Lost in the Dark
By Meganes Ultimate Fangirl
Chapter 9 - Defense
Namahi and Ranka returned home. The 20-year-old sent Corporal Sarichi to sleep since she knew that he'd have to stay up all night, keeping watch. And she'd gladly look after her father till nightfall as well. "Dad," she murmured, frowning, "What do you think would happen is someone found out about us? About me specifically?"
He was quiet for the longest time, making her think that maybe he had fallen asleep in his chair again since his eyes were both closed. Then, without opening his eyes he asked, "Who knows, Haruhi?"
She bit her bottom lip as he opened an eye to look at his daughter. "He only knows about my gender," she mumbled.
"He? He? Who is this he? Do you know how dangerous it is that a he knows that you're a girl?"he demanded in slight outrage.
She sighed and shook her head. "Actually... It's four hes and a she. But..."
"WHAT? What the hell are you doing? And who are they?"
Biting her lip seemed to be a bad nervous habit for her. "Shh. Dad. You'll wake Sarichi. Don't talk so loud." She quieted him by taking hold of his hands and sitting kneeling directly in front of him. "It's the Narian royal family."
Her father's face seemed to pale quite a lot. "Haruhi... Any of those Princes could turn you into a murderer do you realize that?"
She sighed in exasperation and stood, walking toward the couch that was against the other wall. "Princes Yuiichi and Akito are married and King Yoshio has yet to even meet me. He just knows that I'm there."
"And the Third Prince?" he grunted, "What're you going to do about him?"
She drew in a breath. "I don't know. I'm just hoping that he doesn't fall for me. That would be a disaster."
"You don't hope for things like that. Because a lot of the time it just happens without the control of anyone."
She groaned to herself. That was just great. So she couldn't even do anything to stop this if Kyoya somehow gained feelings for her.
The thought of which freaked her out more than the thought of being killed by the Narian assassin that might attempt to murder her.
–
It was midday. The heat was bearing down on their backs. And they were getting increasingly fed up with this look-out duty in Katari. "I think Marioka was hearing things," Somaru grumbled, scratching his head while turning to his companion.
"Didn't you hear? It could be today or tomorrow. And 'soon as we see Narians we're to report it and alert the guards back in Miera," Makiri retorted, drawing his sword to clean it for the millionth time that day.
"I know that. But we've been here since dawn. Where the hell are our replacements anyway?" the former continued to complain. Makiri sighed. Honestly, he agreed. But the tension in the air was apparent. But that was from the anticipation of the soldiers. It was stifling to the point of a newly recruited Private setting off a hysterical false alarm.
Behind them they heard a shout. Turning, they noticed two men waving and walking toward the watch tower. Somaru grinned. "Finally," he muttered, waving his arms back at them.
Makiri rolled his eyes and headed for the ladder that was led down the side of the make-shift watch tower. The other stayed at the top and kept his eyes on the horizon to the east.
When he was about to head to the ladder so the replacements could take their places, an arrow shot out of nowhere and hit him in the back. He grunted loudly. Makiri turned from where he was just barely starting on the ladder. "Somaru!" He pulled himself back up and ran to his fallen comrade. Another arrow shot over from the ground below and lodged itself in the floor of the tower right next to him. He stood quickly and strode to the edge, looking down.
His eyes widened and he sprinted to the other end where the replacements were starting to climb the ladder. "NARIANS!" he yelled down. "NARIANS!"
The bell hanging next to the ladder starting ringing loudly seconds later. The sound would carry all the way to the next town where two messengers were waiting on horseback to ride off to both the General and the guards planted in Miera.
After that they would bar anyone from entering or leaving the 10 mile radius outside Miera. Those wizards wouldn't get through to set up the barrier without the army being aware of it.
What they didn't know was that the wizards had already sneaked past disguised as a farmers heading to town to trade in crops.
–
Meanwhile...
