Been the Last
The night felt wrong.
Ren couldn't explain it.
He stood outside his house, staring into the darkness, his chest tight.
"…it's getting stronger…"
That feeling.
That unease.
It wasn't just instinct.
It wasn't just his imagination.
It was something deeper.
His power.
His connection.
It was reacting.
Violently.
Like something was about to—
"Ren!"
A voice broke through his thoughts.
Zoro.
Running toward him.
Breathing heavily.
"…what's wrong?" Ren asked immediately.
Zoro grabbed his arm.
"…it's Kuina."
Ren's heart dropped.
"…what about her?"
"…she's at the dojo."
"…and?"
Zoro's grip tightened.
"…she challenged me."
Silence.
Ren's eyes widened slightly.
Tonight…?
"…let's go," he said instantly.
The Final Match
The dojo doors were open.
Lantern light spilled out into the night.
Inside—
Two figures stood facing each other.
Kuina.
Zoro.
Wooden swords in hand.
Both serious.
Both focused.
Ren stopped at the entrance.
His breath caught.
This is it…
The match that would happen.
The one where—
Kuina wins.
Again.
But something felt different.
Very different.
That presence—
Around Kuina—
It flickered.
Unstable.
No…
"…start," Kuina said.
Zoro didn't hesitate.
He charged.
Fast.
Stronger than before.
Clack!
Their swords collided.
The sound echoed sharply through the dojo.
Again.
And again.
Each strike faster.
Sharper.
More intense.
Zoro pushed forward.
Relentless.
Kuina countered.
Precise.
Unyielding.
But—
Ren saw it.
Clearly now.
That outline around her—
It wasn't steady anymore.
It was… cracking.
Like glass under pressure.
"…something's wrong…" he whispered.
A Victory That Feels Different
"HAH!"
Zoro lunged.
Desperate.
All in.
Kuina stepped in.
One clean strike.
Clack—THUD.
Zoro's sword flew from his hand.
Silence.
Her blade rested at his throat.
"…I win," she said.
Breathing steady.
But—
Her hand trembled slightly.
Zoro clenched his fists.
"…again."
"…no."
"…again!"
"…you've lost enough for today."
Zoro slammed his fist into the ground.
"…I'll beat you!"
Kuina lowered her sword.
"…I know."
Her voice—
Soft.
Different.
Ren stepped forward.
"…Kuina."
She turned.
"…you're here."
"…yeah."
Their eyes met.
And again—
That feeling.
Stronger than ever.
Ren's heart pounded.
This isn't right…
The Moment That Shouldn't Happen
Kuina walked past him.
Toward the door.
"…I'm going home."
Zoro looked up.
"…tomorrow… we fight again."
She paused.
"…yeah."
Then—
She stepped outside.
Ren froze.
This is it…
After this… she—
"No."
The word left his mouth before he realized it.
Kuina stopped.
"…what?"
Ren stepped forward quickly.
"…don't go."
Silence.
Zoro blinked.
"…what are you talking about?"
Kuina frowned.
"…move."
Ren shook his head.
"…something's wrong."
"…you're being weird again."
"…I'm serious."
His voice—
Sharp.
Urgent.
Kuina's eyes narrowed.
"…Ren."
"…just wait a little."
"…for what?"
He didn't know.
But his instincts screamed.
If she leaves now—
Something bad would happen.
Something irreversible.
A Fragile Thread
Kuina looked at him for a long moment.
Then—
"…you're scared."
Ren froze.
"…what?"
"…you're scared I'll lose someday."
She stepped closer.
"…so you're trying to stop me now."
"…that's not—"
"It is."
Her voice wasn't angry.
Just… certain.
"…I told you before."
She met his gaze.
"…I won't lose."
Ren clenched his fists.
"…this isn't about that!"
"…then what is it?!"
Silence.
He couldn't answer.
Not properly.
Not without revealing everything.
And that hesitation—
Was enough.
Kuina stepped past him.
"…you're overthinking."
"…Kuina—"
She didn't stop.
Too Late
The door closed behind her.
Ren stood frozen.
His chest felt heavy.
Too heavy.
"…no…"
Zoro frowned.
"…what's wrong with you?"
Ren didn't answer.
He turned—
And ran.
"Ren?!"
Zoro chased after him.
The Fall
The village was quiet.
Dark.
Still.
Ren's eyes darted around.
Searching.
Feeling.
That presence—
Kuina—
It was still there.
But—
Fading.
"…no no no…"
His heartbeat spiked.
"…not like this…"
Then—
A sound.
A dull thud.
From inside a nearby house.
Ren's eyes widened.
"…there!"
He rushed forward.
Pushed the door open—
A Fate Interrupted
Kuina lay at the bottom of the stairs.
Still.
Silent.
Her wooden sword beside her.
Ren's breath stopped.
"…Kuina…"
Zoro arrived behind him.
"…what—"
He froze.
"…no way…"
Ren rushed forward.
Dropping to his knees.
"…Kuina!"
No response.
His hands trembled.
"…wake up…"
Nothing.
The world felt like it was closing in.
This is it…
This is how it was supposed to happen…
A simple fall.
A meaningless accident.
Ending everything.
"…no."
Ren's voice shook.
"…I'm not accepting this."
Defying the Inevitable
That darkness—
It surged.
Stronger than ever.
Violent.
Uncontrolled.
But this time—
Ren didn't pull back.
"…if you can take life…"
His hand hovered over her.
Trembling.
"…then give it back."
The darkness wrapped around him.
Cold.
Heavy.
Suffocating.
Zoro stepped back.
"…what is that…?!"
Kuina's presence—
Faint.
Barely there.
Ren could see it now.
Clearly.
A flickering flame.
About to go out.
"…not yet…"
He reached.
Not physically.
But with something deeper.
Toward that flame.
The darkness resisted.
It wasn't meant to give.
Only take.
Ren gritted his teeth.
"…I don't care what you're meant to do…"
His voice cracked.
"…I'm changing it."
A Dangerous Gamble
Pain exploded through his body.
Worse than anything before.
"…NGH—!"
His vision blurred.
Blood trickled from his nose.
But he didn't stop.
"…come back…"
The flame flickered.
Weak.
Fading.
"…come back!"
The darkness surged violently.
Like it was rejecting his will.
Like it was fighting him.
But—
For a brief moment—
It bent.
Just slightly.
The flame—
Stabilized.
Just a little.
A Breath Returns
"…!"
Kuina's fingers twitched.
Ren's eyes widened.
"…again…!"
He pushed harder.
Ignoring the pain.
Ignoring the cost.
"…breathe…"
A second passed.
Then—
A faint breath.
Zoro's eyes widened.
"…she—"
Kuina's chest rose slightly.
Then again.
Weak.
But real.
Collapse
The darkness snapped back violently.
Ren's body gave out.
"…ah—!"
He collapsed beside her.
Breathing erratically.
Vision fading.
"…I… did it…"
Barely.
Just barely.
Zoro dropped to his knees.
"…Kuina…?"
No response.
But—
She was breathing.
"…she's alive…"
Zoro looked at Ren.
"…what did you just do…?"
Ren couldn't answer.
His consciousness slipped.
"…don't… die…"
Darkness took him.
A New Path Begins
The night remained silent.
But something had changed.
A fate—
That should have ended—
Was interrupted.
Not completely avoided.
Not fully understood.
But changed.
And from this moment on—
The story…
Would no longer follow the path it once did.