chapter 11

Chapter 11

Misa grabs shiro's wrist pulling him down the hall, tsuki flying closely behind them "We have to find prince Subarashii, i'll protect you both"

He stops, bringing her to a halt as well " you should leave here…" he says giving her one more chance to escape fate. "I'll take care of Subarashii"

She smiles and grasps his hand pulling it to her collarbone. "I told you you were my brother, I won't abandon you." Without another word she pulls him to the back of the palace near the baths. She stops her eyes darting around as she listens to the echoing voices bouncing off of the cut stone walls. Shiro stares at the back of her head, she still has no suspicion of him at all. He knows this would be the best time to end her. That her guard is completely down. Shiro grips his sword but his hand trembles and he can't find the strength to draw it

"I think we should leave tsuki in the baths" her voice snaps him back to reality and he moves his hand away from his sword "if things go poorly, if there's fire or we don't make it then he can fly."

Shiro nods"I think tsuki should stay out of this, i'll leave him here" shiro calls for tsuki and walks him to the open bath placing him on the rocks he strokes the birds head. Tsukis eyes look strange to him, almost like they are pleading him not to harm misa, or maybe shiro was just imagining it. "Stay here." he says.

He returns to Misa in the hall "I need to arm myself " she says "the armory is in a heated battle at the moment, so i think we should split up. I 'll look for you again once I'm armed."

The idea of splitting up both makes him nervous and relived"alright then, i'll find the prince"shiro says

She puts a hand on his shoulder "good luck, stay safe" she smiles at him before disappearing through the halls." Shiro feels it may be the last smile he sees from her. He knows it's an image that will haunt him forever no matter what transpires that night.

-

At the front of the palace Watanabe leads the legion through the gates. They pour in like a flood. The frightened faces of the soldiers feed Watanabe's excitement. For him death was a beautiful thing, nothing brought him more joy. One by one he mows down the soldiers with ease.

Behind him the nameless female recruit shows impressive skill with her sword, each shoulder she meets seems like merely a stepping stone to her goal. Her eyes search around, hungrily, for any member of the royal family.

Watanabe fights his way through his goal being the armory. Already some of his men had made it there. To him a good armory was like a candy shop. But when he Enters the armory, there is one shoulder that clearly stands out. No... not a soldier. This man was more than that, he was clearly on another level than the pawns Watanabe had met before. The man himself was short but his physique was like a lion. Not only did his physical strength impress Watanabe but his technique was immaculate. Unbeknownst to watanabe this man was prince Souma. The prince swings around a giant flail with ease, clearing all of the legion soldiers around him. They all get tossed to the walls.

Souma slings a ball and chain over his shoulder "well, well. Are you the leader of the black and white?" He says, not even out breath from the ,would be, strenuous actions he displayed before.

Watanabe grins "not quite," he bows "watanabe 1st captain of the black and white legion" his toothy grin unease's Soumas' stomach. "Pleased to kill you" he excitedly rushes souma ready to attack but instead souma dodges cause in him to stumble.

Before watanabe can recover his footing Souma wraps his chain around Watanabes neck Souma leans into his ear and sighs "I thought the black and white legion would have better warriors, guess this will be easy" Souma tosses watanabe foreword kicking his butt as he does "might as well give up now" Souma says nonchalantly

From behind him the anonymous female warrior attacks, striking overhead. Souma whips the Chain of his flail above, catching her sword, and tosses her over his head. But he is surprised by the identity of his attacker "oh sorry!"

Unshaken, she stands attacking him once more. He blocks her blows, surprised by her strength and ferocity. Quickly after, Watanabe gains his composure attacking alongside the strange woman. Souma finds himself overwhelmed, he is not comfortable with attacking a woman, even a formidable one such as the one he is faced with. It takes all his concentration just to ward off her attacks without hurting her, but with watanabes added offense he is a little in over his head. Souma swings his flail around knocking Watanabe to the wall. He quickly swings the chain catching her sword. He yanks it from her hand, tossing it to the ground. But she quickly rearms herself with a halbert leaned against the wall. Despite her small size she swings the long weapon catching soumas arm he drops his mace, falling to the ground

With ferocity and bloodlust the girl swings the halbert overhead to finish her battle Souma looks up to the sky resigned to his defeat. Before the small woman can strike a dagger fies through the air, slicing the aggressive girl's hand, she drops the halbert grasping her hand.