The Mariokas went to the Hitachiins for lunch, as they often had in the past. Namahi had a slight headache from the twins and her father being overly enthusiastic over making dinner (even if any meal made by her father was normally the best thing she'd ever had). The current argument was whether there were enough vegetables to be a healthy meal. Ranka said no, twins said yes. But the twins also hated eating their veggies. Thus, Ranka won.
"Ah! Namahi!" he exclaimed, reverting easily to her Kiran name since their guards were around. "We need more onions and peppers!" She sighed and glanced at her slightly-girly father who had an apron tied around his waist. He started toward the door only to be stopped by his daughter standing firmly in the doorway.
"We have some at our house and it's not safe for you to go. I'll be back soon," she mumbled, turning him and pushing him back toward Sarichi and the others. "Don't make Corporal Sarichi's job more difficult."
She slipped her sword onto her belt on her way out the door, just in case, and wandered back to her own home. She passed Mrs. Jurari who smiled and waved from her regular corner. "Need anymore fruits or veggies, Namahi?" she asked kindly.
"Not right now, I don't think. Thank you though, Mrs. Jurari," she replied respectfully, continuing on her way to the little house she and her father shared.
From the moment she stepped into the house she felt like someone was watching her. The hair on the back of her neck stood up straight. She looked around carefully, not noticing anything particularly out of place. She went to the kitchen and retrieved the onions and peppers that her father had wanted.
Something creaked behind her and she briefly thanked the old floorboards of the house. Her sword was drawn in her right hand in a heartbeat while her left hand threw an onion at high speed. The man she was faced with dodged the throw and lunged forward, sword fully extended.
Namahi side-stepped and countered, hearing the loud clang of metal-on-metal as the two swords collided.
It was difficult, parrying with this highly trained assassin when she was used to practice battles with comrades. And this bastard was fast too. Faster than she had anticipated.
After defending herself furiously and acquiring several gashes in her shoulder, side, and a slight one on her cheek, she finally found an opening and held her sword to his neck. "Wemo oda H mlki voy," she hissed. He stayed as still as stone, his sword clattering to the ground. "Now... You're going to tell me where the magical barrier is and how many assassins got through. Got it?"
She got the feeling that he wasn't going to say anything anytime soon. He merely grunted something that sounded suspiciously like, 'Kiran filth,' in Narian and spit in her face. She wiped it off with her free hand and dug the edge of her blade into his neck until it drew a bit of blood. "Do I need to take you to the goddamn dungeon? Surely they'll be glad to torture you to death there. How many assassins?"
"Four," he growled reluctantly.
"And the barrier?" Silence again. "Tch... We'll find it eventually anyway. I think I'll turn you over to the royal guards anyway though. They need a little bit of fun every now and then anyway."
"Namahi!" the twins both called from behind her.
"I'm fine, guys!" she called back, "Caught a little assassin playing burglar. Do me a favor." She swiftly brought the butt of her sword down on his head, effectively knocking him out. "Take this bastard to the palace dungeon."
They nodded, staring at her wide-eyed. "Remind me never to get into a sword fight with you, Namahi," Hikaru grumbled softly as he and his twin hoisted the man up between them.
"There's four other assassins in the city. Might be more on the way if they haven't gotten the barrier shut down yet," she said softly, smearing the blood on her cheek by wiping her hand over it quickly. "My guess is one of them are probably going after Tamaki and King Yuzuru while the other three are trying to get to other royal court families. Warn the guards when you get there."
"Got it, Boss," Kaoru muttered, grunting under the weight of the assassin dressed in black. "Get back to your Dad and our parents will you?"
She nodded, grabbed two onions and peppers and took off out the door at a full sprint toward the Hitachiin residence.
–
She kind of felt faint by the time she reached her friends' home. She drew her sword quickly when she noticed the broken window and tried to steady her heart rate. She swallowed before inching through the front door.
First thing she noticed was Sarichi lying in a pool of blood on the floor. Then the splintered table and the abused couch with stuffing pouring out. She hurried through the rest of the house toward the grunting of fighting soldiers. Daichi held a sword, fighting off one man while Mori and Hunny parried with another.
