Encounter Number 11: Enemy Highlander


Emora and Alban walked side by side on the way back to the Outpost's courtyard. As they looked around, Azure's in their BlackIron armor was all they could see. It was strange to see so many of them dressed in orange and red robes.

"We can really take on the appearance of Elio's, can't we?" Alban chuckled.

"We sure can. I'm sure the real Elio Legion is onto us though. We have to hurry and make our final push towards Einar before their armies are up our ass. I don't even want to imagine that fight. We won't be able to tell the difference between our allies and a real Elio." Emora brought up with a frown.

Alban nodded his head. "Hm. You're right. What's our plan after we destroy Einar's Kingdom?"

Emora smiled as she spotted Apollo, Cyrus, and Katsue all conversing at a new table, near one of the Outpost's barrack buildings.

"Well...The Warborn's allies will be shaken. With Einar dead, the majority of Valkenheim will go berserk. The Vikings will start attacking each other, and it'll be a huge survival game for them. Every goddamn man for himself. We won't have to worry about the Vikings for a while. Without the Warborn, the lands of Ashfeld and the Myre won't be raided nearly as much. We'll all be safe."

Alban huffed. "You didn't answer my question, Emora." He said with a light laugh.

The Warden brushed hair out of her face as she giggled. "Sorry. It's nice to think about the Vikings being put in their place. But...We should try to make our way out of their lands as quickly as possible after the attack. We can get out through the outskirts, in the sliver of land between the two Outpost Gates."

"Ah, taking a route that isn't major will be rough, considering that there's no clear path. But it's definitely better than fighting through waves of Elio's. Good idea." Alban replied, smiling along with the Knight's plan.

Cyrus turned around with a wide grin on his face. Apollo and Katsue were drinking two large cups of rum, both laughing.

"Emora! Hey, you okay? You looked miserable when you started bawling earlier." The Warden said playfully.

"I'm fine you doofus. Alban helped me out." The Warden said as she smiled up at the Highlander.

"Hey good move Alban, getting Emora out of here before things got worse. Dude, you should've seen how many people were looking at us! They were like: 'Why is that Warden crying? Are they going to fight? There's so much fucking yelling, it's annoying!' So thanks for your quick thinking bud!"

Everyone broke out laughing at the witty remark. Alban exhaled with a genuine smile on his face.

"It was no problem. As soon as I looked around, I knew we were making a scene. So I guess I made the right move?"

Emora rolled her eyes as everyone agreed.

"Whatever! You guys are so stupid..."

Emora and Alban pulled up two chairs and sat down at the table with their own drinks. Cyrus cracked more jokes, and after a while, Emora finally decided to speak up about the recent events.

"Hey, Apollo...So how are you feeling? We never really got a clear explanation of your...Situation." She said with a worried tone.

Cyrus put down his drink with a smirk. "Damn it Emora. Breaking the chill mood again?"

Katsue and Alban let out small laughs as Emora turned to look at the golden Warden with a dull expression.

"Na, I'm just playing. For real though, how're ya holdin' up homie?" Cyrus asked as he put his hand on the Centurion's shoulder.

Apollo sighed; he looked at all of his friends with an expression of sorrow.

"I mean...I feel fine. I'm just thinking, you know? How my life would've changed...My potential future with her. Thinkin' about it now...It fills me with anger. I mean I'm obviously upset...Seeing your fiancé die isn't exactly my idea of happiness."

Katsue patted the Centurion on his shoulder, and gently shook him. "Hey, you're a strong guy. You can make it through this, I know you can."

"For sure, the Shinobi's right! You're tougher than nails my boy, with enough time, it'll all be in your past as one of the sadder moments in your memory vault, but hey, there's more fish in the sea Apollo, you'll find another girl, with your fine ass." Cyrus joked.

Apollo laughed for the first time in a while, Cyrus laughing with him. Emora's heart tingled with warmth as she watched the two friends share a happy moment.

"Fuck...You're damn right, Cyrus. But still, I'm still a bit shaken up." The Centurion said after catching his breath.

"Of course you are Apollo. It's not easy seeing someone you love die right in front of you." Emora said softly.

"Yeah...But damn it, man! I already said it, but I'm fucking angry. How could I just sit there and cry about it! I felt like kicking that Valkyrie's ass, I wanted to beat the shit out of her personally...But I couldn't. Even though I wanted too, I just...I—I fucking couldn't! And I'm tryin' to find out why." The Centurion leaned forward on the table, his gaze fixed on the wooden surface.

Katsue and Cyrus frowned, knowing that this wasn't their department of support. The two Heroes, along with Alban, turned to Emora, their stares telling her that it was her turn to help.

"Apollo, I just told you...You loved her, right?" The Warden asked.

"Course I did." The Centurion replied.

"She was important to you. You loved her to the point where you wanted to take her hand in marriage! You were dedicated enough to your feelings that you wanted to spend the rest of your life with her. But having those feelings shattered right in front of you...The feelings that you felt so strongly...Destroyed with a simple snap of the neck, it's going to hurt. A lot."

Apollo looked up at Emora, his eyes tearing up with sadness.

"That's why you felt that feeling of despair and uselessness. You strived for her love, you achieved it, and then...It was all taken away from you. It's like...It's like working really hard for something. You get...You get this shiny new sword or something. It's made just the way you wanted, it fits you perfectly, it's your perfect blade, and you paid for it yourself. But then, it's stolen by your own brother, who is then killed in battle with it, and that blade you worked so hard for, is gone forever. Not only that, but your brother is dead too."

Cyrus winced. "Ooh. That's tough."

Katsue and Alban nodded in agreement.

Apollo sighed and dug his face his hands.

"That's basically how I feel..."

Emora shook her head. "Tenfold. Even though you were enraged and furious...Your heart had been broken, ripped in half, tore apart, and stomped on. The state of grief you were in was greater than your state of anger, and it incapacitated you."

