Marksman

A war has left a nation torn and its remaining heirs escaping with their lives. Little did the Admiral know that by taking them in, it would alter the life of his daughter drastically, especially when her curiosity draws her closer to the budding marksman. One night, after receiving news of her abduction, the ranger departed on an arduous journey, vowing to bring her home safely.

Previously:

She inches closer, carefully, her lethal arrow pointed at him. He picks up the halved weapon, examining it for a second before he bows, "I apologize, princess."

Chapter 13

Italics – Thoughts

Confusion flits across her emerald orbs and she casts him a quizzical look. The man picks himself up, disregarding her loaded weapon and dusts himself off. "Oi," she grunts gruffly. What the hell is this guy talking about..?

A twinkle in his eye, he offers her a smirk, "Allow me to introduce myself. I'm Yamada, at your service." He peers at her curiously through his glasses when she doesn't lower her weapon, "I apologize, truly, for attacking you. I just had to make sure."

Natsuki pulls her lips into a frown, "Make sure of what?"

Yamada's reply was cut short when two women flew through the thicket, daggers drawn, causing Natsuki to quickly redirect her weapon at them instead. "Hey!" Yamada barks, "Drop your weapons."

They eye him cautiously before lowering their blades and turn to examine the archer in front of them. They had seen multiple portraits of King and Queen Kruger – and the girl in front of them looked like an exact replica of her mother, Queen Saeko. But... that was impossible..

Yamada ignores the distracted girls and waves his hand at the bespectacled girl, "This is Chie Hallard and this is Aoi Senou. Both of them are my apprentices. Come, Natsuki, we have much to discuss."

Chie and Aoi heads swivel to one another immediately, "Natsuki? Kruger?" they chorus in unison as they gape at the newcomer. Chie then lets out a groan, pushing up her spectacles and pinching the bridge of her nose. What Aoi had said earlier.. It was the truth? Right now, it didn't bode well for Chie. She had just conspired to send her presumed dead liege's girlfriend to the worst possible enemy. How am I ever to redeem myself now..?

Natsuki lets out a frustrated huff of impatience. What in the world was going on and who the hell were all these people? "How'd you know my name?"

"I was the Chief Spymaster in Kagen, serving under your Father and Mother," Yamada answers simply.

Interest piqued, Natsuki throws him a curious gaze but then stops herself. She had more important things on hand that took precedence right now. "Listen, I'd love to stay and chat but I have much more pressing matters on hand. If you'd excuse me.."

"I am aware. You are looking for Shizuru Viola of Vitilus," Yamada shakes his head, with a disapproving grimace on his face.

That caught Natsuki's attention immediately and her eyes lit up, "Yes I am. When did you meet her? Is she safe?"

"This is what I wish to speak to you about, Natsuki," Yamada shifts, eyeing Chie and Aoi and his frown tightens. He knew about his apprentices' situation but hadn't interfered. It was between Vitilus and Arixia. Nothing he could do that would alter the situation. But now, now things were different. When they keep mum with bowed heads, he sighs, "My silly apprentice did something I warned her against. If you would just hear me out.."

Natsuki narrows her eyes. His tone did not bode well, "What is it?"

"I was the Arixian that contacted Takeda Masashi to send Princess Viola here. I planned it all. The treaty – it was just a ruse to get Princess Viola," Chie interupts quickly.

"What..?" Natsuki creases her brows, allowing the words to set in. "You.. Why the hell for? Why are they after her?" Natsuki growls, clenching and unclenching her fists but found no respite in quelling the anger bubbling in her. She starts pacing around instead, trying her best not to punch Chie square in the face.

"She took notice of Princess Viola – the day when the Chryzan Village. Tomoe Marguerite wants a marriage to cement the ties between Vitilus and Arixia."

It was Aoi's turn to address Natsuki next, "Shizuru is captive in the Arixian camp, just east of our position. Shizuru told me.."

"Shizuru told you? What were you doing there?" Natsuki interrupts her impatiently.

Aoi tries to explain on behalf of her girlfriend, "I was held captive by Tomoe.. So that she could exploit Chie's skills in reconnaissance. Chie was out of options.."

"No. She had a choice. She just chose one that sacrifices another innocent person!" Natsuki retorts. She plants herself heavily on a nearby rock, rubbing her temples and ignoring their apologies. I ought to stay focused. I just need to get Shizuru out of that place. Dealing with the woman who caused it was secondary.

But if it were a ruse from the start, the Arixians would have all necessary defenses in place. Natsuki knew needed good intel to breach the encampment. She glances at the three people from the corner of her eye. Spymasters..

