Chapter 10: Everyone Is a Poor Creature Lost in Life
"Senpai..." Kurokono hesitated, "I can still fight; at least let me stay!"
"Don't let me repeat. If you go against the order, I will personally send you to hell. The same goes for the others." Kawaki sharply said, "The task of escorting them away will be handed to you. Hurry up and leave. There isn't much time."
In the end, under the pressure of Kawaki, some people including Kurokono could only reluctantly leave. All they could do was try their best to live because this was... this was the order, Kawaki's last order.
"The rest of you, come with me. We will buy them time. If we can survive, we will support Gintoki and the others!" Kawaki stood in front of the remaining people and said.
Kawaki and the rest all knew that this should be their last battle, but no one was afraid. Everyone stared at the battlefield not far away. That would be the final destination of everyone.
'Sensei, I wonder if I can see you again...' Kawaki raised his head to look at the sky and sighed to himself.
The next day…
Wearing a bamboo hat and black clothes. Kawaki will never forget a person dressed in this way for the rest of his life. These people had a unified name: [Naraku]. However, this group was now standing in a high place and looking down at Kawaki, who was fighting alone in the crowd.
Takasugi and Katsura had been captured and were pressed to the ground by this group. At this time, Gintoki was standing in the middle with his head down and a sword in his hand.
In front of Takasugi and Katsura was Shouyou, who everyone was thinking about day and night. Shouyou's hands were tied behind his back, and he was kneeling on the ground with his head lowered, his back facing Takasugi and the others.
"His body has already reached its limit. A mutated Yato, a truly lamentable tribe." Oboro looked at Kawaki who was still fighting below and sighed.
At the same time, Kawaki had long noticed the people on the high ground and saw the situation with Gintoki and the others.
'Wait for me! Sensei!' Kawaki continuously brandished the weapons in his hands. Each attack would take away the lives of an enemy or several enemies.
However, Kawaki could feel that his body was protesting. Every cell in his body was crying out. The exhaustion suppressed by Kawaki was constantly eroding his spirit.
The current Kawaki was no longer just fighting with the enemy. At the same time, he was fighting with his own body and will…
"This is just a trap. In fact, no matter which direction you run in, you can't escape. This war is over." Oboro said meaningfully.
"You bastard!" Takasugi cursed as he lay on the ground.
"This farce should end." Oboro looked at Kawaki, who was about to kill all the enemies below and then said it softly.
'... Finally, I finally killed all the enemies. Finally, I can finally touch my Sensei again.' Kawaki thought this way at this time, but Kawaki's body no longer allowed him to do anything. At this time, Kawaki was covered in injuries. The enemy's blood and his own blood had turned him into a blood man. Kawaki's consciousness had begun to blur, and even his breathing had become extremely heavy.
"In this state, you can still fight against a thousand. In the end, you are really worthy of being a Yato." After Oboro finished speaking, their group directly jumped down. Their goal was the current Kawaki.
Sure enough, Kawaki was easily knocked down. The current Kawaki had no power to fight back. Kawaki was tied up and brought to a high place. Kawaki was heavily thrown to the ground and fell beside Katsura and Takasugi.
"Sen...Sensei." Kawaki tried hard to open his eyes wide to look at Shouyou, who was only a few meters away from him and murmured.
"Finally, everyone is together. It's really sad that young people who are worried about the country have to accept such a fate." The old man in front of Shouyou, who was wearing a black cloak and a bamboo hat, asked, "Is this what you aspire to do? Shouyou, the child you once taught.
Died worthless under your teachings. Do you want to say this now? [I don't remember teaching them this path]."
"Then why don't you give it a try? Let's see if your disciples are willing to die together with you. Or... choose the path to kill their teacher to survive."
After saying that, Gintoki was pushed forward by the enemy and pushed behind Shouyou.
"No... no, Gintoki." Kawaki's voice was already very weak.
However, just as Kawaki spoke, a Naraku member kicked Kawaki on the back.
Kawaki was in pain and spat out a large mouthful of blood.
"Kawaki!" Takasugi wanted to stand up but was held down firmly. Katsura was in the same situation.
"Choose your mentor or your partner. Choose whatever you want." The old man continued.
At this moment, Kawaki was horrified to find that Gintoki had raised his sword.
"No... no..." Kawaki bit his lower lip as hard as he could, hoping that more pain would stimulate his exhausted body.
"No... no!" Takasugi shouted loudly, "Please! Gintoki!"
