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:
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.
A/N: M scenes for violence. Sorry for the delayed update, readers. I really did try to update as soon as I can. I hope you enjoy this chapter. As by popular opinion in the previous chapter.. well, read on!
Chapter 14
Italics – Thoughts
Kagen Camp
Natsuki places the scroll on the desk and absently runs a hand through her dark mane and tosses it behind her shoulder. Her eyes shift toward the armor stand – it was empty, save for the naginata that lay there. She stands and picks up Shizuru's weapon, staring down at it.
The pieces of the puzzle were beginning to fit and it seemed that Shizuru already had her suspicions about this entire debacle. Natsuki wanted to chastise her for purposefully excluding her from this trip due to her pressing concerns about her safety, as now it seemed that both Takeda and Tomoe had their own agendas for collaboration. In fact, Shizuru herself was in more danger as the likes of this Tomoe Marguerite was unpredictable and apparently sinster. She tightens her grip on the naginata; a strange, indescribable feeling washing over her momentarily. She breathes out subconsciously – the only person's name on her mind.
"Ahem," Yamada clears his throat, after waiting for a while by the entrance.
Natsuki turns her head, "Sorry. I was distracted.. Do you have the information I need?"
"Yes. I have insiders in the Arixian camp. All the prisoners are Kagenites and will stand to assist you when possible. They will cause a diversion and allow you to get in and out in the safest way possible."
With a sigh, Natsuki places Shizuru's naginata back at its stand, giving it a lingering look and walks over to her desk, "Yes, but the Arixians will outnumber us. So.. I have dispatched the Vitilan troops here." She flattens the rolled up map and points, "Scouts have reported small Arixian forces occupying these Chryzan towns. But it seems that this one is particularly important. It runs along the river and to get to the rest of the towns, they would have to pass though this one."
Yamada nods, figuring out what she had in mind at once and was immediately intrigued – she reminded him of King Kruger; he was always pouring over maps and plans. "You are confident to draw them away?"
"Yes. The Raptors's forte is in the water. The river allows an additional route for escape if required. My objective is to make sure the camp is more or less vacated so I have a chance to get in. Eitherway, their orders were to skirmish the towns – no needless deaths on our end. Our Raptors will make use of their versatility in water." She brings her hand to her chin suddenly, "Wait a minute. You mentioned about the prisoners.. how are you going to break them out? If it was that easy for your insiders before, wouldn't all of them be free already?"
"About that.." Yamada trails off. He had held off informing Natsuki about Shizuru's circumstance but it seemed like a perfect opportunity to inform her. "Our initial plan was to free the Kagenites held captive, so that they would be able to cause chaos and offer you a window of time for rescue. She..Shizuru Viola.."
Natsuki crosses her arms, awaiting for Yamada to complete his sentence but he grimaced instead. "What? Make haste, Yamada," she snaps impatiently, worried for her beau.
"She was brought to General Marguerite's tent and she offered to assist in stealing the master key to enable us to free the imprisoned Kagenites."
Natsuki takes a while to process what she just heard again, before growling under her breath, when she guessed what Shizuru wanted to do," That silly woman." First leaving me back in Vitilus, now practically throwing herself into the lion's den – a lustful lion at that. The Kagenite scowls and marches out of the room, Yamada trailing behind. Once she arrives at her destination – her Captains shared quarters – she quickly addresses them, "Time is now of the essence. I will need your soldiers in position as quickly as possible."
Both Captains exchange a quick glance and nod simultenously, "We will leave at once. The Chryzan town is two hours off by foot, but the river allows us to cut the time in half. Is that adequate?"
Natsuki takes a minute to rearrange the plans and schedules in her head and agrees, "Yes. Thank you. Please see to it, Captains." She tilts her head to Yamada, "I will need you to spread the word of an impending attack within the Arixian Camp. I need them out of there as soon as possible."
"Done," Yamada nods and walks off briskly.
"Remember, let's keep the casualties as minimal as possible. If this works and they clear the encampment, you will most definitely be overpowered. Use the river." Natsuki reminds the two Captains. When they reassure her with a bow and a smile, she thanks them and turns to leave.
