Honorable Death [Solo Job]

Job Information:

The breeze was sweet as it rolled in from the west, masking the smell of soot and steam from the nearby railway station. A seemingly lonely figure stood just outside the station office, exchanging currency for a ticket to Hargeon scheduled for departure three hours from the time he purchased it. The ticket office employee looked over the small slip with a concerned grumble and handed it to the shaggy headed man who purchased it.

"You look like you just came from the train. If you needed a transfer, I can drum up a closer departure time." he said, trying to be of service. The passenger peered up at the booth through mirrored sunglasses and took the ticket into his hand.

"No, that's fine." he responded almost somberly, "I have a quick errand to run before leaving."

The man's tone carried both purpose and reluctance. It was fairly well masked by his typical laid back, almost exhausted drawling tone, but the ticket booth operator could feel the gravity of his words even if they were carefully chosen to shrug off any possibility of such a weight. The traveler slipped the ticket into his pocket and hefted his shoulder bag containing all of his possessions in the world. As he stepped away from the booth, he noticed a loose thread sticking up in the pocket his hand rested inside of.

"Where did..." he muttered to himself, wondering how the thread came to be. It bothered him more than a loose thread should. Nearly enough to keep him from noticing the itch at the back of his head. An itch inside his mind. As if someone was tapping on his very soul.

"Are you really doing this, Atsu?' came a concerned voice, rough like a warrior's. The voice referred to the mission the man was about to embark. A request to end the life of an old warrior seeking an honorable death that he had not felt on the battlefield. Atsusemimaru nodded, ash gray hair shifting with the movement of his head.

"I need money, Hyou. This seemed like an easy way to get it." Atsu responded coldly. If Hyouryu were able to punch his friend in the face he would have.

"Don't give me that shit! You're talking about ending a man's life! A soldier's life! Hyouryu shouted in anger, "You know as well as I do that such an honor is reserved for the battlefield! Or at least let him honorably take his own life..."

The former warrior trailed off, having difficulty forming words through his protest. Atsu continued to stroll through the small town as unassumingly as he could while he responded.

"This isn't Ning, Hyou. Honorable suicide ain't these peoples' bag." the disheveled man turned the corner, wooden sandals clacking upon the stone street leading to the town gates, "Besides, he hasn't disgraced himself or his lord. I don't think..."

"Milord is right. Even if he were to act as his second, t'would be a waste for him to spill his innards."

"Fine!" Hyou roared, clearly not yet convinced, "Just... can I be there? When you do it? I want to at least meet the man."

"That's fine with me. You wanna come too, Mitsuhide?" Atsu called out to the other voice.

"I would rather not. If you will forgive me, I do not happen to share Hyouryu's fondness of death."

"No one said you had to, my brother. Don't worry." said Astu reassuringly. The lesser god in a fledgling wizard's body rummaged through his bag after leaving the front gates and produced a folded piece of paper. Unfolding it, he looked upon the writing. It was a job notice, clearly a mass printed template with spots to write the details of one's request. In handwriting much sloppier than the printed letters on the mass produced flier, details of the request were written along with a crudely drawn map of the area outside of Oshibana. Atsu noted the mark on the map and where it was in relation to what he saw. After deciding on where the destination was, he made his way to the indicated spot. It wasn't far out of town. After only about twenty minutes of walking, the wizard saw a tiny silhouette of a figure in the distance. He stood at the edge of a cliff overlooking a lake. The closer he got, the more he realized how squat the figure was turning out to be. Another minute or so and he was able to make out a short, but stocky man dressed in worn armor. His back was turned, long white hair and beard fluttering in the breeze as he seemed to watch the waters of the lake.

As Atsu approached, the old man addressed him before he got a chance to speak.

"No need to be shy, son." the old warrior spoke in a deep, rolling gravel. Like thunder in the distance, "I know why yer here. Nothin' gets past these ears. Ye've got a paper in yer hand, don't ye?"

A sigh escaped his lips as he spoke, anticipating the coming event. Atsu walked up to him, putting away the paper. The old man kept his gaze focused on the lake. A silent pause washed over the two of them as they both stared at the mirrored surface of the water. The perfect glass-like sheen would be periodically broken by the wind grazing the lake or the odd avian animal swooping in for a meal.

"This was me favorite place as a lad." the former soldier broke the silence, "Had me first kiss here, too. T'ain't mean I was no ladies man, though."

The old man chuckled sentimentally.

"How old are ye, lad?" he inquired as he finally looked in Atsu's direction. The over 5,000 year old spirit hadn't yet decided on a firm age to tell people. He couldn't rightfully go around saying he was eons old and he equally wasn't able to give the age of the vessel he occupied as it wasn't even a year old yet. As he looked at the old man, he finally noticed a sword and shield leaning against a large boulder nearby. Did the aged soldier plan to defend himself?

"Um... thirty-four." the old man smiled, the corners of his long braided beard rising along with it.

"A fine age. Still in yer prime. Might want to speed up yer wizardin' if ye wanna make it to A rank by yer 40s, though."

It was Atsu's turn to chuckle this time. As far as he was considered, he had all the time in the world. He passed forty a very long time ago. The soldier sighed heavily and turned to his weapon. After waddling over to the gear leaning against the rock, he hefted it up and strapped the shield to his arm.