"Lady Ishi?..." misas rushes over to the Souma grabbing two swords from the wall

A gear turns in her head as she spots the princess, a wicked smile crawls over her face "princess misako. I've been waiting for this moment. Prepare to die by my hand" she says slinging a broadsword from the weapons rack

"Souma, go help father." Misa says

"No! I won't leave you like this-" he cries before she cuts him off

"You'll only get in the way injured like that, get out of here!"

Reluctantly Souma nods, leaving to search for their father. Misa stands defensively ready for an attack "you're betraying your country lady ishi."

Lady Ishi scoffs, "As I see it, I'm helping free these weak people from your family's corruption. I am of noble blood. Your family were merely servants who found a way up into society."

"That way was protecting the entire empire from invasion." Misa says with determination

Lady ishi lets out a mirthless chuckle "and how well that's worked as you invite the prince of those very invaders to be your groom, but it doesn't matter anyhow, you won't see you're wedding day"

The angry girl charges the princess, Misa blocks her strike with ease trapping her blade between the two misa holds. While her blade is stuck, Misa kicks her in the stomach and she falls to the ground. She grabs her sword quickly, recovering and attacking again. Her offense is strong but so is misas defense. Watanabe comes to as the two are battling. With her ferocity lady ishi is certainly not one to be underestimated this much watanabe admires about her but he himself had his orders to deliver the princess live and unscarred.

"You're attacks are weak lady ishi, you are too blinded by rage" she says tossing the sword from her hand. Blinded by anger, lady ishi charges misa again this time unarmed. Misa sighs and prepares herself "foolish girl.." she says. Before lady ishi can reach Misa she is stopped by watanabe he slashes her in the back she falls to the ground gasping. Coldly he steps on her back as he crosses to meet misa

"Hello there" he smiles with no emotion "i do hope you won't make this hard on me"

Misa is stunned by the fact that this man just downed his comrade with no remorse. Even so she refused to let her guard down. She grips her handles cautiously but unafraid and attacks Watanabe. He blocks it, grabbing her hair. With a forceful tug she is thrown to the ground shrieking. She drops her sword As he steps on her chest, pinning her to the ground.

"You have a lot of strength for such a small girl. I do wish we could battle to the death," Watanabe lets out an exasperated sigh "only, I'm not allowed to kill you. Such a pity because you'd look so beautiful painted in blood"

Misas stomach is churned by the dark words of Watanabe. Misa grasps Watanabes ankle, yanking him to the ground with ease. He topples over, falling atop her. She brings her leg up between his striking him with all her strength. She rolls from under him before he hits the ground, hopping on his back. Before he recovers she quickly strikes pressure points on his shoulders and hips, then finally one on his neck.

Watanabe groans "what did you do to me you little-"

His words are cut off by misa stepping onto his head, she passes him picking up her swords where they fell. "Don't worry," she starts, dusting off her handle "you'll only be parylized for about an hour."

He cackles "it doesn't matter, my master will defeat your forces with ease."

She kneels and grips his hair, lifting his head to see her "where is your master?" She asks.

Watanabe grins "you tell me princess, he is you're fiancé"

Realizing that she had been fooled all along, Misa drops his head and dashes off searching for her father. She searches the throne room, the dining hall and the kitchen, all full of battle but no sight of the king. Finally she runs to the king's chamber, located at the very back of the palace. Half of it's walls we're solid stone carved into the cliff side. As she neared the hall where his room was located she found Souma heading the same way.

"Souma!" She shouts. He turns still gripping his injured arm

He runs to hug her "I was so worried for you..."

"We need to find prince Subarashii" she says "he's not truly the prince, he's an imposter leading this assault"

Soumas eyes fill with dread. "Let's hurry then"

The two run to their fathers chamber hoping they are not too late

———

After the princess left shiro. He went to find kuro, shiro had meant to take note of where the king was located before the invasion started but his unexpected nap threw these plans for a loop. To start, Shiro runs to the king's chamber which is near his place at the baths. Upon entering the room he finds that kuro is already there, locked in a staring contest with the king. The king grips his empty fists and glares at the two with ferocity. One of the benefits to a surprise attack was the enemy being unarmed. The king glances to the side of the men where his sword lays.

After a moment of consideration, the king lunges himself at the two men. Kuro laughs, readying himself and thinking the king foolish. As kuro moves to stab at the king he jumps stepping on his sword. One arm weighed down kuro swipes at the king with his own sword, yet he easily evaded by flipping himself over kuros head. Landing behind kuro, the king kicks at his hip numbing his leg. Kuro winces spinning around, despite his leg being temporarily paryized, kuro does not fall. Kuro looks at the shiro. They both nod in a silent agreement and lunge at the king.