The Centurion groaned behind his hands. He rubbed his eyes and sighed.

"Heh...That's why you did it for me. Thanks. I got my revenge in the end, with your help of course." Apollo smiled.

The Warden warmly smiled back, her eyes glowing in the golden light of the sunset.

"Well, we got a few rooms in this barrack building all to ourselves! Don't ya'll think that's nice?" Cyrus grinned.

The Heroes nodded at the golden Warden.

"Wait, you guys only have two people in your team, each. Your teams are basically two duets. Don't you think you should do something about that?" Emora asked.

Cyrus and Apollo exchanged looks, and then looked back at the Warden with wide smirks.

"Yeah, we fused our teams together. So now it's me, Apollo, Mayako, and Apollo's Lawbringer. A perfect team of four!" Cyrus said with a clutched fist.

"The Lawbringer's name is Xaltar by the way. I need to get to know that Orochi too." Apollo brought up.

"Mayako's super nice, she's chill as hell too, I'm sure you two will get along fine." Cyrus playfully punched the Centurion in the shoulder.

"What's the name?" Katsue asked.

Cyrus snapped and pointed at the Shinobi, making her jump.

"Glad you asked, my young Shinobi! Since our two teams were Blue and Yellow, we put them together, like paint!" The golden Warden laughed.

"But...That makes green. There's already a Green team. Elea's team." Alban brought up.

This time, it was Apollo that snapped.

"Cyrus and I countered that problem too! We saw that there was already a green team...So we broadened our ideas. What else is green? Grass, leaves, trees, cabbage, mold." Apollo counted the items off on his fingers as he spoke.

"Ew," Katsue remarked.

"Ah, Ah, Ah! But you know what's green, beautiful, and super pretty?" Cyrus asked.

Alban, Emora, and Katsue sat silent, not knowing the answer.

"Emerald." Cyrus finished.

"Team Emerald! How bout dah!" Apollo clapped.

Alban and Katsue shook their heads, smiling. Emora clapped along with Apollo, a wide smile on her face.

"Great...Great thinking you two." She giggled.

"Thank you, thank you very much." Cyrus bowed.

Some more time went by, and the sun was beginning to disappear behind the horizon. The sky was orange, yellow, and pink. The other half was a bit purple, signifying the oncoming night.

"Well, I'm heading to bed. I'm hella tired." Cyrus yawned.

"Wow, the energetic Cyrus, tired? I never thought I'd hear the day." Katsue laughed.

The golden Warden rolled his eyes. "Shut your trap, KAT! You're probably feelin' decked too." He returned with a grin.

The Shinobi shrugged, smiling. "I never said I wasn't!"

Apollo gave Emora and Alban a small wave as he followed Cyrus and Katsue into the barrack building to pick a room to stay in.

The Warden and Highlander turned to each other, both smiling at each other.

"You gonna head to sleep too?" Alban asked.

"Yeah, probably. I could use some rest after all that happened today." Emora sighed, rubbing her eye.

The Highlander frowned. "Hey, I hope things aren't awkward between us after what happened. I just...I needed to tell you how I felt, or else it was going to stay on my mind forever."

Emora dove into Alban's arms without warning, startling the unprepared Highlander.

"It's fine. I'm glad you told me because now I don't have to worry about trying to find out myself."

"But...The kiss—"

Emora put her finger over Alban's lips, shutting the man right up. The Warden winked and began to giggle afterward.

"It'll be a secret between best friends. Got it?" She grinned.

For the first time, the Highlander blushed. He tried to hide it by looking away, but Emora's laughter kept drawing him back in, he looked at her with a flustered look. "Uh...A-Alright...Got it." The Highlander sighed.

Emora clutched her fists and shuddered in excitement. "Ah! I'm so happy I made you blush! I never thought I'd see the day where you'd flush with embarrassment." She exclaimed cheerfully, her stomach twirling with butterflies, her giddy attitude making her seem like a child.

"Pfft, alright whatever. Go to sleep, blondie." Alban laughed.

"Hey! You're blonde too!" Emora pouted.

"I don't count; I'm taller than 5 feet." The Highlander grinned.

The Warden gasped with offense. "I'm insulted! I'm only like...Three inches shorter than you."

"Yeah, alright. Just go already!" Alban swatted the Knight away playfully, causing her to flail her arms in return.

"Okay fine! But wait, where are you going? Aren't you gonna get a room too?" Emora asked.

"Yeah, I'll check in later. I'm going to go grab a bite to eat. There's a small little place near the edge of the outpost where some woman sells fresh pies."

"Really? I didn't think they would let her stick around in an Outpost Gate." The Warden commented.

Alban shrugged. "I guess she was nice enough to give the soldiers something warm to eat up here in these mountains, so they let her do her own thing. Anyway, I wanna try one, so I'll be back in a little while."

Emora's stomach growled while she listened to the Highlander, she timidly fidgeted with her hands as she looked at Alban, her eyes twinkling.

"Is it...Is it too much to ask if...Y-You could get me one...?"

Alban shook his pouch of coins; he narrowed his eyes as he looked at the currency inside.

"P-Please...?" Emora murmured.

The Highlander rolled his eyes and sighed. "Sure."

"Thank you! Oh...I haven't had a good pie in far too long..." The Warden said with a tone of relief in her voice.

"Well, I trust this woman will deliver. Be back in a bit." Alban nodded.

Emora nodded back as she entered the barrack building. The Highlander scratched his head as he began to walk through the Outpost. He fell silent in his own thoughts as he walked.

"Even after what I did...She still sees me normally...As if it never happened. Wow...She really does have a pure heart."


Half an hour later...

"Thank you. They smell delicious." Alban complimented the woman who sold the pies in her small little shop.

"I can almost guarantee you that they taste even better!" The woman replied cheerfully.

"I'm sure they do. Have a good night, Madame." The Highlander said respectfully.

"You too kind sir!"