The stale silence in the air was broken as Natsuki stands up and addresses Yamada, "Look. You're the Chief Spymaster and they've been in the camp." She gestures to the pair, throwing a glare at Chie. "I need, preferably, timings of change of guard duties, approximate military numbers, the more information you have, the better."

Yamada holds out his hand, "Say no more. I understand what is needed. Listen, there is a Vitilian camp just to the West of our position. I believe they were escorting Princess Viola. It appears that she only brought along a single escort."

"It's a good thing. Tomoe had ordered the food to be served to be poisoned," Chie adds on, a solemn look on her face.

"Hmmm," Yamada hums, examining Chie as she speaks. He turns around to address Natsuki again, "It would be best to rendevous with the Vitilians first. I will see you tonight." With that, he gives a quick nod of his head and slinks off into the woods; his two apprentices following close behind.

Green eyes follow their every move till they've disappeared completely. She shakes her head, considering the truth of his words but whistles for Duran nonetheless. The gray pup takes careful steps ascending down from his treetop peak and lands softly beside Natsuki. One hand running through his thick mane, she gives him his favorite scratch on the chin before hopping on the saddle. The intelligent Wolcon resumes his flight, ensuring adequate cover as they headed off toward the camp.

Through the Woods

"Yamada.. I'm sorry," Chie mumbles as she trails behind her mentor.

The man turns his head, giving her a look, "Chie. You had a mission. You should have known to follow it."

"They were going to kill Aoi!" Chie tries to defend her actions.

"And do you think we would have let that happen?" He sighs when Chie kept silent, "Aoi knew. She dissuaded you. Your task was just to get as much information as you could from Tomoe Marguerite. Do you know how much risk you put Nina and Sakomizu under with you leaving the camp?"

Chie bows her head in remorse.

Yamada sighs, "Well. What's done is done. Had you not done it, we would have never found out that both Natsuki and Alyssa were alive."

"Yamada, the girl in the cell, Nao. She mentioned that Shizuru Viola and Natsuki were partners. That means they actually made it across Craggy Crevice that time."

"It appears so, Aoi. Admiral Tetsuo must have received the letter King Kruger wrote. Chie, I will need to get inside the Arixian camp immediately. Natsuki will need all the support she can muster, both inside and out."

Chie puts her hand to her chin, thinking hard. She had to fix this. "Alright. We'll get you in."

XXX

Arixian Camp

Tomoe swivels around as the beautiful woman and her companion was lead out of the tent. She hisses at the shorter man, "Don't forget that I was the one who put you in your place, you simpering slob. How dare you come in my camp acting like this."

"Your camp? Need I remind you that every thing here is paid for from the royal coffers? From that hideous armor of yours right down to the upkeep of your whores," Nagi replies smugly.

A snicker escapes Tomoe, "You would never have succeeded your father; had it not been for his assassination and need I remind you who made sure it happened? Arixia would have been in chaos from the factions fighting for power and you – you little weakling would have never survived it without my family's military might. So need I remind you to mind your place, fool?""

Nagi waves his hand flippantly, "Oh what a drama queen you are, Tomoe Marguerite. Don't forget that you benefitted from this arrangement as well. Those men know who their paymaster is." He quickly cuts Tomoe's next line with a shake of his head, "What's this I hear about you trying to form an alliance with Vitilus?"

"It's the best way to gain control of them," Tomoe shrugs, pouring herself a goblet of wine.

Nagi scowled, "You will gain control as we have always done. With Kagen. With Chryzan. Vitilus will fall in the same way. Those Chryzan towns we hold are just meagre trophies but you best keep them well."

"That's what you think. I really don't plan on marching all the way across the continent when I could just do it here and also, get a beautiful woman for a wife."

"Consider this my last warning, Marguerite. Do it my way." Nagi scoffs and exits the tent, leaving no room for further discussion.

Tomoe narrows her eyes where Nagi had last been standing at, playing with the small goblet in her hands. With a ferocious snarl, she hurls it across the room. She had to act fast. "Benkei! Bring Shizuru Viola here! Now!" she hollers. The man appears and she tosses the key across.

She then retreats to the back of the tent where her sleeping quarters were and opens a large chest by her bedside. It had an assortment of all her favorite items. She pulls out a small object and beams brightly at it, waving it around. She tosses it onto her bed and it rolls around the soft fabric with a muffled rattle.

Arixian Cells

Nao presses her chin against the railings, bumping her head rhythemically against them. Her hand rests on the lock and she wonders aloud, "Hello.. What have we here?" she mutters, fiddling with the mechanism.

"Don't bother. Those locks are impossible to pick," came a voice at the far end.