Mori kicked his and Hunny's quickly in the chest, throwing him back toward her. She didn't even think about it as she held her blade upright and plunged it straight through his chest. The enemy's sword clattered to the ground at the same time he started making choking noises and slid off her sword.
Namahi swallowed as she stared at the lifeless form. 'It's to protect your father,' she told herself shakily, 'It was self-defense. Not murder.'
By this time Daichi Hitachiin had managed to move in such a way that disarmed the man he was battling furiously with. Now he was pinned to the ground with a sword at his neck.
"Daichi, where are the others?" she asked softly.
"Cellar," he replied, eying the man under the threat of his sword who was muttering under his breath.
She nodded at Mori and Hunny. "Hunny, immobilize him will you?"
He nodded and whispered a quick, "Congelo," while pressed a finger to the forehead of his victim. The only thing moving now was the slight rise and fall of his chest and the shifting of his eyes. Namahi nodded in gratitude once more and slipped toward the cellar door.
"Dad! Yuzuha! Karime!" she yelled down, "It's safe!" When her father's face appeared, it turned worried in an instant when he took in the sight of her wounds.
"What happened to you!" he exclaimed wildly, immediately fretting over his darling daughter.
She sighed and gripped her side – which ironically was the same one where she'd been shot just weeks before. "I'm fine, Dad," she murmured, "Just a few scratches. Where's Rukatori?"
"Dead," Mori's voice intoned behind her. He gestured to where his body was lying just yards away. How had she not seen that before? Neither he nor Hunny seemed to think that it was odd that one of their charges had been able to defend himself just as well as any soldier should have been able to. Then, remembering her father's assigned guard, she ran back out and pushed two fingers to his neck, trying to find a pulse.
"Nothing," she mumbled sadly. Two dead. The twins' grandmother was shaking slightly while her daughter-in-law rubbed her back, also looking slightly pale.
"Where are the boys?" Yuzuha asked, looking frightened for her children's lives.
"They went up to the castle with an assassin prisoner who tried to kill me back at the house." Which reminded her. "Here Dad." She tossed him an onion and pepper. Ranka caught them, looking a tad bewildered.
Daichi collapsed on the ruined couch with a sigh, clutching his left shoulder where a small bloodstain was forming. Hunny hurried toward him with a charm in mind to stop the bleeding at least so he could bandage up the wound.
Namahi's various wounds started burning with the healing process as she rolled her neck. She looked behind her at the body of her man she'd slain just moments earlier. "They didn't expect anyone to be protected," she said softly, "They expected it to be easy with civilians that wouldn't fight back."
Mori placed a hand on her shoulder silently. She swallowed. "Do you two think that you can protect these four alone? I doubt they'll send more here specifically, but just in case..."
"Of course we can, Namahi," Hunny replied, looking more serious than cheerful for once. "But first, Cruor Tela," he added in a whispered, pressing a finger to her bleeding scratches.
"Thanks," she muttered, slipping out the door before her father could even protest.
–
The palace was a mess. Guards outside Tamaki's bedroom were scattered, either dead or unconscious. She counted quickly and drew in a quick breath as she thought about what she might find inside the room. She pushed the door open anyway.
A frazzled looking blonde Prince stood in the middle of the room clutching a sword so tightly that his knuckles were turning white. Two Narians lay on the floor around him. She sighed with relief even as he turned toward her, weapon pointing threateningly at her.
"It's alright," she consoled softly, "It's just me. You're alright?"
He nodded, dropping his sword now. It clattered loudly as it hit the ground. They stared at each other for a moment. "You... You weren't kidding when you said they'd try to kill me," he finally stated shakily.
She nodded, frowning sadly at her friend. Then his eyes widened as he broke out into a run. "Dad!" He pushed past her before she could stop him.