Alban smiled as he walked away from the stand, holding the two pies in his hands. One for him, the other for Emora. Their warmth made the Highlander's body grow fuzzy with a soothing heat. His sword was heavy on his back, his blue eyes shining in the soft moonlight.

"Hm...I can get to the barracks faster if I take the backstreets. I can enter through the backdoor and make it up to my room without bothering the gatekeepers as well. I'll worry about finding Emora's room later." The Highlander said to himself.

As he began to walk, the air around him began to feel heavy. He felt a presence nearby, his natural senses activating to a strange feeling.

"Hm..."

Alban paused to observe his surroundings. The low sound of Knights moving around supplies in the night, their voices yelling at one another. The ominous sound of the night's buzz, the blow of the wind, the distant howl of a wolf talking to the moon somewhere far away...

He looked around and saw nothing but darkness. The ground was covered by a light layer of snow. The buildings tall and made of strong wood. The walls made of stone, well made but getting old with cracks and fractures.

He kept quiet as he walked on, the feeling of his company staying with him.

"What the hell...I can feel something! What is it...?!"

The Highlander's breathing slowed; he tried to amplify his hearing as he trod on. He constantly turned around to look behind him; he stayed alert, ready to react quickly if anything were to happen.

"It's like I'm being watched...What the fuck..."

Alban turned around a corner to the left, near his destination. He then turned another corner to the right and could see the building his allies had chosen about three houses away.

As if his eyes were drawn to it, something immediately caught the eye of the on-edge Highlander. Something was shining in the dark, something shiny and polished. It was silver and reflecting the white light of the moon. It was a blade.

Alban immediately dropped the two pies on the ground as he tore his sword from its strap on his back. He swung it around and got on guard.

"Show yourself!"

At first, there was no response. But right about as Alban was about to yell out again, his stalker began to laugh.

"Huh...?"

The laugh sounded familiar. The Highlander couldn't place his finger on it clearly, but it sounded familiar. He stared at the silver shine in the darkness and finally noticed that it was quite close to the ground. He saw the tip of a dark brown boot right next to the blade.

"I recommend you stand up. Fighting so close to the ground seems very blunt." Alban said out loud to the shadow.

The shadow went silent. It took one step closer, revealing two dark brown boots, and fitted light gray pants. The Highlander spotted two orange tassels hanging from the center of the figure, signifying the ties of orange-colored robes being used as a belt.

"Who...Are you. Why are you following me!?"

The figure said nothing, but instead, walked all the way out. In the moonlight stood a Nobushi. Her black brigandine lined with a colorful orange and yellow design. Her undershirt light gray with an orange design on it, her orange belt tied tightly around her hips.

Her collar was popped, her shoulder pads black with orange. Her hat was ornamented with a serpent; it was also black and orange. Her mask completely black, with two orange stripes cutting vertically across the two thin eye holes.

The Highlander stood in shock. The Nobushi was holding her staff, the end of it with the blade, angled towards the ground behind her. She was standing in a pose that Nobushi's take before battle.

"I'm not following you. Rather...I wanted to catch you alone to have a little bit of a...Confrontation with you. Alban."

The Highlander's eyes widened, and his jaw dropped in surprise. "A...A-Airi?! Is that...Is that you?!"

The Nobushi scoffed and nodded her head. She twirled her staff around, causing silver moonlight to trace it, and make it look like a large shining disk while it spun.

"W-What...Why do you want to confront me? Is there...Is there something wrong?"

Hakushi tilted her head to think. "Kind of. It's about something you did. A promise you broke."

Alban looked at Airi with a confused look. "A...Promise?"

The Samurai nodded her head. "Less of a promise...More of something that you agreed to, but ended up discarding in the end. It was about a sensitive topic. Something that matters to me very...Much."

The Highlander took a few steps back. "Enlighten me...Airi."

The Nobushi held her staff in both of her hands now.

"Emora. About what you said you'd do once she had made her decision."

"Her decision...A-About..."

"Her feelings. About which one of us she truly loved. She made her decision...Yet you kept going...And took your love for her to a level I wasn't expecting." Airi said quietly.

The Highlander's heart stopped. "W-What're you talking about...?"

"Alban!"

The Highlander jumped, startled by the Nobushi's suddenly horrifying voice.

"I...Saw...Everything."

Alban felt his heart scrunch up with pain. He grit his teeth and closed his eyes in frustration. "Tch...Damn it. Airi...I...I was only making my final stand..."

The Nobushi shook her head in disappointment. "I heard what she said. What she said about you. It warmed my heart to know that Emora is such a lenient and loving person. She sees you as a very special friend, someone to keep close. We're both lucky to have her."

Alban nodded his head. "I know we are. But...If you heard what she said...Then you would know about her final decision. She chose you...You've won! She loves you Airi...She misses you! She realized that she had been forgetting about you in the relationship, and she feels horrible about it."

Airi laughed, taking the Highlander by surprise. "She regrets it now. I heard a bit of that too. I began to cry as I realized...How much I longed for her affection. But now I realize that this all happened because of you."

"M-Me...?" Alban stammered.

Hakushi nodded. "The only reason she forgot about me...Ignored me...Neglected me...Disregarded me...Is because you were in the way. Your charm, your genuine personality, your good looks, your compassionate attitude...It was something she liked to see in a guy. She loved being around you, being in your company, that she no longer wanted to be in...In mine."

The Nobushi's voice cracked near the end of her sentence. The Highlander's voice went strong, with a tone of pure honesty and truth.

"Airi...I'm sorry. I...I fell in love with her. But...I only wanted to be close to her. Whether it was as teammates, as friends, or as lovers...I didn't care, as long as I got to be part of her life. What she told me earlier today...It touched me. I realize that I have a place in that huge golden heart of hers, and I'm happy with that. You have a place too Airi, but you're missing from it...And it's hurting her."

"Gnh!"

