Disclaimer: I don't own it.
A/N: This is a slightly AU. It will fit into the show.
There was a timid knocking on the door. "What?" His steward stuck his head into the study, dark eyes frightened. "I'm sorry to disturb you My Lord, but the barbarians are massing on our southern border." A single pale eyebrow rose. "That would usually be the point in time that you get the men armed and mounted." The steward bowed low, backing out of the door.
Bryan got to his feet, tucking his necklace back under his shirt, painfully aware of the missing warmth of his golden eyed lover. Ignoring the emotional pain he made his way to his armor closet. With practiced movements he pulled his chain mail on, tightening the straps with a quick tug. He carefully checked the buckles on his breastplate before pulling his sword from its sheath.
Silver runes surrounded in black flashed in the dim Highland sunlight. Pale fingers brushed over silver wires embedded in the handle, moonlight eyes sweeping over the grey stone that rested in the pommel. He slipped the sword back into its sheath and dropped the black leather belt over his head, making sure that he could reach the hilt with ease. He slipped his gorget on; making sure that it covered his neck correctly.
Bryan grabbed his dagger from where it rested on his desk and shoved it into his belt before locking the study door behind him. He grabbed the reins of his charger from the stable boy and swung into the saddle with ease, eyes roaming over the assembled soldiers. "This is pitiful." The horse's ears flicked back at the sound of his rider's accented voice and the gelding snorted in seeming agreement.
He nudged the horse's flanks, stifling a sigh as his commander moved up to ride next to him. The man made an awkward half bow in his saddle, eyes concerned. "Sir, you really must talk with the men. Ever since Lord Rei left, you've been distant and cold. It is affecting the men's morale." Bryan let out a harsh laugh, moonlight eyes emotionless. "I have every right to be cold. I lost the most important person in my life and you want me to be happy? I suggest you think more carefully before you next think to speak with me."
The commander bowed again and reined his horse in, falling back to ride with the common soldiers. An ear piercing shriek split the air and Bryan looked back to see one of the horses go down, arrows sticking from the animal's flank. He ducked as an arrow flew over head. "SHIT! Archers, dismount and use the downed animals as shields! Everyone else move out of range."
There was a stinging pain and he looked down to see an arrow lodged in between two chains on his armor. He pulled the arrow out, noting the small amount of blood that covered the tip. Bryan tossed the arrow to the ground and followed it down, pulling his own bow from the saddle. Uncovered fingers found an arrow with no problem and he quickly nocked it, keen eyes searching the fog.
There was a sharp scream as the figure fell to the ground, an arrow protruding form his neck. The commander moved to his lord's side, wincing as an arrow bounced off his helmet. "My Lord, we're surrounded!" The lavender haired lord quickly shot of another arrow, not once looking at the commander. "I'm aware of that, damn." An arrow was sticking out of his thigh, blood oozing up. He snapped the shaft off and tossed it to the ground. "Get the men mounted and go back to the castle. I have a feeling they're here for me." He grabbed the man's armor. "Don't argue with me. These men have families to return to. I have nothing. Get the hell out of here."
As soon as the men were in retreat the rain of arrows stopped. Bryan drew his sword, watching as figures appeared from the mist, weapons held low. "What do you want?" The tallest figure drew closer, fingers combing through his beard. "The neko-jin." Moonlight eyes widened slightly. "The neko-jin is no longer here."
The air whistled as the axe plunged straight down at his head. The surrounding warriors looked on in shock as the black sword bit into the axe shaft, the head spinning into the fog. Bryan's smirk grew, eyes taking on a predatory gleam. "You're going to have to do better then that. And even if the neko-jin was still here, I wouldn't let you have him."
The man made a gesture and Bryan moved to turn around, only to find himself held in place as a sword was slowly pushed through his armor and body. The sword slowly retracted and the figures melted into the mist, leaving Bryan alone.
He fell to one knee, holding himself up with his sword, tip slowly digging into the soft ground. He wiped away blood from the corner of his mouth, moonlight eyes slowly hazing over in death. A wind suddenly picked up, blowing the fog away. Something brushed gently over his cheek and he allowed his eyes to close, wishing that it was his precious neko-jin.