"Tamaki!" she yelled, chasing after him. When she caught up to him, he was kneeling by his father, the assassins having fled already. "You idiot! What if the assassins were still here? Hmm?" she scolded angrily, kneeling next to him.
The Prince looked down at King Yuzuru, eyes wide and face pale. The Kiran King stared up at his only son, blood leaking a bit from his mouth while a bright red bloodstain blossomed on his chest. "Nama-hi," he gasped, "Don't... be so hard... on him." Tamaki seemed to be in shock.
Namahi blinked a few times and hurriedly took off her jacket, pressing it to his chest. A small groan fell from Yuzuru's lips. The blonde took his father's hand in both of his. She looked at them both desperately. "SOMEONE GET A HEALER!" she yelled toward the door. She didn't want to use her magic unless she had to since it drained her of energy faster than normal.
No one arrived and her friend was becoming paler by the second. Finally she sighed exasperatedly and pushed Tamaki away. She removed the jacket and unbuttoned the front of the Kiran King's shirt, pushing it aside. Touching the wound directly would have a better affect. "Na-Namahi, what're you doing?" Tamaki stuttered, looking at her like she was crazy.
"Saving your father's life," she retorted softly and she laid her hand over the hole in the King's chest.
"But... You... Aren't a healer..."
"Shh," she shushed him, trying to concentrate on working. The Prince fell silent. "Cruor Tela," she whispered, concentrating hard. It'd been such a long time since she had used any kind of magic besides her automatic-healing. Blood flow from the chest slowed to a stop after several moments. The twins' mother had taught her several healing spells just in case, years ago. She was glad for that now.
Another popped into her head. One that would weaken her greatly but would probably save Yuzuru's life. A blood transfusion spell. She thought of the words quickly as she sliced her finger on the tip of a knife that she carried on her person at all times. She winced as it the edge cut into her skin and drew blood but quickly pressed it to wound as Tamaki gasped and tried to pull her hand away. "Tamaki! It's fine! Just... Let me work!"
She tugged her hand out of his grasp and let her blood mix with his father's. "I... I might pass out after this," she told the blonde next to her quietly. Without waiting for a reply she said, "Transtuli."
She felt her energy drain as the red glow flowed from her fingertips into the man laying in front of her. She slumped a bit and removed her hand from Yuzuru's chest. "There," she breathed, "Should hold him till healers can get here..."
Tamaki was staring at her. "Why... didn't you tell me you had magic blood in you?" he asked her curiously, still grasping his father's hand while he slipped into unconsciousness.
She sighed to herself. More secrets being spilled to people that didn't need to know. "It wasn't important," she mumbled, pulling her knees to her chest. Her eyes felt heavy and her head ached from the strain on her magical ability. "Besides. I rarely use it since it drains my energy so badly. Your mom's back in Charton right?"
"Yeah."
"And your grandmother?"
His face was paler than normal. "I think... Father moved her to a secure location when he learned of the planned attack." He glanced down at his father. "He'll be pissed when he wakes up."
She nodded in understanding, stomach clenching when she once again thought about how pissed Kyoya would be when – and if – she returned to Nari. Before either of them could say anything, guards flooded into the room and surrounded Namahi while pulling Tamaki away from her. She blinked a few times. And stood. The swords pointed at her closed in while the Prince waved his arms frantically. "No! No! Namahi's not a threat!" he cried.
The blades stayed pointed at her and she swallowed, glancing at her friend. "He saved my father!"
"How?" one asked who knew – or at least thought he knew – for a fact that Namahi had no magical abilities.
She sighed and slumped a bit with exhaustion. "Take a look for yourself," she grumbled softly, attempting to push past the surrounding men. One held his weapon to her throat. She just glared at him haughtily. "I'm a Kiran soldier. I'm Prince Tamaki's best friend and if you don't let me go home, you don't want to know what I'll do."
Stunned, the guy stepped aside and she took off out the door, yelling over her shoulder, "I think I know where the barrier is! Stay safe, Tamaki!"