The Nobushi suppressed a tragic sounding sob. She picked at her mask and shook her head, taking deep breaths. She stared at Alban, the Highlander himself unable to see the Samurai's eyes through her mask.

"If that's the case...Then why hasn't she talked to me yet?! Do you have any idea how distant she and I have become!? I hate it...I hate everything about it! You ruined my relationship with her...You made her confused...You made her question her affection for both me and you! And not only that...But you fucking..."

Airi winced, she quietly growled, holding back what seemed to be an angry yell.

"You just went ahead and...And kissed her! Knowing that she only sees you as a loving friend! You fucking rat...You even said you'd back off after you clearly heard her decision. She said she loved me...Yet you still carried on."

Alban shook his head. He looked at Hakushi with a concentrated gaze. "You told me to make my move. So I did. I know I did it after she made her decision...But I was happy knowing that she loves me in some shape or form. I've accepted the fact that she chose you over me, and that's fine...Because I can see why."

Airi stayed silent, having nothing to say in return. The Highlander continued.

"I wanted to tell her how I felt. I wanted to confess my true feelings for her. I couldn't bottle them up anymore. If I did, it would start to affect me both mentally and physically. Knowing that she still wouldn't have known how I felt, but I knew how she felt, it wasn't fair. It isn't fair that she tells me her feelings, but I don't tell her mine."

The Nobushi grasped her staff tighter. Her arm was beginning to tremble with tension.

"So I decided to show her how I felt. I confessed and I kissed her, I told her that I loved her. I did everything that my heart desired...And now I'm satisfied."

Airi let out a small chuckle.

"What's so funny about that?" Alban asked.

The Nobushi paused and looked up at the dark sky. "That's sweet. Now she knows that you love her. And you know that she loves you as a close friend. You're happy with that? Knowing that she doesn't want an intimate relationship with you?" The Samurai asked.

The Highlander nodded his head. "Yes. My conscious is free now. I have my own place in her heart. I may not have an intimate relationship with her...But I certainly have an intimate friendship with her. Just like she does with her other friends. That's good enough for me."

Airi shook her head; she suddenly lashed out in a loud outrage of frustration.

"Damn it...You make me fucking sick! After all you and I have been through...Just to get to her! You're satisfied being her friend! Now I'm stuck here...All alone! She won't even talk to me, god knows why, and I can't show my face to her without thinking she's going to slap me for hating you! It's a paradox you fucking moron!"

Alban took a few steps back, he began to panic.

"Airi! Calm down...I can help you repair your relationship with her."

"NO! SHUT THE FUCK UP! God...You even share some of her similarities! You and I were just fighting over her a few hours ago, and now you want to help me!? You're so...Fucking confusing! The fact you barge into our lives, ruin my love with her, kiss her, confess to her, then go around acting like everything is normal pisses me the fuck off! Buying her pies and shit...Playing and toying with her, DAMN IT! You've left me alone in a hole that I can't get out of!"

The Nobushi got into a battle stance. Alban hesitantly turned defensive, ready to try and suppress the angry Samurai's anger.

"I've never hated you so much as I do right now...I hate you...I hate Emora...I hate myself for hating you and Emora! DGH—YOU SEE?! I don't even know what to feel right now, and it's all your damn fault!" Airi sobbed loudly.

"Airi! I can help you! Let me help you!" Alban shouted.

"NO! I DON'T NEED YOUR SYMPATHY!" Hakushi finally cried out and charged forward at a rapid pace, her staff behind her, ready to lash out with a powerful slash attack.

"Damn it! Airi!" Alban bellowed.

"RAAAHHH!"

The Nobushi started off the fight with an upper-slash attack. Her silver blade shimmered in the moonlight. Alban flinched at the sparks that emerged from his blade as he blocked the attack with his sword.

"Airi...Stop it! I'm not here to fight you!" He shouted.

"I am! You ruined everything!"

"I'm sorry! I'm trying to fix it!"

"SHUT UP!"

The Samurai continued to attack. She threw four rapid slash attacks that were all blocked by the Highlander. She backed up and held her staff behind her. She rose up on one foot, balancing perfectly. She closed her eyes behind her mask, took a deep breath, and put two fingers to her forehead.

"Finally...Airi please—"

With nearly invisible speed, she got into a battle stance and lifted her leg up into the air. She delivered a stunningly fast kick to Alban's head.

"Guh!" The Highlander staggered back, his head aching.

Taking advantage of the Highlander's stunned state; Airi stooped low to the ground and stabbed him with her staff. She rose up and struck him again in the shoulder, and then in the ribcage. The Highlander's clothes grew bloody as he began to bleed.

"TGH—Airi stop! I...I don't want to hurt you!"

"I've been waiting for this so long...I won't let you run! I won't let you win!"

Hakushi twirled around, and slashed her staff out, cutting Alban's entire side with a deep gash. She lifted her staff into the air with precision and speed, ready to come down on her enemy.

"STOP!"

The Highlander raised his sword to parry the attack but lashed out in pain when Airi faked the move and gnashed his waist with her staff. He staggered back, his lacerations stinging all over his body. His heartbeat rose as he realized his situation.

"Hakushi...I didn't want to do this. But I can't just...I can't just let you kill me."

The Highlander got into a battle stance; he took a deep breath as he prepared to fight the Nobushi for real.

"Bring it on, Highlander," Hakushi growled.

"Very well then, Nobushi," Alban said firmly.

The two charged forward. With huge momentum, Alban flung his sword over his shoulder and then raised it into the air right in above the Nobushi. He made it look as if he was going to attack, making Airi stop in her tracks. The Highlander was suddenly whipping his sword to Hakushi's left.

"Admirable move!"

Airi ducked under the attack and slashed Alban in the gut, causing a small amount of blood to splash out onto the ground.

"GAH—Tch..."

