RUKA

The wind rushing through her hair, Ruka pushed herself and her mount even harder. On her way to deliver a message, she had seen them...a mass of black and brown, crawling across the ground like a horde of insects, approaching the battle. From their ranks, the Touma banner had waved, a hundred bat wings seeming to flap over the heads of their troops.

Recognition had jolted through her. The Toumas. All information had pointed towards their neutrality in this fight, but that did not seem to be the case. She knew what would happen if a wave of fresh troops attacked their eastern flank...they would be pushed back, and caught from two sides.

But who should she tell? Across the field, she could see her destination burning. There were more message tents, but she wasn't sure which ones remained. She might be wandering for some time searching, and time was of essence. Not only that, but the more time out in the open, the more time the enemy had to target her.

Her eyes scanned the battlefield, and caught sight of a familiar figure. At least, she thought it was familiar. The leather armor, broad sword and red hair couldn't be any other. Quickly, she nudged her horse into a gallop and raced towards him. Surely, Akatsuki would know what to do. He always seemed to have everything under control, although perhaps it was only his calm demeanor.

"Akatsuki!" she called when she was close enough.

The knight turned, surprised and obviously relieved to see her. Or most likely, relieved to see her unharmed. She brought her horse to a halt and, flinging herself from her saddle, told him breathlessly, "Touma troops! They're on their way here from the east!"

"What?!" She thought she could read fear in those amber eyes.

"Yes! I saw the flag-bats. It has to be them. I don't know how much time you have. The tent I was supposed to bring information to is in flames; I don't know who to tell this to."

"Don't worry, I'll pass it along," he promised grimly.

"Thank you." Finally, she paused for breath. Her body felt tense, like a spring coiled too tightly, but at the same time, she felt very much alive. Perhaps she was not meant for dresses and balls after all, as much as she adored them. Perhaps she was meant for a less sedentary life. Nevertheless, she still found the idea of armies beating each other with different kinds of sticks to be entirely ridiculous. Ridiculous, and an utter waste of life. Couldn't these things be resolved with gold or something? She shook her head, disgusted.

Anyway, now wasn't the time for such thoughts. This was a battlefield; she shouldn't forget that. Rather, she should be returning to her station.

Akatsuki's voice boomed without warning. "Ruka!" she heard, and then felt something large and heavy send her flying to the ground.

For a moment she lay in the muddy grass, dazed, but quickly regained her senses and shoved herself to her feet again. What had hit her? There was no sign of an arrow or an enemy immediately beside them. What, then? After a moment, her gaze fixed on Akatsuki, who was pulling an arrow from his thick leather shoulder pad. Some yards away, an enemy archer was shot down by an Aidou soldier, tumbling down the gentle slope of a grassy ridge to his death.

It had been Akatsuki, then. He had shoved her to safety...and put himself between her and the arrow.

"You idiot!" she seethed, abruptly angry. He had nearly gotten himself killed, once more, protecting her. "What were you thinking, shielding me? What if you had died?!"

The redhead tossed the arrow down into the dirt. "Of course I shielded you," he replied, matter-of-fact. "What a relief, there isn't a single scratch on you."

"Of course there isn't, I was thrown down by some ignorant brute," she muttered, highly annoyed. If she didn't get away from the knight soon, he was likely to die just from proximity to her. Couriers seemed to draw an undue number of arrows. But she wouldn't tell him that, or he'd insist on something ridiculous like riding beside her. Or worse, he'd send her away from the battle.

"I'm glad you're alright," he told her, ignoring her words. "Although I'm afraid neither of us will be for much longer..."

Ruka frowned. "What do you mean?"

"We are losing," Akatsuki murmured, voice husky and low. "Or, if we aren't losing now, we will be... We'll be slaughtered, trapped between the walls and Touma's forces... Ruka, thank you for the warning, but you must leave now."

Ruka fought the urge to roll her eyes, despite the fact that they were in the middle of the field. Men! So pessimistic, and always so worried about her safety. As if she would turn her tail and run away now! Besides, even if she were captured, it was unlikely that a high noble and beauty such as herself would be killed. Likely, she'd only be sold off into a terrible marriage, but she'd be alive. Akatsuki had no such insurance.

Still, she had no plans to die here. If the situation became dire, she would try her best to escape, with or without Akatsuki, because she knew how stubborn he was. He would insist it was his duty to fight until his last breath and then die. The thought was sobering. Nevertheless, now wasn't the moment for sentimentality. She had a role to play here, and she intended to show up the other couriers with her superior riding skills.

"I will escape when the hope of victory is lost," she reassured him. It was true. She was far too young and had far too many prospects to meet an early grave.

"Thank you. I will relay your information. Now go, before it becomes difficult to do so."

"Stay safe," she bade him, impulsively kissing his cheek before letting him help her back up into the saddle. Perhaps she was growing a little more fond of him than she'd counted on...

"You, too," he answered, and then she spurred her horse away.

Behind her, she didn't see Akatsuki collapse to the ground.


AN: ...Don't kill me for the cliffhanger, please. Hehe.