Cherry Blossom Melody

by TragicWriter01

Of the nine Sacred Knights of Uchiura, only two are known. These two Knights are protecting the Princess of the Empire, Sakurauchi Riko. Follow the Sacred Knights, Kanan and Dia, as they risk their lives to protect their beloved Princess, on the quest to find the remaining seven Sacred Knights, to defeat the Empire of Dark Angels.

13. Better Together

Mau yuki wa

Hoshi no kakera

Tentai ni

Te wo nobashite

Ikikau negai

Kanjite iru ne

Subete wa ima

MONOKUROOMU no naka

Sotto koboreta shiroi iki

Tsutae takatta kotoba no katachi

Kitto nukumori no bun dake

Sora wa honnori

Akaruku natta

Kanashimi ni nureta tsubasa

Kasanariau junpaku he

Watashi atta

Mirai he no yasashii yuuki

Dare mo shiranai sekai no

Yoake wo matte iru kodou

Hikari wo tsurete

Tabidatsu watashi

Ni hajimaru ashita

Mau yuki wa

Hoshi no kakera

Tentai ni

Te wo nobashite

Ikikau negai

Shinjite iru yo

Subete wa ima

MONOKUROOMU no naka

The Princess shot down a countless amount of demons in her path. Her force field was still intact. Things were going smoothly.

"This can work, Riko! Don't give up!"

"Don't have to tell me twice!" She looked down at Kohaku. "Kohaku, can you still run?!" The kitsune roared affirmatively. The Princess smirked. "Then, let's keep moving!"

Kogoeta kioku wo tokasu

Te ni ireta ai to tomoni

Furimukazu ni

Kanji aou sora no kanata

Sorezore ga tadoru kidou

Tatoe mou aenakute mo

Hikari ga miseru

Ginga no dokoka de tsunagatte iru ne

Chiru hoshi wa

Suna no you ni

Mata mune wo

Amaku naderu

Shizuka ni nemuru

Yume no zanzou

Subete wa mada

MONOKUROOMU no naka

Riko roared as she shot one arrow after another. Using that much magical energy was sure to wear her down, but she refused to give in. Her Blessed Melody came to an end, and the onslaught of demons continued to flow. She could feel her knees buckle, but she kept her ground, breathing heavily.

"Riko! Are you alright?" Sakura asked, concerned.

"I'm… fine," the Princess breathed. "Sakura… Kohaku…" Riko concentrated and undid her sprite's force field.

"Wha—? Riko! I put that up for a reason!"

"No more putting up walls, Sakura!"

"Eh?"

The Princess pointed a number of arrows at another onslaught of demons coming towards them.

"I have to be brave. I can't just stand by while my friends are in the middle of battle! I promised Mama… that I would fulfill her destiny. And I intend to keep that promise! Even at the cost of my life!" She gave a determined look to her sprite and Kohaku. "I'm gonna need your guys' help. Are you up to it?"

Sakura and Kohaku looked at each other before giving a smile to the Princess.

"Of course!" Satisfied, Riko gave a smile.

"Then, let's finish this."

"We've got your back, Riko!"

The Princess's armor glistened and her aura flamed with determination.

Dia-san… Hanamaru-chan… You-chan… Kanan-san… Mari-san… Chika-chan… Ruby-chan…

She closed her eyes, took a breath and when she opened them, they burned with fiery passion and hope.

Lend me your strength! My dear friends!

The Princess suddenly was airborne and took to the skies, shooting her arrows. She kept her cool while singing.

Nee

Kodou kanjitara

Saa

Omoi wo tobasou yo

Datte negatta shunkan ga

Yume no

Hajimari

Doushite tte tachidomaru kedo

Nando mo yasashii koe ni dakare

Ima ijou no ashita wo

Mitsuke ni yukou

Tomaranai

Kibou, yume, dokomademo!

Utagoe wa

Akogare

Oikoshite

Akiramenai

Subete wo

Tadoritsuite miseru kara

Negai todoke to

Kanaderu

Song for you

Kohaku prowled the demons and bared his fangs when each of them tried to attack. His roars echoed throughout the continent, as the kitsune's determination flared.