The Nobushi rose into the air, a powerful kick plummeted into the Highlander's chest, rendering him stamina drained, and devoid of air. His chest felt empty as Airi's boots slammed into his torso.

"GLLAH!" He gutted out, spit flailing from his mouth.

"RAAH!" Airi roared as she landed and brought her staff down with accuracy. She made contact, watching as blood shot out from Alban's shoulder.

"DAGH—FUCK!" The Highlander winced in pain.

The Nobushi pushed forward, her staff switching flanks as she maneuvered to strike from the right. The Highlander foolishly attempted to parry but fell right into a brutal trap. He felt his arms loosen as his blade was parried by Airi.

"Die! You piece of shit!"

Hakushi yelled as she cut the Highlander's chest and face. Alban staggered back, blood falling from his cheek. He gasped out with despair as the Nobushi round-house kicked him straight in the side of his body, causing his stance to shatter. He crashed into a wall, his abdomen and ribs throbbing with pain. Airi plunged her blade deep into the center of Alban's abdomen; she then harshly sliced it forward and struck the Highlander in the jaw with the end of her staff.

"DUUAH!" He grunted as his head flung to the side.

Before he knew it, Airi had her hand behind his head; she was facing away from him. He yelled out in fear as Hakushi threw the Highlander over her shoulder, and slammed him down in front of herself. Alban grunted loudly as he fell on his back, the cold ground sending shivers through his body.

"Let's see you bleed!"

Airi swiftly spliced across Alban's collar bone, cutting deep into it, and opening a large horizontal wound there. Blood fired out of the wound and sprayed into the air. The Highlander cried out in agony, he roared out with rage as he angrily tried to stand up. He got up on one knee; he used his sword to help himself stand up.

"Ggh...HIRAAAUUAAHH!"

Alban turned and swung his sword with all of his strength behind him. His blade struck the wall as Airi ducked underneath it. Metallic sparks flew everywhere as his sword scraped against the stone wall. The impact caused the Highlander's arm to shudder, he groaned in annoyance as he was left open for attack.

"HGAH!" Airi shouted as she jabbed Alban in the gut, she dug her fist deeper, causing the Highlander to regurgitate saliva all over the Nobushi, who put her head down and protected her mask.

"Disgusting, foul, messy!" She taunted.

Alban doubled over, groaning in pain. His entire stomach churned and cramped in repercussion of the blow.

Airi laughed as she struck the Highlander with a swift strike from his waist across to his ribs. She came back around with more force and sliced his arm with her blade. Alban nearly dropped his sword from the discomfort he felt in his arm, he yelled out with effort as he raised his sword in defense of whatever attack came next.

Hakushi huffed, expressing her struggle as she turned her staff over. Without expecting such a move, Alban was struck in the throat with the end of Airi's staff. He gagged and choked for breath as he held his throat. The Nobushi cracked her staff into the ribs of the Highlander, roughly penetrating into one of the gaps. Pain swept through the Warrior's body as he yelled out with pain.

"Let's see that jawline of yours once my fist has crushed it!"

The Nobushi savagely crashed her fist into Alban's jaw. A loud crack went off, and the Highlander was sent off balance. His body disabled for a few seconds as he fell against a wall, his head ringing, his vision blurred. The back of his head was knocking with rushes of severe pain as his entire skull shuddered with the force of the attack.

Airi rushed forward, she slid down on one knee as she sliced Alban's thigh with her staff, causing him to cry out jabbing torture. She swiftly came back in the opposite direction; her blade making contact with Alban's other leg, this time severing his kneecap.

"AAUUUH!" The Highlander cried out, but with little time to spare. The next thing he knew, he was staggering backward, once again stamina broken as Airi thrust her foot into his stomach in the form of a sturdy kick.

"AAHH! Gahh—Airi stop! Tah...Uh—Ngh...!"

Alban watched as Airi jumped up into the air, her staff raised. He closed his eyes and raised his sword. But the Nobushi faked the strike. The Highlander exclaimed out in horror as his own blood burst out of his body right in front of him. It spewed onto Hakushi's clothes as she gnashed through Alban's side with a devastating slash attack.

The Nobushi was nimble with her footwork as she spun around and shot her leg out using the momentum from her turning. In the form of a gouging back-kick, Airi kicked the Highlander back once more. The heavily wounded Warrior gut out with blood. Streaks of it waved from his mouth as he fell back, dropping his sword.

"I can't believe this. I thought I would struggle against you. You're pathetic. If only you knew you would've received this horrible beating before all of this. Maybe you wouldn't have interfered with Emora's life!"

Alban sat up, his hand behind him for support. He slowly stood back up as Airi got back into battle position.

"She chose me to be on her team...It would've happened anyway. Airi...Please stop doing this...You're angry...You're blinded with so many emotions, don't deny it. You want to let it all out, don't you? Airi...Don't kill me...You know what will happen if you do..."

The Nobushi retorted. Her breathing turned soft for a brief moment.

"What's going to happen? You'll finally be gone? And my life will return to the way it was?" Airi said angrily.

The Highlander shook his head. "No. Emora will be enraged. She'll never forgive you, Airi. She'll see you as a monster...And I KNOW you're not a monster! If you kill me...The amount of grief she'll be in will grab her, strangle her, and drown her. She'll be broken...She won't be able to feel anything. Not happiness, not sadness, not love. Only...Desolation...and sorrow."

The Nobushi growled softly. She shook her head in frustration. "No, she won't! Shut the hell up!"

"She will! You'll lose all your other friends as well. They'll all think you're insane. That you're a crazed psychopath! You aren't that at all, Airi. You're gentle...You're caring...You're a loving person. If you do this...You'll lose all of that. You'll be exiled from Fort Diamond and the Azure Legion for killing an allied Hero. You'll be a rogue. Nothing but a dark shadow in everyone's memories." Alban said, his voice low and truthful.

The Nobushi shook her head slowly. She held back heavy sobs as she tried to breathe.