There was much to prepare before heading off into the belly of the beast.
Arixian Camp
Shizuru slowly places the small teacup and saucer on the polished metallic surface, causing a soft clink as two metallic surfaces collided. She gives the place another onceover; despite having been in the tent for almost half an hour already. It was vastly different from Vitilus. Everything, right down to the utensils, were made out of metal. It wasn't that she hated it per se, but she definitely favored Vitilian furnishing any day; especially since Vitilian crafted items assumed a much lighter, pastel shade and Vitilians always took the additional effort to brush almost everything with beautiful shades of color as a finishing touch. Her favorite? Liliac, but it seemed, over the years that she was getting to be rather taken by a certain shade of blue.
A scarcely discernible smile plays on her lips at that thought as she carefully fills another teacup with hot water, taking extra caution not to scald herself. She had also noticed that most of the drinks were mostly alcoholic – prominently wine – and she already had a certain plan up her sleeve to use it to her advantage. Half and hour had already crawled by, with her requesting from Tomoe a kettle and teacups; and now, the tedious search of tea leaves. Shizuru wondered to herself just how long she was able to prolong the inevitable.
The critical piece of jewlery was around Tomoe's neck – she had slung it across when Benkei returned. It was vital in ensuring that Natsuki would be able to make it in and out of the Arixian encampment – as relatively unscathed as possible. Shizuru had no doubt that her beloved would come for her. She had no way to stop that, but the least she could do was to make certain that it was as safe as possible. As Sakomizu had said, the best way was for the Kagenites to cause a huge ruckus and allow Natsuki to ride the chaos.
Shizuru had her way of getting it, undoubtedly. Tomoe's deep infatuation for her was as obvious as the midday sun. Yet, she also knew that the infatuation for her was merely skin deep. She had seen it far too often. She was just viewed as a mere trophy; objectified and sought after. However, if capitalization of that infatuation was something that could assist Natsuki, Shizuru had no qualms about it.
Right on cue, the teal-haired general returned with a box in her hands. Grinning like a chesire cat, she purred, "I managed to get this for you, dear Shizuru. It was the only box the camp's cook had. I'm sure you will like it."
Shizuru returns a practiced smile, "Thank you, General Marguerite."
"Tomoe. Tomoe will do," comes the response.
"Would you allow me?" She raises both hands toward Tomoe, avoiding it altogether and skillfully changing the topic.
"Ah, right. Here you go," Tomoe blushes, taking care to brush her fingertips against Shizuru when the box of tea leaves were handed over.
"General!" Benkei rushes into the tent, flushed and unusually frazzled. "Nagi is moving all the troops out of the camp!"
Tomoe mild irritation at the intrusion takes a turn for the worse and she narrows her eyes at the news, "What? Where the hell are they headed to?"
"He said he received intelligence reports of an impending attack on our captive Chryzan towns and since you would not act on it, he will."
"On what grounds?! He has no experience in battle, that midget!" she fumes. "Which company of imbeciles would follow him?"
"... All of them...are en route, General. Except for your personal guards.." Benkei swallows his words as he eyed Tomoe from the corner of his eye.
Her reaction was almost instantenous. Her eyebrows slanted, narrowing the gap between them and the veins on her forehead started to pop. Even from where she was standing, Shizuru could see the well etched lines running across the entire woman's face. She knew at once this wasn't the first time Tomoe Marguerite had a temper tantrum and she braced herself from the worst.
"Fucking dogs! All fucking dogs!" the teal haired general bellows and snarls. She paces around the room, tearing items down and flung them at Benkei, who, in Shizuru's opinion, dodged it expertly. Must have been very attuned; probably happened more than often than he had preferred, she muses. "Get me all the commanding officers here now!"
He shifts on his spot, "I can't.. Nagi had them move out first. They are probably miles away..."
Tomoe hisses angrily and the creases in her forehead deepen. "And where the hell were you."