"Rei."
A/N: This is a slightly AU. It will fit into the show.
There was a timid knocking on the door. "What?" His steward stuck his head into the study, dark eyes frightened. "I'm sorry to disturb you My Lord, but the barbarians are massing on our southern border." A single pale eyebrow rose. "That would usually be the point in time that you get the men armed and mounted." The steward bowed low, backing out of the door.
Bryan got to his feet, tucking his necklace back under his shirt, painfully aware of the missing warmth of his golden eyed lover. Ignoring the emotional pain he made his way to his armor closet. With practiced movements he pulled his chain mail on, tightening the straps with a quick tug. He carefully checked the buckles on his breastplate before pulling his sword from its sheath.
Silver runes surrounded in black flashed in the dim Highland sunlight. Pale fingers brushed over silver wires embedded in the handle, moonlight eyes sweeping over the grey stone that rested in the pommel. He slipped the sword back into its sheath and dropped the black leather belt over his head, making sure that he could reach the hilt with ease. He slipped his gorget on; making sure that it covered his neck correctly.
Bryan grabbed his dagger from where it rested on his desk and shoved it into his belt before locking the study door behind him. He grabbed the reins of his charger from the stable boy and swung into the saddle with ease, eyes roaming over the assembled soldiers. "This is pitiful." The horse's ears flicked back at the sound of his rider's accented voice and the gelding snorted in seeming agreement.
He nudged the horse's flanks, stifling a sigh as his commander moved up to ride next to him. The man made an awkward half bow in his saddle, eyes concerned. "Sir, you really must talk with the men. Ever since Lord Rei left, you've been distant and cold. It is affecting the men's morale." Bryan let out a harsh laugh, moonlight eyes emotionless. "I have every right to be cold. I lost the most important person in my life and you want me to be happy? I suggest you think more carefully before you next think to speak with me."
The commander bowed again and reined his horse in, falling back to ride with the common soldiers. An ear piercing shriek split the air and Bryan looked back to see one of the horses go down, arrows sticking from the animal's flank. He ducked as an arrow flew over head. "SHIT! Archers, dismount and use the downed animals as shields! Everyone else move out of range."
There was a stinging pain and he looked down to see an arrow lodged in between two chains on his armor. He pulled the arrow out, noting the small amount of blood that covered the tip. Bryan tossed the arrow to the ground and followed it down, pulling his own bow from the saddle. Uncovered fingers found an arrow with no problem and he quickly nocked it, keen eyes searching the fog.
There was a sharp scream as the figure fell to the ground, an arrow protruding form his neck. The commander moved to his lord's side, wincing as an arrow bounced off his helmet. "My Lord, we're surrounded!" The lavender haired lord quickly shot of another arrow, not once looking at the commander. "I'm aware of that, damn." An arrow was sticking out of his thigh, blood oozing up. He snapped the shaft off and tossed it to the ground. "Get the men mounted and go back to the castle. I have a feeling they're here for me." He grabbed the man's armor. "Don't argue with me. These men have families to return to. I have nothing. Get the hell out of here."
As soon as the men were in retreat the rain of arrows stopped. Bryan drew his sword, watching as figures appeared from the mist, weapons held low. "What do you want?" The tallest figure drew closer, fingers combing through his beard. "The neko-jin." Moonlight eyes widened slightly. "The neko-jin is no longer here."
The air whistled as the axe plunged straight down at his head. The surrounding warriors looked on in shock as the black sword bit into the axe shaft, the head spinning into the fog. Bryan's smirk grew, eyes taking on a predatory gleam. "You're going to have to do better then that. And even if the neko-jin was still here, I wouldn't let you have him."
The man made a gesture and Bryan moved to turn around, only to find himself held in place as a sword was slowly pushed through his armor and body. The sword slowly retracted and the figures melted into the mist, leaving Bryan alone.
He fell to one knee, holding himself up with his sword, tip slowly digging into the soft ground. He wiped away blood from the corner of his mouth, moonlight eyes slowly hazing over in death. A wind suddenly picked up, blowing the fog away. Something brushed gently over his cheek and he allowed his eyes to close, wishing that it was his precious neko-jin.
"Rei."