"Stop it...Stop it! Just...STOP!"

As she rushed forward, Alban had recovered enough stamina to stand. He stood ready, waiting for the perfect moment.

"Stay back Airi! Think about this!"

"GRAAHH!" The Nobushi howled as she leaped forward, her arms holding her staff to deliver a heavy strike from the left.

"NO!"

"GUUUAAGGHHLGHAA! KKCEEH—AULGH...KAH..."

With one obliteratingly powerful punch to the gut, Airi dropped her staff and succumbed to the Highlander's superior strength and raw power. Her spit splashed out onto the floor and dripped from her bottom lip as she quietly croaked with pain.

Alban shut his eyes as he clenched his fist even tighter, and then forced his fist deeper into Hakushi's body with a sudden spike of speed. The Samurai's body was hit by a shockwave of force that ruptured her insides and sent waves of excruciating pain rushing through her. Her body jerked violently as she flew back. She did a backflip once she hit the ground and finally rested on her stomach when she sprawled out on the ground.

"I'm...I'm sorry," Alban said remorsefully.

Airi spat out a large amount of saliva. She gasped for breath and held her gut with one of her hands as she fought for the air to enter her lungs. Her panting was loud, deep, heavy, and sharp. Her shallow and labored breathing pained Alban's hearing.

She lifted her mask and wiped her mouth of her own spit. She briefly cleaned the inside of her mask before quickly putting it back over her face. The Highlander watched as Airi slowly stood back up, still holding her stomach, which was throbbing with a tight, raw pain.

"You're apologizing for...One single punch? It's gonna—Tgh! Ah..."

The Nobushi's legs lost their structure as she nearly fell back to the floor. She placed her hand out in front of her, crouching, trying desperately to gain her strength back. She couldn't seem to recover as she stood up for a few seconds before slouching against the wall.

"W-What...The...Fuck?! How...How did one hit...Deal that much damage to me?! Ggh—Kah!"

The Nobushi fell to her knees; she began to cough uncontrollably, unable to breathe. She held her throat as she fell onto all fours, leaning against the wall.

"Get that thing off of your face Airi! Breathe! Breathe!"

Alban rushed over to the Samurai and tore off her mask. Her face was red, her neck strained, her veins and tendons disgustingly visible underneath her skin. Her face was red, and her eyes watery with fear.

"Airi...Breathe. I hit you right in your center. It's meant to incapacitate you, not kill you. I know it's hard to breathe, but you just need to stay calm."

The Nobushi angrily pushed the Highlander away, talking through strained breaths. "I...My lungs...! Cgh—Cah! Blgh...Kruagh! Auh...Ah...Ha...Wuah..."

Airi felt as air finally began to circulate through her body, and hit her lungs in huge bursts. She sucked in air through her gaping mouth. She shut her eyes tightly as she caught began to recover. Her head hurt from the lack of oxygen, but the Nobushi managed to continue breathing.

"You...Bastard. How the fuck do you like it!"

Airi rushed to her feet as her body recovered and regained all core functions. She landed a clean strike on Alban's side, hitting his ribs, and making contact with his liver directly in his abdomen. Blood gushed out from the Highlander's mouth as he released a cry of agony. A stabbing, sharp, and horrible severe pain ruptured his body as he doubled over, his body crippled and unable to defend.

"UAH!"

Hakushi launched her fist upwards, upper-cutting Alban hard enough to make him lift off of the ground, and fall onto his back. The Highlander coughed up blood and rolled over onto his stomach. He groaned in agonizing pain as the intense pain lingered in his core.

Airi exhaled as she picked up her staff, still feeling discomfort in her stomach.

"I'm gonna enjoy slitting your throat open."

Unlike Airi, the Highlander was more trained and hardened. His body was harder and stronger than Hakushi's smaller, softer form. He could tank hard hits, and recover faster than her, rendering him able to withstand more amounts of force. He let out a yell of determination as he spiked upwards to his full height.

"What the—GGAAH!"

Alban picked Airi up by the throat; the Nobushi dropped her staff, her legs and feet flailing above the ground. She clawed and slapped the Highlander's hand with her own smaller ones, desperately trying to break free. She managed to kick him in the teeth, causing him to grunt out with annoyance.

"Agh! Phew!"

The Highlander spat out a bit of blood before throwing the Nobushi back using all of his strength. Airi hit the ground hard as she struck her back on the ground. She bounced up and back flipped, sliding to a stop with her hand out in front of her, the other behind her.

Alban turned and grabbed his sword, ready to fight back against the bloodthirsty Nobushi.

As Airi sprinted forward, she swooped down and picked up her staff. Alban prepared for any slash, cut, pounce, or kick that was to come. But this time, something really caught him off guard.

"HUAH!"

He watched in astonishment as the Nobushi leaped towards the wall. Using her right foot, she latched onto the wall with a small jump. With her left foot, she propelled herself up the wall, covering multiple feet in distance. Briefly stepping onto the wall with her right foot for support, she launched towards the stunned Highlander, her left leg whipping outwards with nothing but the ultimate power.

After completing a short wall run, Airi's boot shattered into Alban's temple. The Highlander's head flew back, blood exploding from one side of his face. He cried out, his head rocking.

Nearly unconscious, he fell against a wall, striking his head again. He held his face with desperation as he fell to the floor.

"How do you like that maneuver! Hah!"

Alban shook his head slowly as he stood up and blindly stumbled around for his sword. Airi rushed forward not giving him any time.

"Don't you even think about it!"

With a swift kidney punch, a cut to the back of his leg, and a kick in his back, the Highlander was sent hurdling forward, face first into the ground. He caught himself with his arms, softening the landing. He rolled onto his feet, squinting at the Nobushi.

She rushed forward, ready to use her staff to attack him.

Alban managed to dodge the initial strike that Airi threw but failed the second as he felt his legs get swept by the staff's steel shaft. He fell on his side, but quickly recovered by landing on his kneecap, which hurt him a bit, but helped him stand up within the next second.

