months on end fighting battle after battle, war after war. then again his wish in itself was also selfish. wars would continue without him. people would die. but he was so weary. ❝ she would have waited…but I think you are right. it would have been cruel. I wish I could have seen her then, if just one last time. in any case I hope that clarifies the matter. ❞

       Somehow, Ushii’s explanation was familiar. A war that gave a wish to its victory; it was far too similar to a path he had walked years ago, a path that he wanted to walk again if opportunity presented itself to him. For now, he said nothing about his own circumstances, only listened as Ushii spoke. Perhaps one day he would share his own past with him, but until then, he wanted them to have a moment for their own. “That’s a noble wish. It is fine to want something for yourself, something that is for your own benefit. There is nothing wrong in taking for your own just this once.” It was difficult to do, to take something for one’s self without giving in return, but he didn’t fault Ushii for it. 

❝ I had grown weary, ❞ and still the dark circles under his eyes persisted despite the months now of reprieve. he would never say that he'd been physically exhausted but psychologically and emotionally were entirely different aspects with the work he had done. war atrocities were a heavy burden for the psyche. even so, there was a part of him that felt that he had to justify his choice even as waver condoned this sliver of selfishness. justify to himself, ushii supposed, that it truly had been a right decision.

Sebastián Castella´s house, via S moda

Torero.