#vtb-no.13

He opened his eyes. Would he die here? There wasn’t much for him here, but it was terrifying to think he would die. He had no idea what was on the other side. Was there nothing? Would he stop existing forever?

His chest spasmed and he coughed so hard snot bubbled out of his nose, tears leaking down his cheeks. He shivered and huddled tighter under his blanket.

He was so scared. It wasn’t fair. He knew that this day would come sooner rather than later. Like he was one of those doomed characters in the sad stories the older slaves would tell. The ones who fought their fate, but fell to it anyway.

He sniffled, wondering if there would be stories about him. Probably not. The only other person he was close to in this whole world was a semi-mute slave child who looked about as close to the grave as Ichimaru did. It was a shame. Ichimaru knew he looked quite striking under all the dirt. He would be a good character in a story.

He was distracted by those thoughts by a shuffling at the small door that lead to he quarantine room Ichimaru was staying in.

He looked over to see wide eyes, dirty skin, and long brown hair framing a skeletal face.

The young teen, Souka, crawled in and came to sit by Ichimaru, tears already welling in his eyes.

“I’m fine,” Ichimaru said, a smile coming easily to his face. “You shouldn’t be in here. You’ll get sick again.”

“I got you sick,” Souka rasped in a whisper, the scars on his throat jumping with the movement of his speech. “I want to help.” His lips kept moving to say like you helped me but his voice gave out. Ichimaru was used to reading Souka’s lips, though, so the message was not lost on him.

Ichimaru relaxed. He had comforted Souka when he was sick, sure that his little friend would die in those long sick nights, but Souka pulled through. Of course he would want to help Ichimaru the same way, though Ichimaru was sure it was not for the same reasoning. Souka was too relaxed. He had no idea Ichimaru was going to die. Ichimaru couldn’t stomach seeing Souka’s hope fade. It was his death day, but he wouldn’t tell his friend that. He was allowed to be selfish today of all days.

Souka got onto the pathetically thin pallet and under the blanket, wrapping his arms around Ichimaru to share his body heat. Ichimaru immediately felt overheated, but he put an arm around Souka in turn, taking comfort in the touch.

“I think I can-” get you more food tomorrow.

“You don’t have to,” Ichimaru said gently. “That’s very kind of you.”

Souka huffed. He cuddled closer to Ichimaru and the older teen sighed, closing his eyes. Souka would be the one to hear his final words. What did he even want to say? What could he say to try and keep Souka’s hopes up after he was gone.

“Do you want a story?”

Souka nodded against his chest.

“Good.” Ichimaru paused, covering his mouth and coughing painfully hard. He wipe his hand on the blanket before Souka could see the specks of blood that came up. “Remember the day we met?”

Souka nodded again. You named me. He mouthed, a faint whisper behind the movements.

“Yes. I named you. I still can’t believe you hadn’t heard the story of the hero Souka before we met.”

Souka cleared his throat, wincing in pain, and rasped, “The Slave Freer.”

“The Slave Freer,” Ichimaru echoed warmly. “He was like us, once. Getting sick, sneaking extra food for friends, working his butt off for the masters during the day. Just like you.”

Souka nodded excitedly and Ichimaru was surprised. In the past when he had told this story, there had always been doubt in Souka’s eyes. But now, he seemed eager to drink up and believe every word that Ichimaru spoke. Ichimaru had a sinking feeling in his stomach beyond the emptiness and nausea.

“He promised he would get free, and when he was strong, he would be back to free the slaves. And he kept his word, coming back and freeing all of the slaves, holding back the masters while they all escaped. He gave his life for their futures. The others are afraid to-” Ichimaru broke off, coughing hard into his hand again, knocking Souka off of his chest with his seizing.

Souka put a hand on Ichimaru’s chest, worry and fear in his eyes. Ichimaru forced himself to recover quickly, laughing weakly. “Sorry. Umm…. Oh the others are afraid to speak of him. They’re afraid to hope that there is a way out.”

Souka nodded, settling back in. “Like Old Jassy.”