"Jeez, how many people do they have locked up in here!" Nao complains to Shizuru who merely tilted her head curiously at the voice.

"Many more.." the voice replies, "Just that we've been seperated from the rest."

"Ara, ara. And why is that so, dear sir?"

Soft laughter echos, "Because, Princess Viola, we're deemed as extremely... hmmm," he pauses to nudge his cellmate. Shizuru and Nao hear a raspy whisper, followed by a hearty laugh from the voice, "Ah! Nina is right! We're extremely risky and dangerous perpertrators of everything against Arixian. Well, obviously. Since we're all from Kagen."

"Wow. More Kagenites in one day!" Nao mutters, "What's this? Some concentration camp?!"

"Well, yes in a way. That's generally the reason why the locks are impossible to pick. The Arixians made sure of that. The great general Tomoe has the sole master key." Sakomizu doesn't finish – the creak of the doors to the entrance signals that a guard was coming along. The armored soldier moves slowly past the cells of Shizuru and Nao, turning his head slightly to cast them a glance before continuing forward down the dank corridor, a tray in hand. He pauses at Sakomizu's cell, bending forward look at the portly man and clears his throat.

"Ah. Yamada. It must be important for you to come personally. Is it true then?" Sakomizu address the Arixian casually, recognizing him immediately. He takes the tray of food and hands it to Nina, who mumbles her thanks.

"Yes, I am certain. And just as Fate would have it, our Kagen heir is here for the young lady of Vitilus."

This catches Shizuru's attention and she glances over. She, and a select few were the only ones who knew of Natsuki's past. Nao doesn't notice the change in Shizuru's demeanor, but stops meddling with her cell door when she hears that someone would bust them out of this place. "Eh!" she calls, "What the hell is going on?"

"We are going to get you out of here," Yamada replies simply.

"Hmmm," Sakomizu hums, stroking his beard, "There will need to be a diversion.. the messiser the better, for her to get in and out safely. And what better way if it were us causing the distraction?"

Yamada rubs his forehead absently, "Indeed, but it's impossible to get the master key to release them. What about our moles?"

"You know how paranoid Tomoe is," Sakomizu sighs, "Much less when she's wearing it as a necklace. They would have to find a time to swipe it from her, but with the urgency, I don't think that would work."

Sakomizu swiftly slides the tray back to Yamada, who picks it up without a second thought and stands to leave. Right on cue, Benkei swings open the door to the exit and tilts his head questioningly at the guard. "Meal time, Sir," Yamada bows.

"Put that tray down, soldier. General Marguerite has requested for this woman to be brought to her. She's in her tent."

"At once, Sir," Yamada shuffles over as Benkei opens the cell door to Shizuru. He enters, but is quickly pounced on by Nao, who pelts blows on his head despite her tied up arms.

"You stupid bitch!" Benkei barks and immediately runs into the cell, throwing Nao hard against the wall. She snarls despite the blow and jumps to her feet again, poised for a fight. "Get her to Tomoe. I'll teach this stupid girl a lesson!"

Yamada quickly takes the chance and drags the Vititlan Princess out of the cell. "I'm sorry about your friend, Princess Viola," Yamada whispers as they head outside.

"Ara. Nao knows what she's doing. But if you could hurry and head back to make sure she's alright, please?"

Yamada nods and Shizuru relaxes, offering a barely visible smile in thanks. "My Princess.." Yamda shakes his head, "I mean, Queen, now. She has tasked me to assist her and.."

"...Natsuki's here?"

"Yes," Yamada replies, acknowledging the Vitilan Princess's quick wit.

"Ara," Shizuru inhales deeply. "I see. You will need the master key; that's the safest way to get in and out, yes?"

"Not to worry, I will have my men to work on it. We shall not lose any more Krugers to those Arixians." They arrive at the elaborated decorated tent and Yamada bows slightly. "I'm sorry. I will have to leave you here."

Shizuru nods, "It's alright. I can handle myself, Yamada. Please get to Nao." She reaches for the tent flaps but before she enters, she adds, "I will get the master key. Please have someone to collect it from me in four hours time."

With that, she disappears into the tent. Yamada hears a sultry voice call for the Vitilan Princess and he grimaces. With emboldened conviction, he steels himself and turns on his heel. He had to make sure her efforts didn't go down the drain.

XXX

A/N: Thanks for the heads up, Kokuyoseki. I've totally forgot to update the rating.

Many thanks to all readers for your continued support! Would there be much hate if I were to include a Tomoe and Shizuru XXX scene before she steals the key? LOL.

Anyhow, I will try to keep the next chapter within the month, but somehow I seem to be really tied for time these days. :(