From the news of the impending attack, Shizuru already harbored her guess who it might be - it was just too coincidental. Being with Natsuki for years made her more than aware of the plan her beau had in mind. Shizuru knew exactly what she had to do next. She notices Tomoe getting ready to stand and then taking a step closer toward Benkei menacingly. She immediately places a hand in the crook of the general's arm, earning a surprised glance from Tomoe.
Benkei coughs uncertainly but is waved off by Tomoe with barely a second look. He flashes his obvious dissent at her dismissal, but offers the brunette a discernible look and turns to leave with a muted huff; knowing he virtually had no sway now. Shizuru tugs Tomoes's arm gently, urging her to take a seat beside her and smiles when she does. Tomoes sighs, "Ah. I could use a breather for a bit."
"Ara, Benkei was trying his best," Shizuru remarks, casually picking up the small rattle that lay on the bed.
Tomoe's eyes gleam immediately at the sight and she curls up against the older woman, purring contentedly at the warmth. Shizuru hides her alarm at that reaction and quickly realizes that she could use this to her advantage instead. She pats the young general's head gently, shaking the rattle and was surprised at how quick it was for Tomoe's eyes to close. It usually took something significant for Shizuru to actually have her true emotions on her features. But this time around Tomoe's reaction caused her to cock her head and raise a brow, slightly disturbe. It was quite obvious that this girl had certain issues which she pitied, but she paid half a mind to it – returning safely to Natsuki was definitely more important. Besides, had this Tomoe not taken such a strange and ill-conceived attraction to her for no reason at all, they wouldn't be in this situation in the first place. She hadn't even met the general before for crying out loud!
Tomoe waves her hand from her comfortable spot on Shizuru's lap, beckoning for a goblet of wine, which Shizuru acceded to. She was quick to refill the goblet for the next few times as well. Her efforts in entertaining Tomoe with her bizzare fetish started to pay off as Tomoe started nodding off. The hum of a childhood lullaby died in Shizuru's throat as she carefully shifted herself, lifting the sleeping general's head off her lap and slipping the critical necklace onto her wrist.
She placed Tomoe's head on the bed and very quietly, inched out of the awkward position. Tomoe did not stir when Shizuru took one last, final glace back and she release a puff of air in relief. Key in hand, Shizuru knew she had to hurry. If she guessed right, Natsuki would be here any time soon. She certainly did not want Natsuki to meet Tomoe, fearing for her safety. Goodness knows what the unpredictable Arixian might do and Natsuki herself could be quite a handful when bent on destruction. Now how shall I put this across to Natsuki – I had an extremly obsessed fan girl whom I needed to steal a very important key from and thus I indulged her in her whims? Ara! That wouldn't do. Or perhaps I shall drown her in kisses in front of everyone first.. before informing her?
Shizuru felt her mood start taking a turn for the better as she thought of Natsuki's embarrassed and flushed reactions at a flurry of pecks. She couldn't wait to be back with her beloved; she missed her woody scent, her measured bouts of affection and those dexterous hands from years behind the bow, tracing her neckline. Shizuru bites back a creeping smile as she arrives at the holding cells. Much to her relief, there were no guards on duty; the departure of the majority of the Arixian forces meant that most sentry positions went unmanned.
She enters the dank area and worries when she does not spot Nao. "Nao? Nao?" she calls but there was no response.
"Over here, Princess Viola," a familiar male voice resounds through the long passage way.
"Sakomizu?" Shizuru questions and makes haste towards the end of the cell. "Sakomizu!" she calls through the rusty poles, "It's Shizuru. Where is Nao?"
There was movement in the cells and Shizuru prayed that Nao's bright lime eyes would peek through the bars but instead she met piercing ambers. "Nao has fallen asleep," the girl muttered begrudgingly, but shifts aside and Shizuru manages to get a peek of the usually boisterous redhead. Nao had curled up on the cell floor and from where she was standing, Nao looked like she had a bruised eye and Shizuru hoped the girl didn't get roughed up too much. A portly man was beside her bandaging her arm and tilts his head to face Shizuru. He peers at her through his tiny, rimmed glasses and offers her a reassurming smile. Shizuru figured that must be Sakomizu.
