Chapter 7 - Phoenix
Kurogane held his sword out loosely at his side. Souhi had seen him through the victories of several battles, and would see him through many more, he was sure.
Sharing a glance with the kid, they nudged their horses forward together, straight into the range of the coming soldiers.
They plowed on, even as a volley of arrows flew at them.
Most of the arrows would have no doubt hit their mark, if not for the indigo barrier that sprang up whenever anything dangerous got within two, three meters of them.
"Fai-san's doing a good job," Syaoran remarked. Kurogane grunted, choosing instead to concentrate on who he needed to defeat first.
The one bearing that hideous red flag. A smirk awoke and played across his face. Then, I'll just start taking whoever comes at me and hope the mage is capable of wiping out the sorcerers of the king.
The archers began to falter now that it was plain that no arrows would harm their targets. Some laid down their bows for swords or knives, while others raised their shields, ready for the first hit.
Urging his horse on, Kurogane flew towards his enemies, sword in hand, feral smile present.
In a smooth leap, he was brought perfectly in front of his target and quickly used Souhi to knock the man out.
He no longer killed unless necessary, as a tribute to Princess Tomoyo, and all his companions on the journey as well.
Whirling around quickly, he blocked multiple attacks from soldiers just now stumbling into action.
Swinging his sword in his trademark move, he yelled, "Hama Ryū-ō Jin!" About ten men were thrown back and did not rise again. Wondering whether he had killed them or not was a luxury Kurogane could not afford to have as more soldiers replaced the ones he had just struck. They slashed at him with their swords and jabbed at his steed.
Although armor protected him and his stallion from the worst of injuries, Kurogane was beginning to see what a hopeless situation this was.
Already, he was drifting a bit from Syaoran, despite their efforts to stay together. Riding Arashi gave him the advantage of height, as most of the soldiers were on foot, but it only served to injure his warhorse further.
Get out into the open! I can't shield you in such close quarters! Fai's voice sounded in Kurogane's head.
Guiding Arashi, he managed to clear himself and his surroundings of soldiers. He led Arashi at a gallop further north, forcing a good half of the soldiers to turn around and follow him.
How can anyone be expected to fight with a sword from far away? He thought irritably.
As long as you have enough space around you to swing your sword, I can shield you. The idiot's voice sounded cold, even in his mind.
But then that means I can't hit anything with my sword! Kurogane growled, realizing it was no use.
Do you want to be protected or not? Fai snapped.
Kurogane was just a tiny bit stung by how little Fai seemed to care. He hardened his resolve.
Either I fight, or I hide behind pretty magical walls.
There was no question about it really.
I'm going in.
It wasn't so bad, not at first.
Many men fell to Souhi's blade or Arashi's hooves. Kurogane had stopped caring whether his enemies lived or died after he had gotten stabbed in his arm for the fourth time, a sword or something somehow making it past his armor. The mage resided in cold silence for the majority of the time, presumably fighting his own battle, although he got occasional hints to watch out for someone or something behind him.
The real trouble came when the sorcerers of the king decided to reveal themselves.
Not long after he had decided to properly fight, Kurogane had become aware of a thrumming in the air. There was an energy that rippled around him, clashing and struggling for dominance. Although Kurogane saw no spells flashing in the air, he could only assume it was a magical battle. Hoping the mage would be able to defeat the sorcerers, he had paid the magic in the air no close attention. He had not thought to look out for the sorcerers, to finish them off physically.
Until they appeared in front of him. The soldiers quieted and many even stopped fighting altogether, although there were certainly enough to keep Syaoran occupied as Kurogane faced the sorcerers. There were five of them, all riding on horseback. Dressed in regal robes, each of them wearing a different color, they each also carried a glowing staff.
Oh look, they match. How cute, Kurogane thought sarcastically. Fai remained silent.
The one clad in green stepped forward. "Where is the magick-user?"
"What magick-user?" Kurogane growled.
"Please, don't even play stupid. It doesn't suit you." Kurogane barely had time for his brain to register the bizarre compliment before the sorcerer flicked his fingers and beams of green light shot out at him.