As Hakushi attacked, the Highlander grabbed the staff's shaft, forcing a surprised gasp from Airi. Alban violently tugged on the staff and swung the Nobushi around with it. He made her crash into a wall, which evoked a loud cry from the Samurai.

He then pulled her back in front of himself, repositioned his hand on the staff, and pushed it forward. He struck Airi on the side of the neck with the butt-end of the staff, causing her to gag out with saliva, and let go of the staff. Alban swiftly slashed across Hakushi's stomach, then came back around to sweep off of her feet.

"AUUGH!" Airi cried as she fell onto her back, her arms out in front of her, covering her torso.

Blood erupted from her body as Alban slammed the Nobushi's staff into her body. The blade pierced through her soft skin and dug into the center of her waist.

The Highlander angrily threw the staff behind him, and reached for Airi, grabbing her tightly by the arm. He abruptly helped her stand, bringing the Nobushi on an eye-to-eye level.

Blood dripped and poured onto the ground from Airi's wound, she quietly moaned as she let herself get controlled by Alban. The Highlander grabbed the Samurai's chin and lifted it up, making Hakushi look at him.

"Airi! Fucking stop this! Please!"

The Nobushi grit her teeth with fury as she began to thrash around, trying to break free of Alban's grip. "LET GO OF ME! ALBAN! LET GOO!"

"I'M NOT LETTING GO UNTIL YOU TELL ME WHY YOU'RE FIGHTING ME!" The Highlander yelled.

"Because! Don't you get it?! I'm...I'm fucking pissed! You ruined everything! You fucked up my entire goddamn life, god I feel like I'm falling apart! My entire life is falling apart! AND IT'S ALL BECAUSE OF YOU!" Airi cried.

The Highlander breathed deeply he held on to Hakushi as she squirmed and weakly slapped him. "Airi...I'm sorry. I'm trying to tell you that I'll help...But you won't listen!"

The Samurai whipped her head up and glared at the Highlander, her eyes full of tears. "That's part of it too, dumbass! I don't fucking believe you...After how unfair I've been to you...After how I've treated you with nothing but cruelty and unforgiving hatred...You still—You still want to help me! Why?! WHY DO YOU WANT TO HELP ME WHEN I'M TRYING TO TAKE THE ONE YOU LOVE!?"

Alban paused; he realized that tears were starting to emerge in his eyes. He grunted as he fought his urge to cry.

"Emora...Airi, she loves you. You're the one she loves, not me. I'm keeping my promise. I'm backing down...And not just because I said I would, but because I'm satisfied with my affairs. Yes, I kissed her...But that one kiss was all I needed to patch up the gaping hole I had in my heart."

Airi's strength increased, she clutched her fists as she twisted and turned in Alban's grasp. Her arms felt numb from the Highlander's iron grip on them.

"W-What do you mean...?" Hakushi asked.

"Emora loves me. It may not be romantic or intimate...But it's still a type of love. Hearing those words come out of her mouth, in her voice, from her lips...It meant the whole damn world to me. But her happiness also matters to me. I know that you, Airi, are the only thing that can make her happy again. And I'll do whatever it takes to repair the broken love you two have...Because it may be broken, but it can still be repaired."

Airi's eye twitched. Tears streamed down her face, her teeth were ground together, her face red with blush.

"Y-You...You want her to be happy..." She whispered.

"I want you to be happy too, Airi. I've made it my mission. As one of her closest friends, she trusts me. I want to show her that I care for her." The Highlander nodded.

"You piece of shit! You already care for her! You saved her life! She doesn't need you!"

"BUT SHE NEEDS YOU!"

The volume of Alban's yell caused the Nobushi's ears to muffle. She tilted her head back, eyes wide, mouth agape.

Airi had a clear shot. She rammed her head forward, slamming into Alban's. The head-butt caused the Highlander to yell out in raw pain. He staggered back, letting go of the Nobushi.

"You made her feel horrible! She feels bad for ignoring me, yet I feel terrible for hating you! Everything is so damn confusing! She ignored me because of you...Yet...You're trying to help me, but I don't want you to! What the...Fuck is wrong with me!? Alban! HELP ME!"

The Nobushi began to cry loudly as she yelled the Highlander's name. She begged to be relieved of her problems. Finally realizing her recent actions, her own feelings, her own foolishness, selfishness, and ignorance, her heart became engulfed by feelings of pure destruction.

The Samurai threw an endless rush of fast-paced punches, striking Alban with almost every single one. With each hit, a bit of his blood flew out into the open air in the form of a small, red fluttering trail.

Airi decked the Highlander into a wall, evoking a loud cry of pain. He gut out with blood as the Nobushi's fist jabbed into his ribcage. He doubled over, vomiting spit and blood. The Nobushi jumped up into the air and delivered an air-splicing chop to the back of the Highlander's head.

Alban knocked out for a brief moment, but his resolve kept him conscious. His face scraped against the wall, scratching the side of his face from his cheek to his eye.

"RAAAHGHH!" Airi yelled as she lifted her fist.

"NO!"

Alban roared as he heavily struck the Nobushi with a backhand blow. Airi retorted and quickly turned back to the Highlander with a bit of blood glistening from the corner of her mouth.

"HGH!" The Highlander grunted as he thrust his wrist into Airi's throat, hitting her firmly. The Nobushi staggered back against the other wall, choking on her blood. She spat and coughed up blood as she recovered, taking in huge, draining breaths.

"Airi, calm down! Just let me help you! I already told you what would happen if you kill me! Just stop this bullshit!"

"Bullshit?! I'm trapped from all sides because of you! Emora knows I'm jealous of you, but at the same time, she hates herself for leaving me alone! I can't bear to show my face in front of her! She knows I hate you...But she doesn't know that you're trying to help me! If she learns that I'm denying your help...Even when I desperately need it...She'll realize how much of...Huge disgrace I am!"