"Well, then. let's get this over with, aye?" Atsu nodded and grasped his glasses by the temple, removing them from his face to reveal a pair of piercing eyes that betrayed his devil-may-care persona. After thrusting a hand out to his side, the air just a foot away from it exploded with energy. The scenery warped and shifted until an oval as tall as a full grown man was ripped open as if the fabric of reality was forcibly ripped apart in that spot. From the depths of this oval came a blue light that shined brilliantly before taking the shape of a foot clad in armor up to the knee. This continued up the armored leg and eventually the glowing blue figure fully stepped from the portal. As the oval closed and the place it once stood returned to normal, the figure clad in light dimmed until the features of a man clad in black armor under a blue coat were visible. The lopsided golden crest on his helmet shone brilliantly in the sunlight. Under the helmet, the man stared intensely at the old soldier, his eyes quickly recognizing those of a man who had seen countless battles.

"Yo, old man." Hyouryu spoke in about as much respect as he was capable of. He rested his hand on the pommel of one of his six katana strapped to his hips.

"Who... who're ye?" the weathered war hero asked in confusion, lowering his shield slightly.

"He's the one who is going to take your life." Atsu replied plainly. Hyouryu shot a glance at his friend in surprise.

"Seriously?! Why aren't you doing it?" he asked in shock.

"Well for one, I can't. You're my muscle, brother." the wizard said in jest. He then lowered his head and inhaled sharply, "Also, I figured this was the most honorable way for our war hero to meet his demise. At the hands of another war hero."

The old man smiled broadly and threw himself into a roaring fit of laughter. After catching himself, he spoke -- wiping his wet eyes.

"Aye. I like that! Thank ye, lad."

"So how do you want to do this?" Hyouryu asked somberly as he slid one of his blades free from its scabbard. Holding the gleaming sword it at his side, he motioned to the old man, "Battle or murder?"

"Don't patronize me, pup." the grizzled veteran barked, "You know as well as I that I couldn't take you with yer hands tied behind yer back. Though I feel ye need more than what ye got fer all those swords. Kids these days and their gimmicks..."

"Alright, old timer. At least put up some fight, okay?" Hyouryu took a wide stance, his blade held above his head, "At least give us your name first."

"Of course. Least I could do. It's Ior. Ior Valiir." Ior took a stance of his own, shield raised and sword high.

"Alright, then Ior. Thank you for your service!" Hyouryu lunged at the old man. Atsu could tell he was holding back. Perhaps to give the old man one last battle before his death. He brought his sword down, clearly not putting his all into the stroke, which was easily met by his opponent's shield. The two held their clash for a few seconds.

"Don't insult me, pup! I know when an opponent is holding back! Give me everything!" he snarled. Hyouryu lowered his head, sighed and hopped backwards. he quickly and methodically slammed his sword back in its scabbard and looked at his foe with heavy eyes.

"Alright, old timer. Let me show you how I use these swords." his voice was cold and lethal. Hyouryu grasped the ends of his six scabbards and slid his fingers along them until he felt the hilts of his swords between each finger. With a swift instantaneous motion, he whipped out all six at once, "Witness the Dragon's Claws!"

"There we go! Don't treat me like a toddler, ya ninny!" Ior roared in delight. Hyouryu's six blades crackled with blue electricity before he kick off and leaped into the air. The old man raised his shield once more as the samurai crossed his blades in front of him on his descent. Hyouryu wondered in that moment if Ior's shield could take the attack. However, Atsu knew what was coming. His heart sank at the realization. Just before the impact, Ior tossed his shield aside and accepted his fate. The attack connected directly and the resulting thunderclap shook the ground they stood upon. The old warrior was tossed into the air and then fell hard onto a patch of daffodils. Hyouryu cursed under his breath and quickly put away his claws. Atsu ran to meet his friend who rushed to the old man's side. Both knelt down to find the old man holding on to life by a thread.

"Thank ye." he wheezed, "Fer givin' an old man one last joy..."

Hyouryu grasped Ior's gloved hand.

"The honor was mine."

"When you get where you're going..."Atsu began, catching Ior's attention, "Tell them the Geist of Souls sent you. Dig?"

Ior wheezed a chuckle in response.

"T'ain't a clue what ye mean by that, but I'll... rememb..." the old warrior's words faded as his final breath was exhaled. Ior went silent and his body fell limp. Hyouryu and Atsu stood back up. The samurai was fixated on the now motionless body of Ior. Atsu took a step over to the boulder to find a small sack pinning down a hand written note. He took the sack and examined the paper under it.

To My Savior,

Thank you for this service and for humoring an old man past his prime. As a last request, I want you to lay me to rest on this cliff. I wish to be with my beloved daffodils.

Now please, take your payment.

Regards,

Ior

Atsu noticed a mound of dirt on the other side of the boulder. Craning his neck, he was able to see a grave already dug with a large shovel laying next to to it. The wizard stepped over to Hyouryu and showed him the note, pointing at the grave site. The samurai looked over at the hole and removed his helmet, setting it aside before hefting up the body. Atsu pocketed the pouch of Jewel and followed his friend.

The two spent the next hour burying Ior. Part of Atsu hoped that he wouldn't go to this Vahalla or whatever he called it. Part of him wished he would be kept in Purgatory. The "waiting room of the universe". If only so he could find him and give him another life to spend on battles. If only.