Author's Note:

Hey there guys! Looks like we are reaching the end. The climax has arrived.

Climb aboard!

Chapter 14

"Gerald Walker?" He said.

"No sir, Usui Takumi," he finally spoke. Sakuya was shocked. He couldn't say anything. This man, who they were trying to open his mouth just spoke willingly. But why does he look so similar to Gerald.

"Are you related to Gerald?" Sakuya asked.

Takumi took a deep breath, choosing his options and rolling his tongue to save himself. And with a final―

"Yes,"

all hell broke lose.

Misaki looked around her, the stench of dead bodies and humid air filling her nostrils. She was sure she would run down with fever if she didn't run away. But this was her task, she had come with no turning back. And how ever reckless it seemed, she will get this war ending before she breathed her last.

She could see a tiny doll lying on the ground, bloodied and torn. The wind blew across her face, cooling her sweaty face inside the armor. For a few minutes, she saw Usui, laughing and teasing her.

"Misa-chan."

She blinked, looking around her again. The general looked like he could use some sleep, the stress of the few people participating took a toll on him. Especially when he had to carry the responsibilities of ten kingdoms, including the RavenClaw. This was unfair, no matter how much Misaki hated men. To her right, a man clenched a fist without his fingers. He held tightly unto his sword, with only his thumb. Misaki now realised the reasons her father refused to allow her to participate.

She knew nothing about warfare.

"Attack!" The loud command came, and Misaki was now ready for the battle.

She kicked her horse and fired her own shots. Nobody questioned her sudden appearance, when she privately spoke to the general, showed her emblem to him. But that didn't matter anymore.

Her eyes were spinning, the dust moving around her in a circular motion. She didnt know what the feeling was, a churning so strange in her stomach she could feel her heart sinking.

She would never see her sisters again. Never see her father. Never go fencing, wander in the forest and return before her father knew.

And then, never see Usui. She wanted to kiss him so badly, stay in his embrace with her eyes closed. This wasn't what she wanted to see..

The sky was a sickly light blue, with the blood occasionally flying in the air. Heads were cut, bodies slashed and stabbed. Misaki slashed every sword that attacked her, blew in her gun. She had made her own gun, a long wood stick hollow from inside as she blew the sharp pins on anyone. She had her arrow and bow ready, just in case she needed them. Although she wasn't anything great in it.

The people kept falling, groans and battle cries. But no sound of laughter. Misaki felt like she was floating when a sword slashed through her sleeve. It felt like cold water dozed on her arm. She gripped her sword tightly, frowning deeply as she slashed the man in front of her.

The man fell in front of her, dead. She swallowed the thick lump in her throat along with the trauma of watching someone die in front of her. This was not the time to panic.

She held her sword with both her hands and slashed, instinctively moving it according to the opposite person's attack. She didnt know how to fight in a battle, but she knew how to fight one on one.

A loud trumpet was blown, from both the sides at the same time. Soldiers in either sides slowly fell back as they fought the enemy and retreated. Misaki looked around her, a royal carriage had come, with the RavenClaw crest in the doors. Misaki felt troubled, about this visit. Especially when the war suddenly stopped because of some news being delivered.

"The Object has been found! Raveclaw has decided to withdraw from the battle at a price of a prince! Prince―"

What? Was she hearing right? They were using a man as a bait?! What kind of treachery was this?!

"We need to see this prince!"

She looked at the Generals from both the side come forward, with one taking their "Prince" to the other general. Misaki had a bad feeling about this, especially when the prince with the mask looked familiar. All too familiar.

And when the hand clenched tightly in a fist, her heart dropped.

Then the mask was removed from his head.

"Listen, listen to me carefully, my beloved husband. I want you to remember forever, that I have always remained faithful to you, always been loyal to you. And being your wife has been the best thing that has ever happened to me. And you being here, beside my bedside brings peace to my heart. I can feel that I am leaving you in good hands. My five beautiful daughters―"

Her weak but kind matronal eyes washed over the treasures of her life, standing beside her father with tears streaming down her chins. The tea was getting colder by the minute, and so was her body. Minako looked bat each one of them, knew what kind of people lurked outside the safety of their home.

"Don't forget, I have always loved you. Will always remain in your heart. Take care of your father."

They all nodded, Misaki staring at her mother with eyes speaking her grief. Minako didn't fail to give them all a smile, lingering more on Misaki as she did. She knew what her daughter saw, she knew the troubles she faced in school. But more importantly, she knew how much she meant to everyone.

"Sakuya, dear, please promise me. Promise me that you will marry our daughters to the person they desire. No matter the status, no matter how hard the times are. I want you to grant my wish. Please...please..." She closed her eyeyes, letting a laboured breath out.

"Mom!"

"Minako!"

They all said at the same time, as she breathed her last.

And the will of the queen was written in the documents. With Sakuya being determined to grant his late wife's wish.

Author's Note:

Did I set the war scene right? Because I am writing a war scene for the first time. I hope I have done alright if not great, I practiced a few scenes before finally settling on this one.

Padfoot Starfyre: Yup you are right. Being the reckless between the two, she always thought about others, blinded by the care she had for them. So, being reckless and impatient was her key to determination. Well, Misaki wanted fight from the start, and that seemed the most plausible solution from everything she thought about coming up. Yeah, she can't. But now that things have just turned upside down,(I hope i didn't disappoint you much) Misaki is more worried about the person in the mask. Can you guess who it can be? Probably he is. Probably it can be the surname of some adoptive parents if he has had them before.I will try to fix them if I can squeeze in time. I have got today and tomorrow. Thank you so much for reading my story so far! Be blessed and Happy!

To everyone out there! Thank you so much for reading this story until this chapter, I am so grateful. Even if you read this after months I have posted this story, you still remain my treasured readers. Thank you!

Goodbye!