I was down on one knee as I faced my master. I am loyal to him... but this time I will not be so loyal. His request... I knew it was coming. I heard him saying it last night.

"Shiki, you have known this world has been heading toward destruction for quite some time now. I have been attempting to find ways to end it so that the people may start anew. This world must change, do you agree?" Master said.

"Yes. I do agree. If the people start from nothing..." My heart ached as I spoke these next words full of dread. I gulped. "Then they will..... be able to change." I strained myself to lie about this. I just could not bring myself to be able to say the words.

"Is there a problem?" Master asked.

"N..... no." I said hesitantly. My heart now beat quickly and my voice shook as I spoke. My whole body nearly shook, but I had to look convincing, so I forced it not to. "I have no problem with doing this."

"Good. Then Shiki, you must go now. There is not much time left for us to do this," Master said. How can Master be so calm about this?!

"Then if that is the case, please send me off," I said. Master nodded, and the world faded before me. The next thing I saw was the main town of the world and all of the people. They gasped at my sight and many backed away, shaking and trembling as if it were several degrees below zero.

I looked into the distance, and an old woman with wrinkly, pale skin, crimson eyes, long silver hair that frayed at the ends, a red kimono, and a wooden stick to help with her walking walked out of the mob.

"Shiki, if you are here, that must mean that it is time," the woman said.

"Miss Kimahri, I will say this much to you. The decision of the people. May I ask what it is?"

Miss Kimahri was stunned at the question. "What do you mean?"

"What is the decision of the people?" I asked once more. I was calm when asking it.

Miss Kimahri stood for a few seconds, thinking deeply, then she nodded and walked back to the crowd. My heart was sinking further and further as I knew what I was risking by doing this.

A little boy came running up to me. He looked up at me, his big eyes showing a sadness deeper than anything I have seen. "Mister Shiki... are...... why did you ask for our decision?" he asked. He tugged at my jacket.

"Well why not? It is your world after all. I have no control over it. Nor does my master," I replied with a smile.

"But you....."

"I know. But if it is you and your people's world, then we cannot decide for you what happens to it. I will ask for consent rather than acting on something I have no rights to defile." I was happy. This world would either be saved, or it would end by my hands.

Miss Kimahri walked up to me. She looked down at the little boy. "You should go back with your mother and father," she said. The boy nodded and ran back to the mob. Miss Kimahri looked up at me. "Before I give you the answer, tell me why you asked rather than acting upon his request?"

"This is your world, not mine and my master's. We have no control over it, and therefore, I have no rights to do something to it unless I have permission," I replied. I was still smiling happily.

"That is a good enough answer. Then I shall give you mine. The people say no," Miss Kimahri said. I nodded.

"Then so be it," I said. I stood up and turned around, opening the portal to my world.

"W... wait! Shiki! You will..." I cut her off.

"I know," I said while turning my head to see her. I smiled, tears running down my face. "May you all continue to prosper." I walked through as Miss Kimahri reached out to grab me and stop me.

The feeling of sadness in my heart took over, yet happiness ran through me at the same time. I was in front of Master and looked up at him, crying yet smiling.

"Why did you not complete my task?!" Master roared.

"It is not our world to disturb. We may have done some things, but this is one thing that I cannot do. To disturb the world that much and to do something to so many people such as that... We do not have power over their world."

"You dare to disobey me?!" Master was furious, but I was unaffected. "How dare you!!!" He held out his hand, and the darkness surrounded me.

"Goodbye Master. I hope you learn what I have... that that world is not ours to disturb... or more or less..... it is now not your world to disturb," I said as I smiled. Everything went blank, and I felt nothing.

"Wake up mister!" a voice called out. It was a child's voice. Something was tugging me, Tugging me? Why am I hearing things? What is happening? "Wake up!" It sounded oddly familiar.

"Come on. You've been laying there long enough. You should be fine now," someone else said. It was now an old woman. Her voice sounded familiar too. "Ugh. You stubborn man!" She pushed me.

"U... uh..... huh?" I groaned and opened my eyes as I sat up. I looked around. Everything was hazy in my eyes for a moment, but when I saw where I was, I gasped. I shot up in shock. "What is going on?!"

"You are a stubborn man! I have been spending the past few days trying to revive you. You should not have done that," the old woman said. I looked down and nearly cried.

"Miss Kimahri..... You..."

"I know. You are brave. I..... no. Everyone who is now alive thanks you," Miss Kimahri said.

The little boy tugged at my jacket again. He seemed to like doing that. "Thank you Mister Shiki," the boy said. I smiled.

"You should not be thanking me. I should be thanking you. Especially you Miss Kimahri." I stood up and bowed. "I do not know your reasoning, yet I am glad you have done this. Thank you. I cannot thank you enough."

Miss Kimahri smiled. "Shiki, make things better this time, ok?" I nodded.

To this day, I live out my days in the village. And to this day, everyone thanks me as they pass me, and I smile. Every day, I think about my sacrifice, and immediately after, I think about Miss Kimahri and the kindness she had shown.

"Thank you... Miss Kimahri."

"It was the least I could do. You risked it for us, and we repaid. Thank you Shiki," Miss Kimahri said. I smiled.
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I wrote a poem a while ago and I decided to turn it into a story. I honestly love the story way more than the poem. I edited the storyline a lot for it to be better, and I tried to use my new style of writing to try and make it more interesting. I hope you guys liked it! smile I cried when writing this lol. I love emotional stories.