The Seven: Wanted Dead or Alive
Chapter 2: The vow of hair
Title: The vow of hair
Author: Hairann
Prompt: Thy End
Rating: M must be 18+ to read!
Genre: Action/Adventure, Angst, Poetry, Western, Yaoi.
Word count: 306
Warnings: Death and implied violence.
Characters: Young Bankotsu. Bank/Jak pairing in the future, others to be announced.
Summary: Part 2 of The Seven: Wanted Dead or Alive which is an AU story set in the 1800s of how the Band of Seven, the notorious outlaws, came together.
Prompt Summary: The young boy witnesses the death of his parents. The actual words of the prompt are not used, but the meaning is clear :).
Outside their door, the men drew near,
torches lighting their way.
The eerie glow lit their faces,
their hatred on display.
Realizing what was yet to come,
their son must get away.
For if he remained he would die,
as any who did stay.
Wish as he might, he could not go
he could not run away.
Out the back and into the yard
he urged his son to go.
He shouldn't see his father beg
as he had to kowtow.
It would do him no good he knew
his death they would bestow.
But if he could keep them busy
they could run from this foe.
His wife and son could live this day
away from torches glow.
“Take our son and run from here, wife.
For your safety I'll pray.
No time to waste, you must flee now
as I try to delay.”
Outside the door, voices drew near
but she refused to stray.
Their son she sent into the night
but with him she did stay.
“They already know I am here
I can not run away.
“If I was to try and leave now,
they would hunt me I know.
Our son I would put in danger
and that I will forgo.”
Knowing she was right, he gave in
and met their fate below.
In their yard, many lay in wait
'til they could fight their foe.
“I have a message for you from
Master Onigumo.
“He sends his regards as you die
for those you did betray.
He says it is your fate now that
with us you can not stay.
Husband and wife both betrayed and
will not survive this day.”
From the bushes the young boy watched
as his parents, they slay.
His hair he vowed not to cut in
memory of this day.