The Broken Blade, A Yasuo Short Story

So I wrote a short story about Yasuo. Not because I'm some Yasuo fanboy as far as gameplay but because I love his concept as a character. It goes beyond "This guys good, this guys bad" even if it still is pretty clique. It has more depth than other character's lore. So here is The Broken Blade a story told from the perspective of Yasuo's brother Yone.

The Broken Blade

"None have beaten him?" "None." "Dai could not defeat him? The man who can cleave a tree in half with only his blade?" "He was defeated. We found his body." "Akira was also defeated." "Her as well." "Very well. I am bound to serve. I will find him and execute him."

Yone went into his old school. It hadn't changed much. Memories and feelings of old came flooding back to him. He came here to remember the good times when life was simple. Now times were bad and complicated. He still remembered that day. Guilt came flooding back to him. "Come to reminisce Yone?" An old man asked, walking down the steps of the academy. "Master Daiki," Yone said as he bowed. "Please Yone. I am not your master anymore. You've graduated from the academy and now must find your own path." "I have found a path" Yone said, "but whether it is my own or the one given to me I do not know." Master Daiki looked at him with knowing eyes. "I see. So you have finally been ordered to hunt down your brother. This is why you have returned to the academy has it not?" "It is," Yone replied. "Master Daiki...how am I to manage this task? I feel it would be easier to move an oak to the peak of a mountain than complete it. He has committed a heinous act but regardless...he is my brother. It is hard enough to kill a spiritual brother, which is why we despise killing, but to kill your own brother? One would have to be beyond human, beyond hope." Master Daiki began to stroke his beard, a habit he had developed when he was pondering a question and one that slightly annoyed Yone. "That is indeed a difficult question Yone. To kill one's brother is a task set aside for one with Herculean strength. Would you enjoy burning yourself with fire? Or holding you head below water until you can no longer breath? None of these tasks are enjoyable. Yet, if for ones country, people suffer these difficulties. We do not know how it is done. We just do." Yone bowed his head. It was not the answer he had been wanting. "Master Daiki?" "Yes Yone" "I know it is not my place to question my orders but...do you believe my brother could commit this act of treason? Do you really believe he would become so arrogant as to believe himself above our laws?" "Mmm," Master Daiki said, annoying Yone with his habit once again. "No. I do not believe your brother would commit this act. The only possible reason would be to test his skill with a blade. If he did why would he not leave in the confusion of the battle? Yet he came back." Yone murmured in thought. "However," Master Daiki continued, "no one else present could have possibly used a wind slash. Your brother is the only one who could have killed the Elder. Even though it is unlikely, it is the only possibility." "Perhaps." Yone said. So there was more hope than he dared let himself believe. "Thank you Master Daiki." "Go," he replied, "may you find success in your mission my student." "Goodbye Master Daiki." "Goodbye Yone."

Yone was told his brother was last seen in Shon-Xan. They had reason to believe he was headed to Navori but beyond that Yone would have to find him himself. "Navori of all places," Yone thought. It had been a while since Yone had returned home.

Early morning when Yone approached the gates of the cemetery. Navori was his native region, his home. It had been a while since he had managed to get away from his service and come see the grave of his mother. There was still a slight mist in the air. The morning was particularly calm. Yone adjusted the sword on his belt and entered. "Oh mother," he thought, "would you grieve knowing what my brother has done? Would you grieve knowing your sons will fight one day? Would you grieve knowing one of us will die?" Yone continued on the path. Right, left, another left, right. Even though he didn't come here often, he knew the way without hesitation. He came up on the grave, the wind blowing through the Cyprus trees leaves. "What a particular sound, the wind blowing through the leaves," Yone thought. "Perhaps one does not appreciate it enough." Yone approached the grave looking down. He sighed. "Perhaps I will join you soon mother," he thought. He looked deep through the mist for something that was not actually there. His mother's grave sat there silently in contemplation with him. "I don't know how you found me. Even a wanderer should be allowed to visit his own mother's grave." Yone jumped. It couldn't be... "I'll tell you what I told the others. I'm innocent. I did not kill the Elder that day." No, there was no mistaking it. He hadn't heard the voice in years but it was still burned into his mind. "Of course you won't believe me. You'll ask me how could I commit treason like that. You'll say you are bound by your honor to kill. I'll give you some advice. Abandon your honor and live. Because if you attack me I will kill you. You cannot stop the wind from blowing and I will not die dishonored." Yone looked as the figured came out from behind the tree. His brother Yasuo stepped out from behind the tree. "But here we go again. I'm sure you will just- no! Not you! Of all the people they could have sent why you!?" Yasuo looked at his older brother with horror in his eyes. "Hello brother," Yone said. "Leave Yone! Simply tell them you could not find me! I am innocent! Do not make me kill you! You know what will happen if you draw your blade!" Yasuo exclaimed. "Yes I do know," Yone replied, "but like you said Yasuo. I will not die dishonored." Yasuo gritted his teeth. "I. Am. Innocent." "I would like to believe that," Yone said solemnly, drawing his blade, "but I cannot believe it. Prepare to die Yasuo. Your sins warrant judgement." Yasuo looked at the blade in his brothers hands. The blade meant to take his life. He nodded and slowly drew his sword. The two circled each other. "I'm sorry Yone. At least you will rest with mother. I will come visit both of you after this is over. I will clear my name." "Yasuo, I will defeat you. The gods had forsaken you once you had committed your treasonous act." Both of the warriors circled each other. Suddenly Yone charged and a split second later Yasuo did the same. "He's going low!" Yone though. He readied his blade to block the low blow and follow up afterwards. And then he felt it. The pain shooting through his chest. "How did he? How did he come down with that vertical slash? When did he get that fast?" Yone collapsed. As he fell to the floor he heard the clatter of another blade. Yasuo ran to his brothers side. "How could you believe I killed the Elder?" Yasuo cried with tears streaming down his face. "How could I not?" Yone coughed. Why was it so cold? He didn't even notice the blood anymore. "The Elder was killed with a wind slash. You are the only one capable of performing that technique." Realization dawned and Yasuo's face. "Brother," Yasuo stuttered, "just as the day and night are two sides of a coin there are two sides to a battle. I have learned there is another capable of such a technique. A Noxian. Brother I swear to you I am innocent!" Yone looked up at his brother. "Brother. I am sorry. Master Baiki also did not believe you were capable of the act." Yone coughed. "Go Yasuo. Clear your name. Regain your honor." Yone's head went limp. Yasuo looked down. "Brother. Brother!" He yelled, sobbing.
Yasuo wiped away his tears. He had to keep moving. His brother was not the first and he would not be the last. Yasuo took his brother and propped his body against the Cyprus tree. As he was leaving, he turned back to look. "A warrior should die with his sword," he thought. Yasuo looked at his own blade. The best the school had to offer was given to him. And yet he was not worthy of it. His eyes found his brothers blade still on the ground. Yasuo unbuckled his sword and put it in his brother's arms. "You are the one who truly deserve this Yone. Without you, I could not have come this far." Yasuo reached for his brother's sword. "With your blade, I will kill the real assassin. He will pay for this." Yasuo turned around and walked away. The mist finally lifted as the wind howled through the leaves.