Few hours later...
Shishio put Tao's body aside from his lap. His mantle, still wet from Tao's cry. Shishio stood up, glancing at the deeper ruins of the village.
Shishio : Mitsuri... If I didn't come back... Run. And do not look back.
Mitsuri's eyes widened in panic.
"what are you going to do Shishio sama!?" her voice was trembling and arms, feeling numb beside her body.
Shishio : Mitsuri, you are the only thing Tao has left in this world. Protect him at all cost. As he will do the same.
Mitsuri : answer me Shishio sama! What are you going to do!?
Shishio : if I didn't come back for a day, run out of the cave. And seal this village forever.
Before Mitsuri could process his words, Shishio lift up his blade and walked to the dark. Leaving her and Tao behind.
.
.
.
As he walked deeper in the village, he saw more and more of the shattered woods, windows, torn clothes and burnt houses left from the massacre.
"even after twenty years... It still feels fresh..." he whispered, then crouched near a small house in village. His eyes darting at a half burnt doll on the ruins.
"Akane..." he lift the doll up, brushing its unharmed eyes.
"Akane : Shishio! After mission we play!?
If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.
Shishio : of course Akane! You little lovely girl...!
Akane : hahaha! Best monster ever! Shishio best monster ever!"
"wish you are living a happy life little girl..." He whispered before putting the doll down again, leaving another memory behind and walking deeper in the village.
"court of the assassins... The place that I was handed the blade..."
He sit on his knees, fingers tracing the dust on his village flag. Brushing the symbol of crow with his thumb.
"Yatu... This was the place you handed me the blade... And I doomed our village with it... By being weak to control it..."
He lift his blade, placing two fingers at the halt of his greatsword, pushing his fingers in the half.
"third eye open... Scythe of dark" he swing his hand in a semi-circle, turning his blade into a scythe. Then, he brought his fingers out. A pale yellow eye crawled out of the scythe. It's pupil, staring at Shishio with a pleading gaze.
Shishio : what now...? Feeling what I'm about to do?
He lifts the scythe, pointing it at his heart, then, he swings the blade, its edge, tearing bit of his skin. Small drops of blood falling from the parted skin.
Shishio looked at his right arm. The purple aura, corrupting his arm till his shoulder.
Shishio : Why...? Let me end it... And find my redemption in afterlife...
Black angel : Shishio... Please... Listen to me...
Shishio's eyes widened in shock.
"who... Are you?..."
Black angel : your scythe... Your curse... I've been with you the moment you held the blade...
The eyelids of the eye on the scythe dropped. As if it was about to cry.
Black angel : can we... Talk? For the first time... My dear friend?
Shishio : friend?... Do not try to fool me with...
Black angel : I'm not trying to fool you! I'm... I'm Black angel! Just a bad child okay? A very very bad child with feelings...
Shishio slowly lowered the scythe, eyes widening in shock at the childlike sound and the raw plea in Black angel's voice.
"what do you mean by that...?"
Black angel : I'm just... I was an angel! A strong one! But... I had feelings... I liked humans... My lord... True light forbid me from heaven...
Shishio : and tortured you by manifesting your soul within this weapon...
"Yes!... But I want your forgiveness more than anything!..." Black angel's voice trembled, a small sob escaping him.
Shishio : my... Forgiveness? You want me to...
Black angel cut his words : Yes! I want you to forgive me! Because it was all my fault! It was all my selfish acts for you to hear me! I'm the worst! I know! You don't need to...
Shishio : I'm still alive... And you are not banished aswell... I forgave you... The moment I decided to keep you close...
Tears in Black angel's eye fell from the scythe.
"you wanted to be heard... Seems like we both wanted it..." Shishio whispered.
Black angel : why...? Why are you so calm!? You should be shouting at me! You should!...
Shishio put his hand on the scythe, gently brushing it.
Shishio : Shhh... I forgave you... Stop it.
Black angel : you can't just...
Shishio : I can... Because we both... Tortured each other for one word...
"Love..." they both whispered together. The strings on Shishio's mouth, finally teared apart. Tears falling down freely from his eyes without the burden of his past. But with the union of their shared pain.
A black wing emerged from his right shoulder, opening itself freely in the air. A single joyous tear fell from the scythe. Black angel, finally free from his prison and Shishio, for the first time, isn't alone in the path of redemption...