–
Yes. She knew the perfect place to place a barrier. Secluded and not far from the castle. And easily accessible if you were dressed in a way that blended in with the townspeople, which she noticed most of the assassins had been.
"Hikaru, Kaoru!" she shouted into the Hitachiin household as soon as she reached it. "Hikaru, get Hunny and come with me. I think I know where the barrier is." She was exhausted from helping the King but wouldn't let herself rest until this blasted thing was closed.
She ran, not even paying attention to see if her comrades were following her.
She had to get to the old barn – yet another place that she, Hikaru, Kaoru, and Tamaki had explored when they were little. The barn that was only just on the outskirts of Miera but closer to the palace. It wasn't far from her house either.
She waited behind a tree, watching the doors of the barn while waiting for Hikaru and Hunny to catch up to her. "Namahi, what-?"
"Shh," she hissed angrily, glaring at Hikaru. "If anyone comes out, freeze them." Seconds after the words left her mouth, a man left the old, breaking down building.
"Congelo!" Hunny said quickly, spreading his fingertips out in front of him so they pointed at the unknown person. He froze in place, eyes looking over at them. Namahi drew a shuddering breath and strode forward.
"Kill him," she said softly, looking away as Hikaru didn't hesitate to do as she said. She hated bloodshed. She hated murdering these people. But if it would protect those that she cared about, she didn't care. She hurried toward the barn, pushing through the doors while her blade was held aloft. She felt weak and briefly wondered if she'd actually be able to help shut down the portal. "Hikaru, you've done this before. What's the spell?"
Inside it looked completely normal. Except for the slight chill and circular movement of the air that signaled there was a portal there. "Addo is sub, iuguolo suus vox, clausus totus ex obduco, attero is prodigium."
She nearly groaned out loud. She hated long spells. They were always a pain for her to remember and chant. She repeated it quickly, with Hikaru correcting her along the way. Then she ran through it again perfectly. She glanced at Hunny, who hadn't commented on not knowing that she had magic in her at all, to her relief. "Ready?" she asked him.
He nodded solemnly, a look of concentration on her face. "Hikaru," she mumbled, "If I pass out it's because I cast the blood transfusion spell on King Yuzuru already."
He glared at her pointedly but sighed when he received nothing in return.
Without a single signal but the bonded concentration all three had they started chanting the spell that would close the portal in front of them. "Addo is sub, iuguolo suus vox, clausus totus ex obduco, attero is prodigium."
Namahi's energy immediately drained enough that her knees couldn't hold her. Hunny and Hikaru, who's magic was better toned with all the practice they had, held strong. The air around them slowed and warmed until it grew completely still.
Everything was back to normal.
And the Moradian Princess allowed herself to be sucked into unconsciousness.
–
Meanwhile in Nari...
The Narian Royal family had gathered to watch their great take over through a looking glass that had been bewitched by The Witch to show it to them. Said woman was also there with them.
Kyoya hung in the back, not particularly wanting to be here watching the bloodshed that was about to happen on the surface of the glass. He just supremely hoped that Hanaru didn't do anything stupid while his entire family was watching.
The wizards setting up the magic barrier in the abandoned barn went brilliantly. Assassins started going through and headed toward their victims as the troops were arriving in Katari.
However, as they watched the assassins in each household, the looks on the faces of each of the watching family members grew more enraged and grim.
There were guards.
Everywhere. Soldiers. They were protecting every single damn family. The Ryles, the Karas, the Zerus, the Veradis, the Jotakis, the Teras, the Cortas, the Gretoras, and the Hitachiins. Every family was protected. And every assassin was eventually defeated.
They had several victories though. The Teras – which only consisted of a single male aristocrat in the first place – were wiped out. The Gretora grandmother and one of the sons was killed. The Zerus father was murdered before his protector managed to plunge his sword through the assassin's chest. Major Ryle died saving his younger sister from the blade of a Narian assassin.
