Diana vs Duran 2: The Battle of Fuuka
The pulsing sound of the cannons echoed through Fuuka, shaking the Samurai who had never faced such an enemy. The barricades only barely withstood the barrage as the enemy lines began to move forward, they lined up just out of range of the archers on the walls. They fired and most of the defenders perished, the remainder fled the walls and made their way into the town proper, as was the plan. The military forces followed them, when they arrived in the center of town a rain of arrows preceded the Samurai emerging from the surrounding buildings and striking at the military forces, whose long guns were at a disadvantage.
Haruka rode in their midst, firing Diana as fast as she would allow, "Keep fighting, push them back." The horse she rode took an arrow to it's head, it fell to the ground and pinned her leg beneath it. Another soldier helped her pry it free, but he received a sword to the chest for his effort. She drew her colt pistol and shot the Samurai who had killed him in the face, splitting his mask and killing him cleanly.
She stood as more Samurai exited the buildings around them. The soldiers lined up and Haruka dove to the side just in time to avoid a barrage that struck down many Samurai warriors. The line crumpled as the Samurai pressed on all sides. Haruka fired Diana into the crowd, killing several more warriors before she had to reload.
She brought the rifle back up and was about to pull the trigger when she saw her across the battlefield, her dark hair flowing over armor in the shape of a wolf's head, her sword cleaving the head off of a soldier in her command. Kuga, just who I was hoping to see.
-RB-
Natsuki kept her eyes on the street, when she saw the archers pass the store she signaled the men to be ready. The military wasn't far behind and she saw men leap from the building into the fray. The air was thick with the sounds of guns and the screams of the dying. She saw some soldiers fall back to the store and she led the charge, cutting two soldiers down before the men behind her entered the fray.
She cut the head off of another man when she felt a cold wind sweep past her. She looked around and noticed the American woman coming in her direction. It's a small world, I guess. She shot down a Samurai on her way to Natsuki, who waited for her calmly. "Armitage, it's a pleasure to see you again."
Haruka strode forward until they stood face-to-face, the battle raging around them, "I need answers, Kuga. What was your father to my mother? Did someone kill them to take your father's position?" Natsuki kept Duran between them, "Rachel and my father were lovers. My father feared that someone would use his relationship with her to gain leverage over him, so he kept it a secret. It seems his fears were justified." Haruka raised Diana, "It seems like Kimikura was involved, I'll have to have a talk with him later. For now, let's finish this."
Haruka fired Diana, Natsuki dodged and stepped towards Haruka, stabbing with Duran. Haruka parried the sword with Diana and stepped back, trying to raise the rifle again. Natsuki kept her on her back foot, pushing her back with careful stabs and quick strikes. Two soldiers came up to support their captain, but were struck down by well placed slashes. Unfortunately for Natsuki, they had distracted her long enought for Haruka to get set, she fired and the slug caught Natsuki on her off shoulder.
Natsuki winced and Haruka fired again, but Natsuki fell to one knee and rolled forward, swinging her sword up and hitting Haruka's left arm. Haruka dropped Diana as her arm fell useless to her side, she drew her Colt pistol and they faced off again. An artillery shell struck Shizuru's store and demolished it sending the combatants in the area to the ground.
Before she could react Haruka was on top of her, the larger woman pinned her down and punched her in the face with her good arm. Natsuki's head rang from the impact, Haruka struck again and Natsuki spit up blood. Haruka was about to punch again but stopped, Natsuki looked up and saw a familiar naginata pressed against Haruka's neck. "Unhand the woman I love, American."
Haruka let Natsuki go and stood up, hands over her head. Natsuki got to her feet, a little shaky from the concussion she surely had, "Shizuru?" She focused her eyes and saw Shizuru holding Kiyohime to Haruka's throat wearing full Samurai armor. "What are you doing?" Shizuru never looked away from her opponent, "I'm fighting for someone I love." Natsuki stumbled, distracting Shizuru for long enough that Haruka grabbed the naginata and tried to wrench it from her grip. She didn't let go, but Haruka used the weapon to pull Shizuru towards her, landing a mean punch to her jaw.
