Disclaimer: I do not own Kyo Kara Maoh or any of its characters
Claimer: I, chop4tess, own this story, its plot and any and all original characters
As the title suggests this is where things get going.
Chapter 13: The attack begins
It was almost 7 in the morning when Yuri woke up. Yuri groaned and tried to make sense of where he was and what had happened. All he remembered was blinding pain and cramps in his stomach then blackness. Yuri glanced to his side and saw Wolfram curled up next to him. His face was pale and tear stained tugging at Yuri's heart. He hated to see Wolfram upset and to know that he was the cause of his husband's sadness was the worst feeling. Yuri reached out and touched Wolfram's face making the blond fire wielder sigh and open his eyes.
"Wolfram," Yuri flinched as his voice came out as a rough croak. Wolfram jolted up as if he had been electrocuted.
"Yuri you're awake!" Wolfram smiled and hugged Yuri gently. "We were so worried about you." Wolfram turned and Yuri saw Conrad slumped in a chair beside the bed fast asleep and snoring gently. "Conrad wake up!" Wolfram shook his older brother's shoulder and Conrad jolted awake with a snort.
"What is it is Yuri ok?"
"I'm fine…my throat hurts though." Yuri croaked out and Conrad's face flooded with relief.
"Thank goodness for that, not you throat though. I will get Gisela at once." Conrad stood up flinching slightly as his muscles complained from being in one position for too long. Yuri sighed and laid his head back against the pillows. Wolfram pushed a lock of black hair from his forehead and smiled gently.
"I thought I was going to lose you too." Wolfram whispered. Yuri looked into Wolfram's green eyes that were brimming with new tears. Conrad slipped out of the room quietly as Yuri reached out to touch his husbands face.
"I'm sorry for making you worry Wolf."
"I love you Yuri."
"And I love you too Wolfram." Wolfram took Yuri's hand and kissed the knuckles giving Yuri a watery smile. "What happened anyway?"
"You were poisoned by a girl called Ashi who pretended to be a maid and served us our dinner remember her?" Yuri made a face and shook his head. Wolfram's lips twitched, "Typical. Anyway Gunter caught her trying to escape and knocked her out. She's in the dungeon right now but she's not saying anything."
"Do we know who sent her?"
"No. But we will find out." Wolfram said gripping the sheets tightly.
:-:
Down in the depths of the castle Ashi sat on a stone ledge running along the wall opposite the bars of her cell. Her black hair was lank and greasy hanging around her face. Half-healed cuts and bruises covered her arms and chest from the beatings the palace guards had inflicted on her. The guards didn't seem to be worried about hurting her beyond repair, the only thing they were concerned with was who she worked for and if she knew anything about the missing Prince. Ashi hadn't said a word to her captives. She just glared at them trying to unnerve them. It had worked at first making the guards uncomfortable but then some older, more experienced guards had come in and her glare had had no effect on them. Yet it wasn't what the guards said nor the wounds they had inflicted that had affected Ashi. It was the knowledge that Yami was dead. She had felt it the moment it happened even though she had been far away when it had happened. She didn't know who did it or how but she did know that she would find out and avenge him. Provided Kage didn't kill them first.
The door at the end of the corridor banged open and Ashi heard footsteps coming towards her cell. Ashi raised her head slowly as her head throbbed from lack of water. It was a mild discomfort that Ashi could deal with for now. A man stopped in front of Ashi's cell and looked through the bars at her. He was in his late 30s but still well-built and he had an aura of a commander about him as if he was used to getting his own way. He had short brown hair and narrow brown eyes. Overall, he was a boring plain looking man that lived for his job.
"How are we feeling today, Ashi?" Ashi glared but didn't say anything. "I bring you some good news; the Maoh is alive and kicking." Ashi hissed in anger her eyes burning with fury. He lives! Ashi trembled in anger gritting her teeth. "Guess your plan went wrong. I don't think your superior will be very pleased with you when he finds out will he?" Ashi glared at the man in front of her but didn't say anything. She still had the strength to get out of here if she wanted. "What's wrong, cat got your tongue?"
"You will be the ones who are sorry when my master arrives." Ashi hissed unable to remain quiet any longer.
"Oh so you can speak." The guard smiled a mean calculating smirk. "So how about you tell me more about this master of yours?"
