A secret is revealed in this chapter.
Chapter 14
Narrow Escape
It's now dawn as the clock tower chimes four times, indicating it is four o'clock. Hearing the chimes, Yuu is just about done with sending the bags of gold to the jail tower. Once all of the bags were out of this tower and in the jail tower, Yuu grabs onto the line so he can ride the pulley system until he could safely jump down.
However that was when Ferid felt the slightest movement of the line above his head, waking up in time to watch Yuu jump off the balcony and start sliding down. Checking around his room to see that not a single bag of gold is present, Ferid leans out from the balcony and calls out, "Guards!"
Soon the conscious archers catch sight of Yuu who immediately releases the line and land on the ground like a cat. Seeing as Ferid tried to follow suit, Yuu calls up to the jail window, "Shinya, cut the line now!"
Without being told twice now that they have the last of the bags, Shinya has Byakkomaru slice right through the line with his sharp claws before the remaining prisoners take the bags and leave the dreadful tower. With the line cut, Ferid had lost his balance and fell over the balcony, landing face first into the stone ground.
Trying to recover from the fall, Ferid gasps to see the prisoners not only run out of the jail tower, but they each had a bag or two of gold in their possessions. With Ferid occupied with summoning guards to his side and his bow out, Yuu starts to lead everyone to where Yoichi and Mitsuba have a number of carriages ready to set out. "Everyone, get to a carriage!"
As they all make a run for it, Mirai suddenly trips while running, landing hard on the ground. As a few archers head her way to capture her, Kōta shoots an arrow to stop them in their tracks then Yuu shot a following arrow that pinned all of the opposing archers to a nearby wall. As Mirai sigh in relief that she's been saved, Kōta helps her to her feet as they get on the carriage that Kimizuki will be driving with the Director and the other orphans already inside.
Once every prisoner are in the carriages, Yuu gives all of the drivers the signal to escape at this very moment. However before getting on hers, Shinoa grabs Yuu's arm, her scared expression from earlier returning. "What's wrong Shinoa?"
"Yuu-san, they have Mika-san!" Shinoa exclaims, shaking with uncontrollable fear.
This had left Yuu completely in shock, explaining why he hasn't seen the blond prince anywhere or with the others. "What happened?" Yuu attempts to get his friend to calm down so she can tell him what has happened to his prince.
"I saw Lacus and Rene snuck behind him in the throne room after he had sent the last of the bags from there and was taken to Crowley." Shinoa then points to a tower she saw them disappear into. "Then he lead them to that tower. Crowley is using Mika-san in order to lure you to that tower!"
Thinking fast as he looks at the tower, Yuu quickly lowers the drawbridge so everyone can get out of the castle. Aware that one of the guards can draw the bridge back up, Yuu gives all of the drivers a signal to leave. "All of you, get everyone out of here and to the hideout! I'm getting Mika out of here and we'll meet you all back there!"
A few had wanted to protest about leaving him at the mercy of the king, but soon guards had spotted them. Acting fast, Kimizuki, Yoichi, and Guren drive the carriages outside of the castle grounds and into Oakheart Forest just as the gates slam shut behind them.
Seeing all of the carriages made it out safely, Yuu makes his way across the courtyard when he hears a voice just above him, "Yuichiro!"
Looking up, Yuu watched as Crowley prevents Mika from yelling out and drags him back inside the tower. "Mikaela!"
Realizing that the guards are still after him and knowing full well that this is a trap, Yuu knows he has no other choice. He has to save Mika and get out of here fast. After all, he is the Seraphic Robin Hood. And so, for the first time in a long time, a pair of black Seraph wings unfurl from his back, leaving the guards that are in pursuit of him and even Ferid watching from a safe distance are left in shock as Yuu flies up to the tower and lands inside.
Ignoring the fact that he just saw his lover had flown into the tower, Mika runs right into his open arms before the couple turns to see Crowley charge at them, a sword on hand. Thinking fast as he pushes Mika into the next room, Yuu draws his sword and parrys Crowley's attack. Then when the sheriff swung his sword with Yuu dodging and jumping into the next room with Mika, Crowley ended up hitting a nearby torch, knocking it completely off the wall with the small flame set everything around it on fire, quickly setting the room and soon the entire tower.
The blaze spreading at a fast speed, Yuu and Mika run up the stone stairs and out a single window with Crowley exiting out of the tower in a different direction from the two. With a firm hold around Mika, Yuu climbs up to the very top of the tower with the fire quickly surrounding the pair.
"Don't shoot! He has my sweet prince!" They hear Ferid order his guards and they could also see, watching from the trees are Kimizuki, Shinoa and Kōta. Even from this height, the two can easily see how nervous they are as they watch the tower go up in flames.
His wings extended but watching the flames, Yuu turns to Mika as he holds the prince bridal style. "I'm going to take to the sky. I need you to hold onto me tightly, Mika."
Not having being told twice, Mika wraps his arms around Yuu's neck, his face buried in his chest as he feels Yuu flap his wings hard enough to kick off the burning tower. Once high enough so the flames won't touch them, Yuu shoots right to where his three band members wait for them.
Now that they are safe, Yuu places Mika back on his feet with the prince keeping his arms around his beloved. Not a single word had been exchanged, but they didn't need to be as Yuu returns the hug.
Watching from back at the castle, Ferid is furious. After seeing how Yuichiro held Mikaela as they escape the burning tower and once they were safely away, the way the prince embrace that outlaw is enough to cause the king's blood to boil over in a fiery anger. He should be the one the prince falls so deeply in love with, not some lowlife outlaw!
Not allowing the outlaw to keep this happiness, Ferid takes out a hidden crossbow, a poison arrow already locked and loaded. Jealousy-filled eyes now set on the outlaw's unprotected back as he and the prince still hold each other tenderly, Ferid aims the crossbow right at the base of Yuu's back where his wings meet his back.
Hearing something be released, Yuu all of a sudden screams in agonizing pain coming from the center of his back where the base of his wings is located. "Yuu-chan!" Mika screams as he feels Yuu suddenly go limp in his arms, screaming in pain.
"He's been shot!" Kōta exclaims as Shinoa gasp behind her hands and Kimizuki's eyes grow wide.
Taking Yuu's arm and wrapping it around his shoulder, Kimizuki faces the other three and says in an order tone, "We need to get him to the church right now! The hideout is too far and he needs medical attention asap."
Mika let's Kimizuki lead Yuu away to somewhere safer with Shinoa and Kōta right behind him. Before going after them, Mika turns toward the castle, glaring in the direction the arrow came from with bitter tears in his sapphire eyes. Knowing full well who had shot that poisonous arrow and hurt his Yuu, Mika then disappears into the trees to rejoin his friends.