"I have obtained the key from Tomoe. Let me get you out of here immediately," Shizuru swifly fits the key into the keyhole. She hears a click and tries to push the cell door open but it refuses to budge. Her brows knit together; something that rarely happens; and she tries again. The result was similar.
A thought flits across her mind, was that key a fake? Her questions were answered when the door creaks open and the general with asymmetrical teal hair steps in. The scowl that Tomoe wore on her face spelt danger and she directed her glance wordlessly at the unarmed brunette. Two large men by her side strode up to her without further command from Tomoe.
If she was going to die, she sure wasn't going to go without a fight. And she might as well take as many of these warmongers with her as she could.
She readied herself as the men lumbered toward her. Speed and agility, she reckoned, would be best served in this situation. As soon as one of them raised a hand in a bid to grab her, she somersaulted across the floor. The other man snarled, unsheathing his sword but it was a little too late. She had already whisked away his confused comrade's weapon and opened his throat.
Startled at the quick hand of a woman, he throws his glance at his fallen compatriot and she snatched the momentary second of distraction to her advantage. The minute he had raised his sword-arm to strike, she had thrown her blade up, slicing through flesh and bone, but it was not sharp enough to make a clean cut. She secretly wished that she had her favorite naginata with her. However, her attack had the desired effect – her opponent's arm lost all movement and sensation, the sword falling to the ground with a clatter.
Adrenaline pumping, she could barely hear the cries of her name coming from the cell. Her vision was focused on the smug general, who stood slightly in awe of her skills. She swiped the weapon off the floor in a speed she never knew she had and steadied herself, in a ready position. About half a dozen of other Arixian soldiers had already heard the commotion and had flooded in to assist Tomoe. Shizuru's eyes narrowed at the teal-haired girl, as she took a few steps back, behind the safety of her men.
It was a long shot, but if she could just get to Tomoe...
The guards didn't give her much time to plan further. They charged. It was rather narrow in the cell's hallway and she worked it to her advantage. They came two at a time and try as she might, she felt the first attack after she had dropped two men. The wound opened across her forearm, where she had no other choice but to raise her arm in defense of a blade that was coming straight for her throat. The flesh had torn and the blood was staining her sleeves, but she barely noticed it.
Instead, she used that opening to ram the offending blade through the jaw of her attacker, thrusting harder as she punched it through solid bone. She flipped the incapacitated man, using his frame as a meat shield for an axe that cleaved through his chest. With the weapon lodged in the chest cavity, Shizuru almost smiled at the snarling man, before randomly grabbing a strewn weapon off the ground and swung, hearing the sickening crunch and she realized it was a mace.
She positioned herself again, ready for any more that might come to attack her, but when she looked up, her eyes locked with emotionless violet irises. Tomoe clapped and broke eye contact, glancing around at the carnage. There was just two guards left in front of the General, both holding a strange weapon that Shizuru had found familiar. Tomoe bent forward and whispered something to her men. Shizuru eyed them cautiously as they nodded. Tomoe turned her back and started to leave, but stopped herself to leave a short parting sentence, "I will see you tonight, my dear Shizuru."
With that, the men opened fire and much as Shizuru was agile, there was only that many projectiles that she could deflect the the blade. One nicked her in the thigh and she grimaced, tugging it out with a wince. The needle slid out of her flesh and she tossed it aside, her blood glistening on the metallic point.
TWANG! Another found itself buried into her shoulder.
She hissed in pain and her mind told her to launch an attack against the assailants but her body just refused to co-operate. Lifting the sword itself took more that she expected out of her and the next thing she knew, she was forcing herself not to lose consciousness as she tried to focus on the spinning ground.
"Shizuru!" Nao screamed as she flung herself against the grills over and over again but to no avail. Shizuru was now lying motionless on the cold stone floor.
No matter how hard Nao rammed her fists and shoulders against the unyielding lock, she was only able to watch helplessly as they carried Shizuru off to be subject to the mercy of that bastard of an Arixian. Her hand broken, bruised and bloody, she collapsed on the cell floor, holding her head in her good hand and cursing under her breath.
XXX