“Yes, like Old Jassy.”

Jassy shut down any talk of Souka, hope, or freedom. She thought that it was cruel to give any of the slaves hope, instead focusing on the joy they had where they were, few and far between it may be. She had been very angry when she found out Ichimaru had give the name Souka to his previously nameless friend.

“And one day, Souka, I know you will be better than him. You will get out and you will free everyone here. And you’ll do even better than the first Souka. You will live to see it all! Maybe you’ll even end slavery!”

Souka’s eyes seemed to glow at the idea, putting his heart and soul into believing it for the first time since Ichimaru had known him. “And you will be there with me. I can’t do it without you.”

Ichimaru smiled, trying to keep the pain and sadness out of his eyes. “Yes. I will be with you, every step of the way.” Even if that was only in spirit. There had to be something after death. He needed to be there for Souka, even if it was in an intangible way.

Souka hummed and closed his eyes. Ichimaru put a hand on Souka’s head and said, “Good night.”

Souka nodded, mouth moving, but Ichimaru couldn’t see what he said.

Ichimaru waited until Souka had relaxed, his chest moving smoothly and calmly before he blew out a sigh, closing his own eyes.

He was so scared. He could feel death settling in, taking his limbs. He could feel it’s cold breath on his face. He was so scared. He was so terrified and he didn’t want to go. He wanted to live. He had to take care of Souka. He had to make sure he didn’t lose hope.

Ichimaru was still so full of hope himself. He needed to believe there was something better for him. This couldn’t be the end. His life had been so unfair. This couldn’t be it!

Silent tears made their way down his cheeks, but he didn’t even have the energy to wipe them away.

He was cold. His chest hurt. He was fading. He was scared. It was too much! It was too fast! He should have said more. He should have told Souka he loved him! Ichimaru should have told him he was dying. He should have given Souka a proper chance to say goodbye!

His breathing was getting shallower and shallower, his vision leaving him, and just as he felt the fear and pain would consume him and make him mad just before death, a small voice seemed to whisper to him, dispelling all of the fear and anguish.

Come, Ichimaru. Come home. He will not be left alone. He will be loved. You have done what you can.

Ichimaru’s last breath came out as a sigh of relief as the pain and regret left him, and he did as the voice asked.

…………………………………………………

Souka opened his eyes, becoming aware before becoming fully awake. He was sore and cold. Ichimaru was…..

Souka sat up quickly in the darkness, reaching for the old mage light kept in the quarantine room, tapping it to turn it on again.

Ichimaru’s glassy eyes stared blankly ahead, limbs stiff and cold.

Souka stared down at the body, uncomprehending and terrified.

He shook Ichimaru and his heart dropped. No! This couldn’t be happening! He sobbed, hand on Ichimaru’s chest. He began mouthing quickly, but his voice wouldn’t come. It wouldn’t voice what he desperately needed to say. This wasn’t fair! It’s not fair! He knew Ichimaru was fragile, he knew that he got sicker quicker than anyone else. He knew he should have pushed him out of the quarantine room when he came to cuddle with Souka when he was sick.

Souka threw back his head and wailed in anguish, the sound stuttering, airy, and broken. He had killed his best friend! He had killed his brother! The person who had given him a name, a purpose, and a hope was dead! He was gone forever and he left Souka behind.

Souka bowed over Ichimaru’s body, pressing his head into Ichimaru’s stiff chest. He had dared to hope, dared to believe Ichimaru’s words as though that would help him recover. As though his hope would be enough to get Ichimaru through this and protect him. As if it would protect Souka from the sorrows he had been faced with in his whole life.

He sobbed loudly, clutching at Ichimaru’s ragged clothing, begging him to come back.

“I can’t-” do this on my own! I can’t! PLEASE.

Old Jassy found him hours later when the supervisors noticed he was missing, curled around a corpse staring blankly at the wall. She sighed, rolling up her sleeves in preparation to peel him off of the one person who had well and truly loved him in his entire life.

VTB Part 14