“DON’T YOU WALK AWAY FROM ME!!!”

Rain didn’t stop. No falter, no glance. He had now almost completely disappeared into the shadows. Human eyes would have been unable to see him; Valkyhn stared at him, the blaze of the fire unaffecting. Rain raised his hand, shrugging Valkyhn off. “Hey!” Valkyhn ran towards Rain, dodging the flames surrounding. Reaching him, he spun him around, grabbing the collar of his shirt and pulled him close to his face, sword inches from his neck. “Don’t disrespect me!”

“Why? What are you gonna do?” And he was gone. Suddenly, a sword pressed against Valkyhn’s neck, and Rain’s voice spoke softly into to his ear. “And don’t you ever grab me.”

Valkyhn gripped his sword tightly, eyes slanted to the right, staring at the blade ready to slice his neck open. Silently and subtly he shifted his feet to gain balance, hoping that Rain wouldn’t notice. “Okay.” He swallowed awkwardly causing the sword to cut thinly into his flesh. “I’m…sorry…? But, you’re kinda in my bubble.” And Valkyhn skillfully and quickly slipped his sword up, shoving it between Rain’s sword and Valkyhn’s shoulder, pushing it away far enough to duck down. Without missing a beat, he twisted around, swinging his sword directly at Rain’s face.

Rain disappeared. Expecting this, Valkyhn immediately stopped, and swung back around, hoping for Rain to be there. As his sword swung through the air where he thought Rain would be, his eyes widened in disbelief. Taking a second to react, he rolled forward, spinning around to face…nothing. Valkyhn stood up slowly, wildly searching the area. Sweat, not from the fire surrounding him, dripped down his face, into his eyes; he could taste it. He gripped his sword tightly in front of him with both his hands. His heart pounded in his chest. He searched for Rain, but came up with nothing but flames. Before, he had been able to see him, barely, but now…

Suddenly, two red blurs flew towards Valkyhn out from the midst of the fire, hitting him square in the chest with such immense force, he was sent flying, turning, rolling, flipping in the air, bouncing on the ground before finally hitting a tree and coming to a stop. Coughing out blood, he slowly pushed himself up to his knees, grabbing his sword. Standing up, he staggered, staring at two red, origami-like butterflies fluttering about. He stared at them in wonder.

And suddenly pain shot through his right shoulder as a sword protruded from his shoulder blade covered in blood. Blood flew out of Valkyhn’s mouth as he screamed, dropping back down to his knees. Rain pulled the sword out of Valkyhn, raising it to strike the final blow. “Nice try.” And Rain plunged his sword down.

Valkyhn raised his sword in unison, defiantly. And perhaps it was the pain creating an illusion, but as the swords touched and Valkyhn fought for his life, a distinct sound penetrated the area.

Bells.

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