"You will find out soon enough." Ashi smiled and leaned back against the cold stone wall behind her. The cell was freezing and the sound of dripping water echoed constantly through the dungeon. Ashi sighed knowing that soon she would be rescued from this place. Her master would punish her for getting caught but that was ok. She would cause for more pain to the people of this city than their guards had caused her. Maybe she could find out if they had families and torture the guards' wives and children in front of them. Ashi sneered, family and love gave even the strongest people weaknesses that could be exploited.
"So that's the game you are playing now; all quiet and secretive after dropping the bombshell." The guard leaned forward, "Well it isn't going to work so you might as well open up before my soldiers open you up." Ashi smirked at the guard but didn't move from her position. "Very well then," The guard straightened up and walked away. Ashi listened to his footsteps leaving, probably to get more men and an assortment of knives. They would all suffer when the gate opened in a few hours then she would be the one laughing at them all.
:-:
The morning light was shining on the lake throwing light back into the air. The water shimmered and gleamed as if a thousand diamonds covered its surface. Yet the people looking at the lake at 7 in the morning were not there for the view. Kage, Kirai and David were looking at the arch gleaming in the sunlight. It looked somehow sinister in the morning light as if some alien spacecraft had dropped it there and planned to use it to return.
"You are sure that something has happened to Ashi?" David asked as a light wind ruffled his hair.
"Yes Master, neither of us has heard from her which means that she cannot reach us. Maybe she is deep underground since that makes communication more difficult." Kage glanced at David who rubbed his scar thoughtfully.
"Very well, we shall move ahead as planned."
"Master what about the Maoh?" Kirai asked, "Won't he attack us when we step through the gate?"
"That's why you send the pawns through the gate first." David said simply before turning to Kage. "Get the troops ready." David turned on his heel and walked back to the camp which was already awake and moving about. The troops knew that something was going to happen and the fear and excitement filled the air. Kage smirked but Kirai felt uneasy.
"What do you think happened to Ashi?" Kirai asked Kage who shrugged her shoulders.
"She must have been stupid and the guards lucky. She might just be hiding for all we know. There is no reason to suspect that she has been taken captive." Kage pushed her black hair out of her face and Kirai glanced at the gate before looking back at her.
"What if the demons are more powerful than our Master had been letting on? He could be leading us all into a war that we can not win."
"You think too much Kirai." Kage snapped her eyes sharp. "Our master would not lead us on a suicide mission; after all he has been planning this for over 20 years." Kage turned and walked after David to get the troops ready for the attack. Kirai watched her for a moment before looking out over the lake. Everything seemed so peaceful. Kirai couldn't help but think that this war would last for more than one day. The soldiers believed that this would be easy. They believed that the war would be won without a fight. It was true that they had human magic users to block the demons Maryoku but somehow Kirai doubted that would be enough.
David marched through the camp the troops parting to make way for him. David marched up to a wagon sitting in the middle of the camp and pushed open the flap before going in. Inside Ryan was fast asleep on the blankets in the corner. The spirit did not need to sleep but Ryan's body did. David kicked the boy with a foot and his eyes shot open and for a brief second they were clear before the spirit took over and Ryan's green eyes clouded over again.
"It's almost time to go, get up." Ryan obediently stood up swaying slightly as he did so. "You will open the gate using the power of the white tiger and you will hold it open while the troops go through. Only when I tell you will you go through the gate, after that you will make your way to the castle and then you can cause whatever harm to the demons that you wish. Is that understood?" Ryan nodded and David smiled. He loved it when a plan came together just the way he planned it.
:-:
Sliver soared through the sky racing towards the lake as the sun climbed over the mountains. If Alviss narrowed his eyes he could see the light reflecting of the water just ahead of them. They were so close yet Sliver guessed they still had about 30 minutes of flying before they reached their target. Alviss glanced at Sliver wondering how she was coping with all this. She had flown all night and now she might have to fight a battle.
Do not worry about me Alviss, Alviss shivered as he felt Sliver's voice echo inside his head, dragons can fly for days without rest and I had plenty to eat while you were healing from your injury.
"Are you sure you are up to this? We don't even know what this 'gate' looks like. We may have to fight our way through it."