Get 'em, Kohaku!

Singing two Blessed Melodies in one battle began to wear the Princess down. Breathing heavily, Riko could feel beads of sweat running down her body.

"Riko, are you alright?"

"I told you, I'm fine! But, what about you? I'm not just getting all this magical power out of thin air, y'know." Sakura smiled, shaking her head.

"Don't worry about me, just focus on saving everyone!"

The Princess gripped her bow and arrow, nodding.

Nee

Kioku no naka ni wa

Aa

Kanashimi ga nemuru no?

Sotto tebanaseba ii yo

Itami

Oshiete

Donna unmei ga matteru no darou

Imi wo sagashi nagara hashiru

Namida de owaritakunai

Owarasenai

Kanaetai

Kibou, yume, dokomademo!

Utagoe de

Mayoi yo

Kiete shimae

Te wo nobasu

Mirai wa

Kawari hajimeteru'n da to

Shinjiru kokoro de

Kanaderu

Song for you

Riko ran beside Kohaku, firing arrow after arrow continuously.

"Kohaku! You're doing great! Dia-san will be proud!" The kitsune beast smirked and proceeded to plow through the demons. "Sakura! I'm gonna need your help to finish this! Are you ready?!"

"Hmph! I've been ready, Princess!"

"This… is for my friends!"

Riko skid through the ground, causing her feet to slightly bruise. She breathed heavily and looked behind her.

"Riko, what now?" Sakura whispered. The three of them were right at the edge of a cliff. "Stay your ground, Riko!"

The demons slithered closer and closer to the Princess. Riko breathed deeply before focusing all of her magical energy on this final blow.

"Sakura, I'm gonna need that force field…"

"Eh? Now, of all times?"

"Just put it around me on my signal. Understand?" Sakura furrowed her brow before pursing her lips and nodding.

Kimi ga iru kara

Zutto soko ni

Ite hoshii kara

Utaitai yo

Daiji na hito-tachi

Yasashii hibi wo

Utaitai

Watashi kara

Nagare

Dasu no

Kono MERODII

"Now, Sakura! Do it now!"

The sprite held her hands out and focused her last bit of energy to protect her owner. The force field made its way around Riko before she fired even more arrows. She found herself taking a few steps back… before jumping off the cliff.

"Riko!" Sakura cried, soaring after her, Kohaku following closely behind by sliding down the cliff.

Kagayaita yozora no hoshi

Michi wo shime shiteru you de

Unazuite mata

Mae wo muite

Atarashii sekai he

Tomaranai

Kibou, yume, dokomademo!

Utagoe wa

Akogare

Oikoshite

Akiramenai

Subete wo

Tadoritsuite miseru kara

Tsuyoi watashi de

Iyou to

I sing, song for you

Finally closing her second Blessed Melody, the Princess delivered the final blow of arrows to what was left of the demons. Feeling her knees buckle, Riko groaned as her vision began to blur. She could faintly see the rest of the demons fading to nothingness. Satisfied, she smiled tiredly before finally collapsing with Sakura's force field disappearing.

"Riko!" the sprite cried. Kohaku reverted back to his small cub form. He whimpered and went over to the Princess, licking her cheek to wake her. "Riko! Hang in there!"

"Sakura… Kohaku…" Riko laughed tiredly. "Looks like… I used… too much of my magic power…"

"You need to sing! Your Healing Song!"

"I… can't… sing… anymore… Not for now… I'm… down for the… count, Sakura…"

"Riko…"

"I just… need… to rest…" Kohaku whimpered, and the Princess reached over to pet the cub. "You… did great, both of… you…" Riko could feel her eyes getting heavy. "Thanks…" She slowly felt her consciousness slip away.

Sakura and Kohaku looked at each other and smiled. Sakura giggled.

"Oh, Sumire… Your daughter is such an over-achiever…" The sprite flew over towards Riko's cheek and pecked a kiss to the Princess. "You rest easy now, Princess…" She looked up toward the sky. "Akane… Shizuka… Everyone… we'll join you girls soon. Just be patient."