Dear Little Flower - Sanemi Shinazugawa x Reader

《93》

You grew up... not in the slightest normal way. You were born with an ugly mark, people hated you for that. A priest once came to your village when you were still a baby and told your parents about the mark being a curse.

You grew up believing in that priest. You grew up cooped in your home, not being able to go out and be a kid.

But when you were five, your baby brother was born.

He was such a precious little thing. An innocent baby with no knowledge of anything. But he had the mark as well. He would suffer like you did.

At that point, you vowed to yourself that you would protect him until his very last breath. You would protect him from the people who wanted you dead, you took everything for him, you would die for him.

Yet...

Why is it that you were the one who was going to bring him at his own end.

The smell of his own blood made your mouth water but you had to resist the demonic urges and help your brother. It was torturing. But you knew that your little brother was in much more pain than you.

Your job was to treat the injured, not cause injury to others.

Everyone was fighting with their own lives on the line. Everyone from this big family you came to love.

But what are you doing? You didn't do anything. All you did was get captured, turn into the enemy, and hurt your little brother.

'I'm sorry, Ko... you're hurt because of me...' You wiped your tears, as you laid your brother on the ground, a few ways away from the fight. He seemed so... lifeless and cold.

But he was still alive. The slow and weak breathing that was coming from him proved it. You kept telling yourself...

He was going to live. He was going to go back home with you and everyone else.

He was going to see his little nephew again.

But... but...

Even after the demon's head fell to the ground, Koichi is still not waking up.

"Koichi... Ko, please... wake up..." You cried, caressing his cheek gently, too scared to hurt him more than you have. "Hey, Ko! No.. please... Koichi... don't go yet... please don't leave me alone just yet... you need to grow up..."

"...nee-chan..." You gasped and a big smile appeared on your face as you heard your little brother's voice. It was weak, but he was still there.

"Koichi, please don't speak... just save your energy, okay..." You said, cradling him close to you.

"...no..." He said, reaching for your hand weakly. You reached up to him, to save him the energy. "Nee-chan... I'm sorry... for not protecting you... I promised myself that... but... you were always the one... to protect me... I'm sorry..."

You shook your head, your smile turning into a frow. "No! Don't say that, please!! Koichi!! You protected me!! You did your best!! Look, nee-chan's still alive! You need to stay alive too!!"

"I'm glad... nee-chan is... safe... thank you... for... being there for me... always... Nee-chan, I love you.." Koichi gave you one last smile before he closed his eyes, and his hold on you loosened.

"Nee-chan... loves you too, Koichi..."

You cried as you held your precious brother close to you, cherishing his last moments with you. Your little brother that you love with everything, your little brother that became your whole world, that innocent child that you treasured so dearly...