But in the next moment, Gintoki still dropped the sword in his hand. Kawaki saw it a moment before the sword dropped down, Shouyou turned around and smiled at him.
The last scene that Kawaki saw before he fainted was that Takasugi stood up and roared as he rushed over…
"Gintoki!" Takasugi rushed over. But at this time, Oboro threw out a dagger and rushed straight at Takasugi.
The dagger cut through Takasugi's left eye, and Takasugi fell to the ground. The Naraku member instantly surrounded Takasugi who had lost an eye.
"Don't waste the life that your teacher took back for you," Oboro said.
"Are you really going to let this group of people go back to the mountains?" the older man continued, "Are you trying to sympathize with that man, Oboro."
Hearing this, Oboro glanced at Shouyou's four disciples, "This group of people has lost the last thing they wanted to protect. For them, it is equivalent to death, not to mention it caused by their own weakness."
No matter if it were Gintoki who stood with his head down, Katsura who clenched his teeth and closed his eyes, or Takasugi who was lying on his back, no one spoke.
When Kawaki woke up again, he found himself lying in a room, his body wrapped in bandages.
Gintoki, Katsura, and Takasugi were all sitting at the side, not saying a word, and Takasugi's left eye was also wrapped in gauze.
Kawaki remembered everything that had happened that day. He endured the pain in his body and stood up. Without any hesitation, he pulled out a sword and aimed it at Gintoki.
"You..." Katsura raised his hand, wanting to stop him.
However, in the end, Kawaki didn't do anything. This was because Kawaki recalled the last part when Shouyou revealed a smile. Kawaki knew that if it were him, perhaps he would have made the same choice as Gintoki. If you wanted to ask why? It was because he was the same as Gintoki. They were both Shouyou's disciples.
Kawaki threw the sword in his hand on the ground. He put on his clothes and picked up the umbrella. He turned around and walked out without looking back. Throughout the entire process, Kawaki did not say a word.
The wind blew through the clothes and hair of the four people. The four of them stood in front of the tall hill. This was the place where Shouyou was sentenced. A small tomb stood in front of them. None of the four-spoke. They just quietly looked at the grave. Perhaps for the four of them, Shouyou and they were buried there.
"Let's go and set up the graves for our lost companions," Kawaki said as he turned around and left.
One day later, the four of them set up countless graves. These were all erected for the sake of their lost companions. They stood in front of countless graves and remained silent for a long time.
In the end, as if they had agreed, the four of them left in four different directions without looking back. In the end, no one spoke.
What was slightly different from the others was that Kawaki had already abandoned his sword.
Kawaki held up his umbrella, although it did not rain.
Kawaki finally understood that this war might be meaningless. In the end, not only did he lose countless companions, but he also lost Shouyou. He did not abide by his agreement with Shouyou, causing the deaths of countless companions. It was he who harmed his countless companions and Shouyou.
Kawaki continued to walk aimlessly. Suddenly, a familiar voice sounded…
"Kawaki-senpai." Kurokono's voice rang out. Kawaki raised his head and looked over.
In front of Kawaki was the group of companions that he had forcefully driven away. More than thirty people were standing in front of him. When he saw them, Kawaki suddenly felt a lump in his throat. Perhaps, in the end, it wasn't like he didn't have anything to protect.
"Kawaki-sama!" Everyone shouted at the same time.
"What are you doing here?" Kawaki suddenly choked.
"We all know what happened. We want to follow Kawaki-sama again!" Someone said, and then everyone began to agree.
"From now on, I am no longer your commander. You are free." Kawaki shook his head and said.
"But..."
"There is no 'but'. That 'Kawaki' as your commander is already dead! Right now, in front of you is just a pitiful worm that has once again lost its way in life."
Kawaki continued to walk forward as he spoke. Everyone silently made way for Kawaki. "But no matter if it is the dead 'Kawaki' or me, this pitiful worm, both of us hope that you can live well. This is our shared wish."
Everyone looked at the back of Kawaki, who was holding an umbrella and walking further and further away, unable to let go for a long time.
"Senpai! Arigatou!" Kurokono shouted from behind Kawaki and bowed deeply towards Kawaki who had left.
Seeing this, the others also followed suit.
Kawaki listened to the voice coming from behind him, and tears finally fell. However, Kawaki did not turn back. Kawaki was afraid that if he turned back, maybe the previous [Kawaki] would be resurrected again…
Just like that, the war against the Amanto finally ended…
"Goodbye, [Kawaki]," Kawaki whispered to himself...