Haruka pulled Kiyohime away from Shizuru and threw it to the ground, earning a punch to the face for her effort. Shizuru squared off against Haruka, both ducked and dodged, each landed a blow but nothing decisive. Shizuru kept on the offensive, as hard as Haruka tried to turn the tables she couldn't stop the woman. Damn, she's good.
Out of the corner of her eye, Haruka saw a few men line up so she threw herself down. Natsuki shouted at Shizuru to follow suit but it was too late. The men fired and several slugs pierced Shizuru's armor and threw her to the ground. Natsuki ran to her and fell to her knees at her side, Shizuru coughed up blood, "Natsuki?" Natsuki started pulling at her armor, "We need to get this off you, find a medic." Shizuru grabbed Natsuki's hand and held it, "I would gladly die for you, Natsuki." Natsuki shook her head, tears started to fall, "Don't you fucking do this to me, you're not going to die. I love you and you're not going to die."
The battle had moved towards the center of town. Haruka got to her feet, the soldiers advanced on them. She surveyed the scene before her, Shizuru bleeding on the ground and Natsuki trying to save her. Her thoughts turned to the woman who waited for her in Nagasaki, she pictured herself dying with Yukino crying over her. The men stood over the two women, Haruka held up her hand, "Stop." She took off her jacket and knelt by Shizuru, "Do any of you have medical supplies?" The men lowered their guns, one of them handed her his medkit, "They are the enemy, Captain." Haruka helped Natsuki remove Shizuru's armor, "There are more enemies, go kill them."
They got her armor off and Haruka started digging the slugs out, Shizuru cried out. Natsuki held her close and ran a hand through her hair, "Why are helping us, Armitage?" Haruka continued her bloody work, "Do you love this woman, Kuga?" Natsuki looked down at Shizuru who was sweating and pale, "Yes." Haruka finished pulling out the slugs and started binding the wounds, "I respect you both, willing to fight for what you believe in and what you love. When I saw you crying for her, I imagined how Yukino would feel if that was me dying on the street. It's a terrible thing to lose someone you love, both of us know that."
Shizuru had passed out and Haruka had finished binding her wounds, "You need to get her to Kyoto and to a doctor as soon as you can. There are carriages on the edge of town, I will help you carry her to one and you need to leave." Natsuki carried Shizuru's upper body and Haruka carried her legs, "You're letting us go?" They carried her to a horseless carriage and set Shizuru inside, "You'll need to find a horse, there should be one around here, and one more thing. From here we are marching to Kyoto, and the Samurai are going to lose this war. Get out, while you can."
Haruka ran off to rejoin her troops, Natsuki searched until she found a horse in a nearby barn, she hitched it to the carriage and set off for Kyoto keeping worried eyes on Shizuru in the back. The Samurai are going to lose, and I don't want to lose you.
-RB-
The Samurai were putting up a resistance, holding the center of town. They heard the ground shake and saw Miyu charging into town from the east, Haruka and her remaining forces approached from the south. The Samurai were surrounded. Homura had been looking for Natsuki and, failing to find her, had taken command of the Samurai forces himself.
At the moment he was holed up in Mai's restaurant with several of his warriors, the Samurai were preparing for their last stand. Miyu and Haruka stood before the restaurant when Homura and his warriors emerged, threw down their weapons and fell to their knees, "We surrender."
Haruka and Miyu approached the men, "Accepted." She motioned to some of the soldiers, "Take them into custody, see that they are cared for." Miyu and Haruka walked away while the Samurai were disarmed and led away, "We'll send a message to the General, let him know that Fuuka is ours. Make preparations for our march to Kyoto. We're leaving as soon as we are able." And don't let me find you there Natsuki, I won't spare you again.