Okay, so I told a lie. This chapter is a Nozomi x Umi paring. I had this idea for the two of them for a while now and couldn't get it out of my head. Forgive me~.
-Zero
My Princess - Ch. 4
Paring: Nozomi x Umi
Rating: T
xXx
Umi carried the princess in her arms. Her heart wavered with each step she took. Her long purple hair and half opened turquoise eyes were the very definition of perfect to the knight.
Umi had first met the princess when she arrived at the kingdom under her father's orders. Born and raised in a military family, it was her duty to serve her kingdom. It wasn't long before the king had given her the position to stand by his daughter's side. Whether it was during the day or at night, Umi was to be within reach of the princess, never to leave her side.
At first they were distant with each other. A stiff knight who only knew how to follow orders and an aloof princess who closed off her heart with the little attention she received from her parents. In short, being around each other always ended up in awkward silence.
It was when Umi suggested that they walk take a walk in her family's garden to get some fresh air that would get them out of such situations. The knight would name all of the plants and flowers, earning interest from the distant princess.
"What is your favorite flower?" The emerald eyed princess asked her knight. The pair walked down a stone path that was surrounded by tall bushes.
"White lilies, why is it you asked?" Umi replied politely.
"Why is that?" The princess wasn't expecting such answer.
"I was once told that lilies holds the meaning of humility and devotion." The knight held out her hand to help the princess up the small hill.
"Hmmm, I guess the flower really suits you then." For the first time Umi saw the princess genuinely smile. The knight blushed at the sight, it was...so innocent and beautiful, that it made Umi's heart beat at a fast pace. "Who was the one who told you that meaning?"
"My mother. My father told me that she begged him to let her make a garden in our backyard, and eventually it grew to be this big." Umi smiled sadly at the memory.
"You've never spoken much of your mother." The princess grew curious of the mention of Umi's mother. "What is she like?"
They now stood on the cliff that had a nice scenery of the ocean. Their hair flew along with the blowing wind. Many patches of white lilies were in full bloom.
"She passed away when I was still young, but she was the kindest person you would ever meet. Her smile could brighten anyone's day." A part of Umi's heart began to ache. "Her favorite flower were also white lilies."
"I'm sorry, I must be bringing back sad memories." The princess wiped away a tear from Umi's cheek. The knight hadn't noticed that she was crying.
"No, it's okay. Sometimes it's nice to remember." Umi took hold of the princess's hand and bent onto one knee. "Please don't blame yourself Hime-sama."
"Nozomi." Umi looked up and saw a hint of pink on the princess's cheeks. "Please call me by my name when we're alone."
Umi rose from her position and gave the other a gentle lopsided smile. "As you wish, Nozomi."
From that moment on, the two became close. Nothing could separate them. Their relationship turned into a friendship that the princess longed for. But being raised by only a father, Umi never fully understood the unsettling feelings that would sometimes bother her when she was close to Nozomi or saw her smile.
What made the feelings worse was when the princess would tease the knight with her words. It became a daily part of Nozomi's routine to make Umi flustered at least three times or more a day.
That's when Umi realized her feelings. The feelings of friendship that soon blossomed into love. The feelings that she hid within the deepest depths of her heart. The feelings that she should never have for the princess.
xXx
"Umi-chan..." Nozomi spoke softly to her knight, who replied back with a hum. "I'm sorry."
Umi's heart clenched from those words. Amber eyes reflected the darkened skies filled with smoke. The bluenette held the other close as the world around them became engulfed in flames.
An invasion. Their kingdom had been attacked and was now crumbling down to its knees. Distant cries and screams echoed in the ears of the knight.
But none of that mattered any more. All that mattered right now was the girl in her arms. Her long purple hair, half opened turquoise eyes, and pale white skin that complimented them. Her pale white skin that was now tainted with red.
The scene replayed in Umi's mind over and over. If only she was a second faster, the enemy's sword would had never touched a single strand of Nozomi's hair. Maybe then, the princess wouldn't be on the verge of death like she is now.
"Please don't apologize Nozomi. It's not your fault." Umi replied quietly.
"Don't blame yourself Umi-chan. This was my fate from the moment I was born." Nozomi smiled at the other. Even though the smile was forced, it was so pure, so innocent, and so beautiful to Umi.
The knight continued to walk silently, a lump in her throat held back her words. The path they took was made of stone surrounded by bushes, untouched by flames. The familiar scent of flowers was slowly becoming mixed with smoke and blood.
Blood. So much was drenched on the uniform that Umi wore. Some of it was hers, some of it belonged to her enemies', but most of it belonged to Nozomi. The princess's wound never stopped bleeding even though Umi had messily patched it up with pieces of the other's dress.
The knight held onto the princess closely as they walked up the hill. Their pursuers were not far from them. Umi forced herself to continue moving, even though she knew how this was all going to end, to the very end she wanted to be at the place they both found to be important.
At the top of the cliff the white lilies were once again in full bloom. Illuminated by the moonlight, it was as though they were glowing.
"Umi-chan...they're beautiful..." Nozomi's breathing was becoming slow.
"Yes, they are...but not as much as you." Umi kneeled and laid her princess down onto the ground. The white flowers surrounded her, making her figure even more beautiful. Umi was sure she was watching an angel sleeping. "Did you know; lilies also symbolize innocence after death?"
"Umi-chan..." Nozomi pulled her knight's face closer. Tears streamed down Umi's face as Nozomi's last words reached her ears. The warm hand that once touched her face was now cold.
Shouts of soldiers could be heard from behind Umi. The bluenette caressed Nozomi's cheek before giving her a light kiss on the forehead. The knight stood up and pulled out her sword and faced her enemies with fierce. She wasn't sure how many she had cut down, five, ten? In truth, she didn't care.
An arrow whizzed past her ear, barely missing Umi, but the next one pierced her right shoulder. Even so, that didn't stop her from swinging her sword. Umi cut down another enemy before looking towards the sky and watched a volley of arrows fly towards her. Citrine gems closed as Nozomi's words replayed in her mind. Those words were enough to keep her fighting towards her death.
I love you.
"I love you too, Nozomi." A small smile appeared on the knight's lips as she recalled the peaceful face her princess made with those very last words. "I meet you there soon."
I promise the next one will be Maki x Rin. Please don't be made at me for the not doing so.
Until Next Timeā¦
