Yami no Matsuei, Souryuu/Touda, at the end of all things
It's anticlimactic.
No great battle, no final duel to the death, their powers wrecking havok on the very landscape as they pour blood and hate and pain out in violence.
No trickery, no schemes to escape or twist the blame, thrust guilt on the innocent.
For two warriors, both blooded war veterans and master killers, it's very... anticlimactic. Over before it even began.
"I'm going to kill the Emperor." "No." "Yes." "I won't let you do this. I can't Touda. Listen to yourself!" "Then arrest me for betrayal of the crown."
After that... things blur. There are court hearings, a trial, Touda says nothing to save himself and on the last night before he's locked away, Soryuu finds himself pleading for the serpent to repent. Begging the only way his pride will allow.
Touda will always taste of ash. Scrubbed raw, sweat slick and sticky with their mixed fluids, his mouth is still wet smoke and ruin.
Soryuu knows the snake was right. He'll never wash away the war, the past, the heart ache sitting beneath his breast.
"Touda."
"Drink your tears Soryuu. Your pain is the only thing you own."