Chapter Twelve: "The Remains of the Balcony"
"Shinko..." Yuki almost started to cry, but retained her Yamani expression; none. "Why did you have to do it?" The maiden tried not to look at the princess, but kept her focus at the front lines where she aimed with her bow. Shooting arrow after arrow, she soon ran out.
"Yukimi? Yuki what are you doing? Get back!"
Looking up, Yukimi saw a band of knights preparing to ride back into the thick of things. All looked tired and battered. Then her eyes locked onto who had spoken; Neal.
"NEAL? DON'T TELL ME WHAT TO DO!"
"C'mon Yuki, get out of there!"
A ladder clanged against the balcony, several armed men made their way up, each bearing a fatal looking weapon.
"N-NEAL!"
The knight gripped his sword and leaped from his horse, launching himself to the balcony in the same way Yuki had. Parrying back and forth, Neal tried to hold as many of the fighters off, Yuki did the same at his side. From above, another man jumped over, landing just in front of several others, he started to fight, covering Neal's back.
One of the men above them shouted down to the newcomer; "OWEN GET BACK HERE! A SQUIRE DOES NOT LEAVE HIS KNIGHT MASTER!"
"No Lord Wyldon, my place is here." spoken like a true knight, Owen fought of more, killing three. Backing up against the railing, he shoved the ladder down. No more could up. The fall had crushed any on the ladder, while shattering the device itself.
"Owen..." Neal's voice was breathless, his opponent was slowly gaining the advantage.
"Come on Neal, you can do it." Owen turned to his friend, a fatal choice, with only four fighters left on the balcony, two were fighting Neal and one battled Yuki. The fourth, Owen's opponent, rapped him across the chest, knocking him down. Having defeated her match, Yukimi ran and started hacking at Owen's.
"OWEN!"
"Go to him Neal, I've got these two." Bravely, Yuki came forward to attack Neal's opponents. Neal raced to Owen.
"You have to keep fighting Neal." Owen's breathing was harsh and ragged, his final words. "It's a jolly fight, better than bandits...jolly..." and he was gone.
His face set in grim determination, Neal returned to Yuki's side, just as a well placed blow cut into her side. "YUKI!" Taking up his sword, Neal chops both, and returns to his lover's side. "Yuki..."
The wound was worse than it had looked. Yuki's insides were coming out, there was nothing for Neal to do. She was already gone.
Leaning over, the knight planted a kiss on her lips, as a boulder was catapulted right at them. Colliding with the above balcony, it collapsed, crushing the balcony of Shinko, Owen and Yuki's final resting place. Neal gave a strangled yell, as the balcony fell under the weight and crashed to the ground, covering our heroes in rubble. Was Neal still alive?
End Chapter Twelve