Kurogane made a split second decision. Hoping the mage was with him, he leapt forward. Indigo magic flared up around him as all the sorcerers attacked him at once, their staffs flaring green, red, violet, yellow, and magenta. He swept his sword in a broad arc, expecting it to bite into flesh.
Instead, he was blinded by a flash of green and thrown back.
Temporarily stunned, he watched in a daze as the air pulsed with flowing magic, all visible to him now. The indigo was predominant, but there were still little gaps here and there that made him grit his teeth when he was touched by a spell that snaked its way through.
Get back on Arashi and come towards town! Fai commanded. Magic is weakened by distance, and these five are all pretty powerful, I need all the help I can get!
Kurogane clambered back onto his horse and blindly fled, trusting the mage to protect his back.
I'm useless now, he thought disgustedly.
No, you're not! Fai snapped. Kurogane was shocked by the force in his voice. You've done more than me, anyway.
Tch! This is not the time to argue about your value, mage! Kurogane wheeled around a stone's throw from town. Let's go!
Careful, Fai cautioned. Kurogane could see the mage on the roof of the inn, robes and hair billowing in the wind when he looked behind him, waiting for the sorcerers to approach.
They quickly settled into a rhythm. Kurogane squashed his ingrained feeling of mutiny and struck when and where Fai told him to.
After several frustrating minutes, an opening appeared.
Quickly! Fai ordered. Now! Kurogane thrust his sword forward, Souhi flaring with Fai's magic, and was pleased to feel her bite into flesh. She hummed as he pulled her back out, causing red blood, so contrasting from the green robes of the sorcerer, to spurt everywhere.
Kurogane's brief moment of satisfaction was shattered when the other four sorcerers all cried out and his vision was filled with spells of all colors. The next thing he knew, the colors all faded to black and he fell back.
The first thing his mind registered was the smell of blood.
Decay.
The first thing he saw when he opened his eyes was the bodies.
Souma.
Tomoyo.
Mokona.
Sakura.
Syaoran.
Even …
Fai.
All of them, blood trailing from a plethora of cuts, some deep enough that Kurogane could see the white of bones, others appearing to be only small nicks.
Wh-what happened?
…
It can't be!
Everyone …
… is dead?!
Kurogane let out a low moan. The moan grew to become a scream that tore through the dead air as pain racked his body and he knew nothing, nothing any more, beyond the fact that there was nothing left, no one left, only pain and death and pain and death …
He opened his eyes once again, darkness giving way to white and blue.
Kurogane! Fai cried out in his mind. Kurogane dully registered the fact that his name was not said as an insult for once, but in a voice that implied worry.
What … what happened? He felt weak all over, his limbs all trembling and the desire to vomit mounting.
Illusion spell, Fai said with disgust. One of the most common ways to break down an opponent. Unfortunately, Fai continued, worry once again evident. There were quite a few pain spells in there too.
Kurogane groaned. Shaking his head to clear his vision, he pushed himself up from the snowy ground, only to see that rather than the regular indigo shields he had assumed himself to be in, he was being sheltered by the flaming wings of … a blue phoenix?
Whoa. This is new.
Fai seemed to laugh through their mental connection. For me, too.
Kurogane was alarmed to see a writhing mass of multicolored magic aimed at them. What's that?
Why, Kuro-chan, Fai said wryly. You didn't think the battle was over, did you?
Ah. Kurogane squinted. It was hard to see anything when he was surrounded on all sides by blue feathers that shimmered with fire. How's it going then?
I think Kuro-rin's still a little bit muddled, Fai sounded mildly amused. He seems a bit – The mage's words were cut off by a sudden cry of pain.
Kurogane didn't have time to wonder what had happened or ask Fai if he was alright before he was once again swept away by a pain that entered his body and tore him apart, clawing even at his mind and soul.
As his world faded to black yet again, he thought he heard the scream of a pissed off phoenix.
A/N - Ugh, I struggled a lot to write this chapter. I'm no good with battle scenes -sigh- Review, please?
Just a heads up - the next chapter MIGHT not be ready in a week (because I'm not entirely sure whether I want them to stay or move on (and if they move on, to where) yet). Sorry
