Prologue

Prologue

She may not have been the strongest of the four and she may not have been the wisest, but even she could tell that this was not supposed to be happening.

Yet, despite the self treacherous thoughts, the thoughts that if heard by the other three would make her the joke of the elite four, she can't help but find the situation humorous.

This time it had gotten her killed… Her self confide… No her arrogance, as she realizes now, had gotten her killed this time.

As her head leans back, with only her shoulders to support it, she gazes up at the stars, awed in their beauty.

Of course the stars are none other than her comrades… No, her friends and… Lady Satsuki, all fighting for the sake of the people who can't fight back... For humanity…

Even that girl… Matoi is fighting for them… For us…

'Huh… I guess she's not that bad… If you look past the sluttly clothing and attitude towards Lady Satsuki…'

Bringing her head forward, she's a bit surprised seeing as her chin is now resting against her sternum.

"Tch"

'Already out of energy… who knew snakes were so pathetic…'

"He-guh-COUGH"

Despite the attempt at a self-deprecating laugh, she's shocked when the cough she had let out leaves a streak of red behind, coating her Goku uniform in a splash of red.

Following the trail of red downward, she reaches the epicenter of her demise, a large spool of life fibers skewered through her abdomen.

As her vision begins to blur, darkness encroaching on her senses, she can only retaliate before the inevitable… Yet despite this…

'Wellll… I can't do any good as a kebab…'

Gritting her teeth, she steels her nerves and-

"KUH-sssssss"

With only a hiss of pain, she tears the life fibers straight out of her gut.

"Heeeh… Heeeehh… fuck…"

Pulling herself up on the piece of rubble she had been so kindly pinned to, she stands there briefly catching her breath.

'Even if I'm not as strong as Lady Satsuki… Or even that damn toad... This won't be enough to hold me down!'

Wiping, as well as spitting, away the blood from her mouth, she glances up from underneath the brim of her now crumpled band hat, giving a brief glance at the ruins of Honōji… As well as it's students.

Even from the small part she can see from here blurred and dark vision… Amongst the rubble and ashes of Honōji academy lay its students, those who are too weak or just too unfortunate enough as to not have made it out of this battle unscathed… And of their condition, she cannot say.

With a certain amount of time determination behind her eye, as well as a certain grit behind her smirk, she stands up fully, breathing out a heavy wave of air.

"Right… Let's end it, for her…"

Taking a step forward, she starts to gain back her composure despite her miserable state before taking a second step forward.

And then, she falls.

THUD

As her body hits the ground, with little more than a twitch, the reality of the situation finally dawns on Nonon Jakuzure. The unbearable weight… The scorching flames and the hitting cold… Even the darkness.

'I'm… Going to die…'

In another attempt at a laugh, she can only muster up a bloodied cough, as her body reacts with a shaky twitch.

'Hah… I'm sure… Inumuta is gonna bite me for this… I really screwed up this time…'

As the last bit of hope leaves her vision, plunging her senses into total darkness, she can feel it… Her entire being, shutting down, slowly, with all that's left is the acceptance of the fact.

'I'm sorry... Lady Satsuki…'

…

..

.

"C'mon Little lady… They say you shouldn't keep the Ferryman waiting"

"Hmm… Just a little longer."

"A little longer…? You've been watching them for days!"

"Hmph, of course you wouldn't understand, days aren't enough time to take in Lady Satsuki's beauty!"

"..."

"This isn't about your Lady… Is it?"

"Sigh… Listen kid… I've been doing this job for ages… I've seen a thing or two… You can't go back, and I sure as hell can't leave you here… Just get in the boat so I can help you cross already-"

"It's not about staying!... I just… Wish I could've helped her more… Just a little more…"

As she gazes across the vast river, across the water onto the trio of Lady Satsuki, Matoi, and the slacker… she can't help but wince at the slight sorrow in her eyes…

CREAK THUD

Sitting down next to her, on the edge of the old rowboat is a tall and thin man, clad in a tattered brown cloak. His arms, which rest on his cloth covered knees, are pitch black in color, as well as disproportionately large for his size, being grotesque and claw-like in shape. Other than his hands, the only thing visible from under his cloak is two masses of red swirling mist, acting as his eyes from under his hood.

"Me too… Kid…"

Sitting there in silence… The ferryman eventually stands back up, grabbing a large wooden paddle from the floor of the row boat.

Stopping a moment, the ferryman looks down at her, as if thinking for a moment.

"Well, ya'know kid… You owe me for letting you stay around so long after you kicked the bucket…"

Hearing this, she turns her head away from across the river, looking up towards him as she leans back putting her hands on the floor of the boat.

"Well… Wherever you end up next, make sure to make my job easier…"

Staring blankly at the ferryman, a small smile quietly spreads on her face as she finally gets up from the edge of the boat.

"Right… So where to next, ferryman?"

"Hm… That's not my job to know missy… I go wherever the river takes us…"

And so, Nonon Jakuzure made an unofficial deal with death.

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Words 998