*Side Story # 5 Death of Yamanaka Shouji
Upon reaching the Valley of the End, Ryo staggered towards the fallen Shouji and collapsed next to him before gently scooping Shouji against his chest. He could feel himself losing blood. So much that he was getting giddy.
-------
(Flashback)
"It's because you're like my brother Shouji, why are you doing this?", asked Ryo
"The Village took Yukimura Sensei, the village Hotari from us, they took everything Ryo" Shouji answered, his voice unwavering. "Our bonds are broken Ryo, I will destroy Konoha."
-------
Shouji's eyes opened, they once sparkled with life but now they were dull and yet still so beautiful. Shouji spoke in a soft voice that hurt Ryo on the inside so much because the blond was never so soft and the words he said pierced him. "I knew I was going to die Shouji, I knew it because I cannot live after betraying Konoha."
"Don't! Don't say that you idiot," Ryo mumbled holding his head against Shouji's chest, his bloody hands trembling.
Shouji laughed softly, "It feels like… one part of me is missing. It's strange really, who would have thought that I could actually miss… a single woman...HeHe... Guess I really liked Hotari too much."
"Shouji…", whispered Ryo
-------
(Flashback)
"Why Shouji, why would you destroy what was once our home?!", asked Ryo frustrated
"To avenge sensei. To avenge Hotari. To avenge Keiko! (shouji's sister)", said Shouji with venom in his eyes, that shows nothing but hatred towards the very village, where he once made his bonds
"I can't let you touch Konoha, Shouji!" He begged, "Please!"
"You can't stand in my way Ryo.", answered Shouji
-------
"I knew you were going to stop me," Shouji whispered as a few tears slipped out of his eyes as they stared straight into Ryo's soul. Ryo felt hot wetness rolling down his own cheeks as he cradled Shouji gently against his chest.
"I'm sorry, Shouji, I'm—…" Ryo choked once, "So sorry."
Shouji gave Ryo a weak cheeky grin, "Stop it bastard…" then he took a slow breath in, "So unlike you."
Ryo continued to hold Shouji close to him despite his weakening arms. He would hold the world in his arms if it would keep this moment alive. His own heart wrenching painfully as he felt Shouji's steadily decreasing heartbeat. To him, it felt like his own world was going to end and it wasn't because of his steady loss of blood, it was the impact of thinking Shouji no longer alive.
Shouji seemed very content just lying in Ryo's arms.
Ryo was sure Shouji's life was slowly being drained away and even then, Ryo refused to let go.
"Hey...Bastard...Happy Birthday!!! this might be... my very last wish", Shouji was dying
Today was his birthday, today he planned to propose Mikoto, the love of his life, today he found out that it's her wedding day...Today he killed his best friend by his own hands for betraying the village.
"Don't worry I will be joining you soon", said Ryo smiling weakly
He can't let Shouji go alone, he already lost everything...Yukimura Sensei is gone...Hotari is gone...Mikoto is gone...and now in few moments Shouji will be gone as well
Shouji's eyes widened as much as they could before they searched Ryo's eyes desperately to see if he was lying but all he saw was this calm understanding. "You're dying?"
Ryo smiled a genuine smile, "I went all out against rebels and finished them, and I lost a lot of blood in the process."
"Live, Ryo!" Shouji said as loud as he could but it only came out as a whisper.
Ryo shook his head, "It's too late. Just like you, I have nothing to live for, so let's just leave this wretched hell of a village together and meet Hotari and Sensei in heaven."
Pink lips opened as Shouji tried to make sense of what Ryo just said. Slowly, he spoke. "You shouldn't stay here...Ryo, you can live...This village was Sensei's Dream...It is Hotari's Legacy...They gave their lives for it
"I will not leave my Friend to die, not when I am the one who killed you, even if it kills me I will not go anywhere", said Ryo
Shouji whispered. "I am not your Responsibility. Sensei was not your Responsibility either. Neither was Hotari, Stop blaming yourself. and stop being a Mother. I am dying and you can't do a thing staying by my side "
"If you die," Ryo said coldly, his own heart jumping around in his chest, "It would save me a lot of trouble."
