(The wind howls. The mountain stands as a silent witness.)
A Month Earlier:
Yua laughs as she effortlessly knocks both Ryo and Kyou flat on their backs during training.
"Come on, boys! Is that all you've got?"
Kyou scowling, dusting himself off.
"Tch… You're just showing off now."
Ryo groaned but also grinned.
"...Worth the bruises if it means we're learning."
(Back then—they were still all close allies.)
The Mountain Summit:
Kyou exhales, gripping his weapon tighter—his voice low.
"...She'd hate seeing us like this." (A rare moment of vulnerability—quickly buried.)
Ryo doesn't deny it. His sword gleams under the fading light as he steps forward.
"Yeah… But we're here anyway." (No turning back.)
(Some bonds don't break cleanly—they fray, they twist... until only scars remain.)
Training Session
Kyou tries to land a hit, but Yua easily dodges—laughing as she does.
"You have to move faster than that."
Kyou scowls, but there's a hint of respect in his eyes.
"I will. Just... give me a few more months."
Yua rolls her eyes, but her eyes are fondly fond.
"A few months? You're lucky I'm even teaching you at all."
Ryo watches from the sideline, a little envious.
The Mountain Summit
Ryo watches Kyou tighten his grip on his weapon.
"It's not too late, Kyou."
Kyou scoffs, glaring daggers at him.
"No. It's far too late."
The air is heavy with tension—the weight of that statement hanging like a guillotine.
But even so… Ryo doesn't flinch—his sword holds steady.
"For her, for us… We still have time."
Ryo's gaze is steely—his voice firm, no hint of doubt.
"For every loss, we keep fighting."
Kyou scoffs, rolling his eyes.
"Spare me the motivational speech."
Ryo shakes his head, eyes unwavering.
"It's not about motivational speeches. It's about what we owe her... and what we owe ourselves."
(A reminder, not just to Kyou—but to himself as well.)
Kyou scoffs, his voice bitter.
"Bonding was a mistake. We were both naïve—we never should have let her get so close."
Ryo doesn't flinch, his eyes hard.
"Maybe. But she was our mistake to make. And she was worth it."
A Few Days Ago
The sun hangs low, painting the training grounds in warm hues. Sweat drips from their brows as Ryo and Kyou collapse onto the grass—both exhausted, but satisfied.
Kyou glances over at Ryo, curiosity flickering behind his usual stoicism.
"Why do you want to be a Hunter so badly?" (A rare moment of genuine questioning.)
Ryo exhales sharply—not expecting the question. But his answer is immediate:
"Because I can't stand feeling helpless." (No hesitation.) "I refuse to lose anyone else like that again."
(Kyou doesn't respond… but for once, he doesn't scoff either.)
Kyou studies him—sharp, assessing.
"So you fight… to protect people who can't?"
Ryo doesn't hesitate.
"Yeah." (Simple. Direct.) "Someone has to."
Kyou looks away with a scoff—but there's no real bite behind it this time. Just something unreadable flickering in his eyes before he mutters:
"...Naïve." (But maybe—just maybe—he respects it a little.)
Ryo straightens up, conviction lighting his eyes.
"I want to change the way people see Hunters."
Kyou gives him a sidelong glance, eyebrows arched.
"Change the way people see Hunters? Good luck with that." (But there's a note of curiosity in his voice.)
Ryo gazes at him expectantly, his expression stern—but his tone holds an undercurrent of understanding.
"Why become a Hunter now? You never wanted anything to do with it before."
Kyou doesn't flinch. His voice is cold but unflinching.
"Things change. That's all."
Ryo's frown deepens—his voice pressing harder.
"No, that's not it. You don't just 'change your mind' about something like this. What happened?"
Kyou exhales sharply through his nose, eyes flickering with irritation (and something darker). But he doesn't answer—because the truth is too bitter to say out loud.
(Some reasons are written in scars, not words.)
Ryo nods solemnly.
"Yeah. I think I finally do."
Kyou scowls—a bitter, twisted look passing over his face.
"Oh yeah? And what have you figured out, Ryo?"
Ryo gazes back at him, steady and sure.
"You're angry... and you're hurting."
Kyou looks away, his jaw tight with anger—but there's no denying the pain in his eyes.
"So what if I am?"
Kyou scoffs, but the anger in his eyes dims a bit.
"Yeah? And how would you know that?"
Ryo's voice is soft, but his gaze is unwavering.
"Because I've carried burdens like that before. And trust me, it's a lot easier when you share the weight."
Kyou's eyes narrow—his words sharp, meant to cut.
"You're not built for this world, Ryo. You think being kind makes you strong? Do those ideals matter here?" (A scoff.) "Hunters survive by doing what needs to be done. And you... can't."
Ryo doesn't flinch—just meets his glare headon.
"Then I'll prove you wrong."
Kyou's gaze hardens—there's a finality in his voice.
"Enough talk. Time to end this."
Ryo readies his sword—no trace of fear in his eyes.
"I won't let you destroy yourself. If it means stopping you... I'll fight you till the end."
The wind howls around them, the moon high above—a witness to the battle that will decide both their fates.
In that moment, everything falls away—all that matters is the sword in Ryo's hand.
"I won't let you take the path of destruction."
Kyou doesn't flinch—his eyes narrow, his grip tightening on his weapon.
"And I won't let you hold me back."
The clash begins with the sound of screaming metal—neither willing to give an inch.
"And so... the bonds that once united them now became the very blades that sought to tear each other apart."
⚔️End Of Chapter Forty Nine