Despite his lack of weapons, the king displays impressive skill in battle. The two experienced warriors even fighting together cannot penetrate his defense. The king jumps into the air kicking both of the men in the chest shiro and kuro stumble back. Kuro teeters on the edge of the cliff and the hot water from the king's spring fed fountain flows over Kuros feet. He glances back spotting the steep drop below then falls forward in the water. angry from embarrassment.

Shiro is knocke against the wall his head hits the wall so hard it renders him unconscious

Instead of taunting the men he takes a moment to breathe saying "this attack is futile, armed or not it will not change the outcome"

Kuro laughs angrily "I wholeheartedly agree" he laughs with instability before lunging at the king again. "Once I'm finished with you I'll find your pretty little daughter,"Kuro taunts. " don't worry I won't kill her. I'll keep her very close"

At Kuros' words, the king stumbles back, and kuro takes the opportunity to slash him across the chest. The king gasps falling back into the wall

"Father!" The voices of the prince and princess call out. In unison.

Angrily the prince rushes to fight kuro, with his un harmed arm he swings his flail. Kuro dodges the steel ball slashing soumas chain

" Souma!" misa shouts jumping into the battle.

Shiro rubs the back of his head trying to pick himself up, his head fuzzy from being knocked out. He cannot yet stand so he rests against the wall, near the open cliff he sees tsuki fly in, likely from hearing misa scream He looks to the door where the maid hina stands, frozen in fear.

"Hina! Leave here!" Misa shouts but Hina whimpers, trembling as she collapses "souma! Take hina and get out of the palace she shouts"

"Misa…" souma groans but he knew that with his arm injured he was only a distraction for her

"That's an order souma, Leave now!"

Reluctantly he scoops hina off the ground and, for the second time that day, he leaves his sister to battle. Alone. As he disappears the sounds of battle draw closer, the black and white legion pushes itself through the palace.

Misa defends against kuros attacks best she can but the burning expression in his eyes causes more fear than she had ever experienced, that coupled with his strength is too much for her to bear. With his strength he knocks both swords from her hands and levels both of his at her neck. She closes her eyes, knowing that at the very least her brother and mother have lived to see another day.

Misa tries to prepare herself for the cutting feeling that will cross her throat but it does not come. Instead kuro lifts her face with his sword "you fight well" he says flirtatiously. "I think there is a lot to be gained by an alliance between us"

She scoffs and glared into his eyes "I can't see anything to be gained by me" she says despite her fear she doesn't waver from her glare. Shiro picks himself off the ground watching the scene. He is surprised by Misas expression, it was nothing like the version of her in his dreams, even though she was afraid her expression was one of strength. Kuro tossed her fathers sword behind him. grabbing her hair, he lifts her off the ground. she cries out, eyes watering, alerting tsuki who flies over Kuro screeching

"Control that bird" kuro shouts to shiro. But shiro finds himself unable to react,

Kuro tosses her down and walks over to the king's body. Lifting him by the collar he walks to the cliff and dangles the king over it. And with a cruel smile he drops the king into the mist

"Father!" Misa shouts running towards the edge. Shiro watches her unsettled by Kuros' cruelty. By the time she's nearing kuro shiro realizes that she's not slowing down.

"Kuro stop her! She's going to jump!" Not realizing this until Shiro pointed it out, Kuro reaches to catch her, her clothes, her hair, anywhere. Kuro misses by a hair's width.

"No!" He shouts watching her fall into the steamy area below tsuki screams flying after her.

"Tsuki!!" shiro shouts he grasps the foot of the great bird but to his surprise tsuki bites his hand, he is so startled that he releases his former companion who dives down into the misty unknown.

Kuro and shiro gaze down the cliff unhappy as their men burst into the room"Sir-s the kings army has retreated" an officer says

Shiro and Kuro had met their goal and victory for them was bittersweet. Kuro turned to his men speaking in a grim tone "good work, now send a search party down there.Retrieve the king and princesses body"

Kuro brushed past the men leaving the room, Shiro had never seen him speak in that tone but he was less Concerned with Kuro and more concerned with Misa and Tsuki. His eyes scanned the ground that was visible but the steam made it difficult to see. He watched until he couldn't bear to search anymore.