"Airi, that's not true!"

"IT IS TRUE! ALBAN...I DON'T EVEN FEEL LIKE I DESERVE THIS! I DON'T DESERVE YOUR HELP! I DON'T DESERVE EMORA! I DON'T DESERVE TO FUCKING LIVE ANYMORE! ALBAN! IF YOU DON'T WANT ME TO KILL YOU...THEN KILL ME!"

Airi rushed forward, her speed was incredible. Alban yelled out with anger as he charged himself. The two collided forearms, pain surging through their bones as they clashed with each other. They glared through their shaking arms, their muscles fighting to gain the upper hand.

The two simultaneously backed off, reeled their arms back, and lunged forward with their fists out, striking each other in the face.

"GAAH!" Alban yelled out as Airi's fist cracked into his jaw.

"AAHH!" Airi cried as Alban's fist smashed into her cheek.

Hakushi recovered first, forcing herself through the pain, and moving to counterattack. She twirled to the right and lifted her leg up into the air. Her boot came down on Alban's leg, making him fall onto his knees. The Samurai charged up an upper-cut, but she couldn't manage to do it in time.

"GUUAAAHH—TCHH!"

Alban managed to hurl his fist into Airi's gut. The Nobushi sucked it up, her entire body tensed up to absorb the impact. She endured through the stun and grabbed ahold of the Highlander's arm.

"W-What the fuck!?" Alban exclaimed.

"Not...T-This time!"

Airi whipped her arm forward, her elbow connecting with Alban's nose. The Highlander retreated, his nose bleeding.

Airi leaped forward and brought her knuckles down on Alban's ear. She then kneecapped him as he fell over, knocking his head back into the air. She grabbed ahold of it and slammed it into the wall.

"Alban...I don't know what to do..." She whispered into his ear.

"Let...Me...Help..."

The Nobushi pulled his head back, grabbed his collar, and then smashed him back into the wall. The Highlander's body jerked and then went limp as he slouched back, his head hanging low.

"Alban...I'm sorry..."

The Highlander spat out a bit of saliva. His blue eyes were bloated as he looked up at the Nobushi.

"I'm sorry too..."

The Nobushi slowly began to shake her head.

"I...I want to accept your help...I want to be with Emora again...I want her to be happy...I want you to be happy..." Airi said quietly.

"I...I already am...Happy, Airi. You...You need help. I can bring you and Emora back together. Your life will return to normal...And you'll be your gentle, caring self again." Alban murmured, his voice shaky from the pain he felt all over his body.

The Samurai didn't respond.

"Airi...Let me go. We can explain everything to her...Emora will return to you. She loves you, Airi...She needs you."

The Samurai still didn't respond.

"A-Airi...?"

With a sudden sinister glare, the Nobushi lunged forward. She forcefully pressed her lips onto Alban's, draining him from all of his stamina and energy.

"MMH!"

Alban's eyes dilated to the point where his pupils were small blue dots in the center of his all-white eyeball. His breathing turned sharp, and his heartbeat accelerated to the point of no return.

Airi sloppily kissed the paralyzed Highlander, holding his chin tightly. She gasped for air as she pulled back, her dark brown eyes reflecting Alban's dazed expression.

"That was for the kiss you stole from Emora. You took her lips from me...But now they're mine again."

Alban's entire body was shaking.

"A...A-Airi..."

The Nobushi gently placed the tips of her index and middle fingers right on the Highlander's heart. She angled her two fingers upwards a bit, her legs slanted forward a little, her other arm arched at her side.

She relaxed her body and tensed her striking arm. She evened out her breathing. She looked Alban right in the eyes.

"Alban. I'm sorry for all of this. I'm a horrible human being. And I don't think I can ever fix what I've done. I've lost Emora. I've lost you. I've lost my other friends. I've lost everything."

The Highlander's lips were trembling, his body still shaking from the kiss Airi had given him.

"A-Airi...You don't have to do this. You have her heart...You have her love...You've taken back her lips...You still have the chance to make things right..."

Hakushi dug her fingers deeper into Alban's heart. She let out a small chuckle as she shook her head one last time.

"Heh...No. Not in my eyes."

She took a deep breath in through her nose and closed her eyes. The Nobushi could feel Alban's rapid heartbeat on her fingertips.

"Airi! Don't do it!" He cried.

The Samurai opened her eyes.

"I'm sorry."

She exhaled as she thrust her fist forward, her entire body moving in one motion, lending the ultimate power to her arm. She grunted with effort as her knuckles sent a shockwave of pain and bleakness through Alban's body. His figure retorted, jerked back, and slumped back against the wall.

Alban's breathing ceased, his lungs choked for oxygen, his body tried to move, his heart tried to keep pumping blood as it came to a sudden and abrupt stop from the Nobushi's full-power one-inch-punch.

The Highlander slid down the wall, his mouth wide, and his eyes watery with the fear of death. His face was red, and his veins on his neck and face were pulsing.

His eyes went dull as his head hung low. His body went limp, and his raspy breathing silenced.

Airi stood in the dark backstreet, tears streaming down her face. Her heart feeling empty. Her soul devoured by her own lack of morality.

Something caught her attention. The sound of a quiet cry, like something, or someone, was struggling to stay silent. The sound of a whisper...Or a gasp. Maybe a whimper...Or a sob. Someone was holding back a yell of desperation...A roar of deep hurt.

Hakushi slowly turned to the left. Her eyes widened, her heart stopped, and her throat tightened as she saw who was watching. Her lips quivered ever so slightly as she looked at the figure, which had both of their hands over their mouth. Their eyes filled with pure horror.

Airi's tongue moved inside her mouth to speak, her throat was tight; her voice didn't want to come out. With a pathetic pant, she finally released the one word...Or rather...Name...She had grown to dread.

"Emora?"


To be continued.