His stance wavered. His feet took the tiniest of steps to and fro, trying to keep him standing, but in the end they failed to support him, and he came crashing down to his knees. Blood trickled down his chest in three streams and stained his pitch black uniform like a dark red nebula. Shadows ran across his eyes, carrying pictures of the family he abandoned for his calling. The shining silver blade fell out of his loose grip and clanged loudly against the marble floor. A pinch of a smile grabbed his cheek before he began falling to the floor.
But just as he was about to hit the ground, she wrapped her arms around him and pulled his head close to her chest. Saving him from the fatal impact she laid his head gently on her lap and fingered the three shuriken stars sticking out of his chest.
"I have to take these out Sen," she said.
He placed his hand weakly over hers. "They've shattered my sternum, Kina. I can feel my heart trying to escape, but this passionate monster must stay inside."
She stared at him unmoved and withdrew her hand from his. The building was on fire and her brothers and sisters were falling dead around her. But Kina remained, rock hard and stone cold.
"Look at me Kina."
She blinked and turned down to face him.
"You have to get it back Kina. Make your last move swift." He coughed and just managed to softly say, "I will see you at home," before he became absolutely still.
Gently she laid Sen's head on the ground and stood up, but only after plucking the bloody stars out of his chest. Clutching them tightly until her hands bled she bolted towards the vault, casting the stars at the remaining guards's foreheads, killing them instantly. One of her sisters had already opened the door and fell consequently. She leapt over her mangled body and dashed into the vault.
The samurai stood between her and her goal. She was ready. This was mortal combat, but their swords sliced viciously through the air. Swift, she thought. She threw her sword towards her opponent. In a flash she was at the table, hugging the pink monster tightly against her chest, and her opponent had pierced her from the back.
Tears rampaged down her cheeks, throwing out years of forgotten pain and sadness. She died, but she made it back home.
(photo via RegalRose.co.uk)
