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infringement is intended. No profit is being made. This story is 
the property of the author.
________

Last Impressions: Kento
Never Let Go


You've always been bright, lit with the inner fire of life and 
purity. Innocence? Probably. All of us hold the essence of 
goodness in our souls but yours has always held that extra 
piece. Gentle and loving and caring. How it's possible for a 
soldier to come out of battle clean I'll never know, but 
somehow you did it. I envy you that. I fell as if I can never 
wash the blood off.

You're lying so still now, so quiet. Covered with blood, both 
yours and mine and still I can't see any sign of darkness tainting 
you.

Actually, at that moment, I can't feel all that much on myself 
either. Only where your blood touches me...

Damn it, Cye.

I've done what I can and a little bit more. If we both live 
through this, you'll probably kill me, or at least chew me out, 
but it's the only real choice I had. I couldn't watch you die and 
not do anything. What would you have had me do, Cye? I held 
you in my arms, felt your life fading with each pulse of blood 
over my hands, trying to coax you out of your armor so I could 
get at the wound. The sword pierced your chest and each new 
breath brought a glaze of blood to your lips and a new weight 
of fear to my heart. I did what I could for bandages, tearing 
strips of cloth from the nearest demon's cloak. Surrounded by 
death and emptiness, I couldn't do anything more than struggle 
to keep you from joining it and when the bandages failed I 
closed my eyes, pressed my forehead to yours and 
concentrated on nothing but sending as much energy as I could 
through the link we shared until my limbs felt heavy and my 
thoughts started to get fuzzy. I could still spare more, but the 
risk of being weak and helpless when the rest of the Dynasty 
soldiers arrived - or God forbid if one of the Warlords shows 
up - was too high. Let this be enough. Please.

I'm injured too, but nowhere near as seriously. A blade sliced 
my left leg, causing me to stumble, making me weak just as 
one of their swords aimed for my heart. I didn't even see it until 
it was too late, until you'd taken the strike that would have 
ended my life. It would have been better if it had... Anything 
would have been better than this, watching my best friend die 
and helpless to do anything but watch. Barely able to defend 
myself - if they attack again, I won't be able to protect you, 
Cye. I'll die trying, but...

The others know we're hurt. I can feel it in the back of my 
mind, hazy and unclear, distorted by my weakness and, their 
fear, your pain and the distance between us. They're too far 
away to help and we all know it. Ryo's the closest but I taste 
his helplessness in my mind even as he comes closer. They all 
are - Rowen, Sage - our healer is the farthest away and I can 
alreaady find the beginning taint of guilt ringing through his 
soul.

It's not your fault, Sage. You didn't know. None of us knew.

How could we know that when we split up this morning we'd 
never be whole again?

I'm praying with everything I have, clinging to the whisper-roar 
of Cye's presence in my mind, trying to hope that somehow 
we'll survive this. A miracle will come, Ryo will get here... The 
Dynasty will have a sudden change of heart and decide to live 
and let live. They're all equally unlikely. Cye is dying in front of 
me, my best friend is slipping away beneath my fingers and all I 
can do is hold on and watch, a useless spectator to the most 
senseless waste I've ever witnessed. I swear, my friend, the 
world is going to be a much poorer place for your loss.

And I... dying isn't as scary as it once was. It's getting less and 
less with every second that ticks by, every drop of blood that 
seeps through the makeshift bandages. I'm hurting and tired 
and the Dynasty goons will be back soon... You're dying, Cye, 
and taking some of the best parts of me with you. This is as 
bad as it gets, so why should I be afraid to die?

Ryo's presence is getting clearer, but still so far away...

I can hear the Dynasty now, a distance off yet, but far closer 
than any hope of help.

It had to happen sooner or later.

"Hey, buddy," I say sadly. "Looks like they're not done with us 
yet, I'm going to have to let you go for a little bit." One hand 
reaches out to brush auburn-brown hair from his brow. "I'm 
sorry, Cye." For a long moment I hold him close, knowing this 
is the only way I can say goodbye. "You were the best friend I 
ever had. I won't let them hurt you again, no matter what."

He's dying, I'm as good as dead. Nothing's going to change that 
now. The only real fear I have right now is that I never told 
him, any of them, in so many words how I really feel. I cradle 
him against my chest and let all my love and affection crowd 
into my mind and through the mind link. I reach out to the 
others, Ryo, Rowen, Sage, and for a moment we're together, 
five pieces of a whole, then I pull myself back and their 
presence fades.

I lower to Cye to the ground. His breathing has all but stopped 
and I feel for a pulse for more than a minute before finally 
giving up. His heart just isn't strong enough, he's lost too much 
blood. He'll be dead in minutes, no matter what happens.

But those few minutes are *his* damnit and I'll be damned and 
I'll be damned if I let those Dynasty bastards steal anything 
more from him.

I stand on tired legs.

I'll fight them, hold them off, keep him safe until he's gone.

Then I'll fight for vengeance until either they're dead or I am.


end