On the inside, Shouji knew some part of Ryo broke.
Why did he do what he did? Maybe because there was just too much wrong that he couldn't undo, and there were just too many words he did not know how to say, how to express. Ryo shook his head; the smile was still on his face. "I… Shouji…"
Shouji smiled in understanding as tears made their way down his long cheeks. "You bastard… I really don't want you to die, and yet my heart is rejoicing because you wanted to see me before I die…" A short intake of breath, "I believed in you, and you didn't let me down. I knew you wouldn't let me destroy the place I used to call home. I Knew You wouldn't let me Destroy Hotari and Sensei Legacy just like that"
Maybe this was how Ryo expected to redeem himself, the feeling of such loss and desperation. The feeling like the entire world plus the universe had just collapsed on your shoulder, all the wrongs he had done, all the mistakes he had made, was repaid in this very moment where Shouji laid in his arms, eyes barely open and conscious.
Just thinking the blond gone made Ryo's heart-ache so painfully he was sure he was bound to just explode. No physical or mental pain could compare to this. The words 'before I die' coming out from Shouji were like the sharpest kunai plunging into him and stabbing him over and over again.
-------
(Flashback)
"You mean the Famous Speed Demon Ryo of Konoha is your best friend?" A Konoha Rebel snorted loudly. "And now you're teaming up with the people who want to destroy him. You're really heartless, leader."
-------
Something inside Shouji stretched and pulled. Why was he feeling like that? He was going to destroy Konoha even if it meant destroying Ryo as well. Then Why does Seeing Ryo crying heavily... hurt so much?
He should have killed Ryo at the Valley of the End years ago so that most of his troubles would be gone now. He wouldn't be able to stop his plan of Destroying Konoha as he did now, But he could not...It hurts It Hurts so so damn Much DAMMIT
Ryo was crying heavily he was shaking from head to toe, he knew nobody could change what was going to happen. Shouji was dying, and his own life was being sucked away every second as he lost more blood from his wounds. There was nothing else he could do, all he could think of was 'Was this how helplessness felt? It never felt so excruciating. Even worse compared to when Sensei died, Worse than Hotari died, Worse than Mikoto's betrayal, at least he knew he had someone to go for, but now that very someone is dying because he himself killed him.
Ryo looked up into the sky, the time was written with the position of the moon. "I said… back then that if you died, I wouldn't care. But… I cared. *Hic* I cared so much *Hic* I CARED SO SO MUCH."
He closed his eyes ready to die in the embrace of his dead friend...Only to see two Konoha shinobi running towards him Yelling his name
"No...Don't come closer...I wish to die...Let me be in Peace", whispered Ryo before he closed his eyes
-------
When He opened his eyes he was in the hospital...He gave his mission briefing while in the hospital bed
"I attacked rebels that were trying to destroy Konoha, Under the mysterious Leader...While I defeated The rebels but they were too many I lost too much blood...there was a high chance that I would have failed the mission but...Yamanaka Shouji was there for some Unknown Reasons...He protected me while killed the rest of the rebels...In the process, he died...Killed"
When ANBU gave the briefing Written Statement to Hokage, He seemed to have found the peculiarities in the statement but he seemed to let go...He was once a Soldier in the battlefield as well, He knows what it feels like
-------
When Doctor came to give medicines the next day, Ryo was not in his bed...
He staggered in front of the memorial stone, There was his name, Yamanaka Shouji alongside, Hotari and Sensei's name, Ryo smiled weakly, his mouth was leaking Blood...He was not in a condition to move around but he chooses to stand there staring at the name of Memorial Stone.
-------
You Know you are true friends with each other, when it's hard to say goodbye...