But in Katari it also seemed like they had known they were coming. It was no surprise whatsoever.
And the final family in the royal court, the Mariokas. They were nowhere in sight. They weren't home when the attack happened. That was, until a soldier, whom they all assumed was Namahi Marioka came in to fetch some vegetables.
He fought the man that came after him. Fought him and ended up victorious, much to the Narian royal family's dismay.
"Wemo oda H mlki voy. Now... You're going to tell me where the magical barrier is and how many assassins got through. Got it?"
"Sanki mthfi."
"Do I need to take you to the goddamn dungeon? Surely they'll be glad to torture you to death there. How many assassins?"
"Four."
"And the barrier? Tch... We'll find it eventually anyway. I think I'll turn you over to the royal guards anyway though. They need a little bit of fun every now and then anyway."
"Namahi!"
And the Hitachiin twins showed up, seeming more concerned about the Marioka boy than they should have been. Kyoya perked up a bit when he heard Namahi's voice and concentrated intensely on the mirror. Why did that voice sound so familiar?
Then he saw it. Her face. Hanaru's face. He glanced at his brothers, seeing if they noticed at all. They didn't seem to. Nor did his sister. Of course her hair was also pulled up so it could tuck under her hat too.
He had thought it was odd that the Fujinara name wasn't listed on the royal court. Now he knew why.
She had lied to him. About her name.
He almost laughed out loud in disbelief but refrained from doing so as to not draw attention to himself. The mirror followed the movement of Hanaru/Namahi as she ran toward the Hitachiin residence where they had earlier seen assassins enter the premises. Two of the soldiers there were killed. The other two were fighting. As well as the father of the Hitachiin twins. Kyoya gritted his teeth.
She had lied to him. About her relationships in Kira.
"Dad! Yuzuha! Karime! It's safe!"
She called all of them with such familiarity that it was almost sickening. And it almost did when coupled with the idea that she had actually had the nerve to lie to his face.
And then she went to the palace.
"It's alright. It's just me. You're alright?"
"You... You weren't kidding when you said they'd try to kill me."
So she'd told them. She'd told them about it. That's what she had known when she left. Kyoya's eyes flashed angrily. She helped the Kiran Prince. Chased after him even when he ran off. And then he watched as they reached the King. The King who was practically lying in a pool of his blood by the time they reached him.
"Na-Namahi, what're you doing?"
"Saving your father's life."
"But... You... Aren't a healer..."
"Shh. Cruor Tela. Tamaki! It's fine! Just... Let me work! I... I might pass out after this. Transtuli. There. Should hold him till healers can get here..."
She had lied to him. About having magic in her.
That was almost the final straw. She saved the Kiran King from almost certain death. They all kept watching. "I want that bastard dead," Akito growled, pointing at Namahi. He hadn't recognized her as his brother's supposed lover yet apparently. Yuiichi hadn't either.
But no. It wasn't the final straw.
The final straw was when she lead two wizard-soldiers to the abandoned barn where the magic barrier was set up, killed the assassin that came out, and then helped them shut down the portal before passing out from magic-exhaustion.
Kyoya noticed Yuiichi's eyes flash as he shot him a look. He had finally recognized the girl, though Akito and Fuyumi hadn't, which was probably a good thing. The youngest Ohtori let a low growl slip from his lips.
She had lied to him. About everything.
The two brothers shared a look of absolute rage and nodded slowly.
Narian Prince Kyoya Ohtori was going to kill Namahi Marioka.
–
A/N: The spells are Latin. Because... I really don't feel like making up another language. (AKA: I'm too LAZY to.)
Yeah... Kyoya's pissed. This was such a fun chapter to write. And I finished it rather quickly if I do say so myself too. Spruced up OTHD and posted it first though. Harhar. Because, I love torturing you guys. Yeah... that's it.
Kudos to: Enigmaticrose4, Koharu Veddette and Mrs. Ootori43ver (You... were close. But still not quite what the pains are about.)