It will be fine; I cannot believe that we could come this far only to be defeated at the last obstacle. Alviss smiled at Sliver's positive tone.
"I fear that we have many more obstacles to come." Alviss muttered but Sliver seemed to hear him anyway.
We will cross those bridges when we come to them. Sliver said simply and Alviss smiled despite himself. Elvira glanced over her shoulder at him and raised an eyebrow in silent question.
"Sliver has become a fortune cookie on wings." Sliver snorted letting out a puff of smoke and Elvira laughed.
"She does have that sort of mentality doesn't she?" Elvira smiled and patted Sliver's neck. Sliver snorted again and dropped suddenly making Elvira and Alviss clutch at her in panic. Alviss groaned as his stomach ended up in his throat and his heart dropped to his feet.
"What was that for?" Alviss complained and Sliver made that weird noise that Alviss took as her laugh.
That was for making fun of me. Sliver sent the message to both Elvira and Alviss and they both shook their heads. Just one thing though, Sliver paused, what is a fortune cookie?
:-:
Kirai was walking around the camp checking on the progress of the soldiers when he felt a presence close by. Kirai closed his eyes and concentrated on the aura. It felt like, a large animal but…Kirai's eyes snapped open. There was a Mazoku presence there, weak but there all the same. Kirai turned and walked quickly towards David's tent were he was talking with his commanders about battle strategy. Running would create too much of a stir among the men and they would worry that something was wrong. Kirai pushed aside the tent flap of David's tent knowing that if he had been anyone else the guard would have stopped him. David looked up as Kirai entered the tent.
"What is it Kirai?"
"I have something important to tell you Master." Kirai bowed his head. David sighed and glanced at his commanders.
"Give me a minute." David walked over to Kirai. "What is it?"
"A demon is coming this way Master, and the aura of a large animal like one of out beasts but purer and larger." David blinked several times it was the closest Kirai had seen David looking surprised, David then frowned at Kirai.
"You are sure about this?"
"Yes Master," at that moment Kage walked into the tent. She saw Kirai with David and understood that the message had already been delivered.
"You felt it too Kage?"
"Yes Master, a demon and some large winged creature." Kage nodded and David waved a hand.
"Very well, we move in 10 minutes."
"10 minutes, but Master the troops are not ready." Kirai flinched when David fixed him with a glare.
"Are you questioning my orders Kirai?"
"No Master I am not."
"Good, now go and make sure the troops are ready." Kage bowed and shot out of tent already shouting orders. Kirai paused, watching David stride back to his commanders before leaving the tent as well. Kirai hurried to the section of the army that was under his command thinking about the approaching demon. Could it be one of the demon children? Kirai thought to himself as he called out the new orders. The soldiers exchanged glances but dutifully hurried to get their equipment together. Kirai glanced over his shoulder to see David marching towards Ryan's wagon.
David cut a path towards the wagon holding the Prince of the Mazoku to see said demon climbing out of the wagon and looking up at the sky. David frowned and hurried on barking orders at any soldiers who had stopped to stare at Ryan in confusion.
"We have company." Ryan's voice was soft. David was shocked to hear Ryan speak as he had made sure the spirit was in complete control over the demon. David shook his head; it must be the spirit talking.
"There has been a change in plans." Ryan glanced at David with his empty unfocused eyes making David hold in a shiver. "We are opening the gate right now and you are to go through first and hold it open from the other side. Do you understand?" Ryan nodded then turned his head to look over the plains surrounding the lake a look of longing on his face.
"I wonder if they will see it?" Ryan said quietly and David frowned.
"See what?"
"Why, the gate opening of course." Ryan said simply glancing back at David. David reached out and took Ryan's arm and pulled him after him towards the gate standing on the water's edge.
:-:
Gisela stood back and smiled making Wolfram sigh with relief. Gisela had been called out of bed by Conrad after Yuri had woken and she had spent the past few minutes taking blood from the Maoh looking for any residue poison that might have been in his system.
"Its good news Your Majesty, your blood seems to be clear of any poison." Wolfram smiled and squeezed Yuri's hand. Wolfram had thrown on his usual blue uniform before Gisela had arrived; yet he wasn't wearing his jacket and his clothes were rumpled.
"Why do I feel like I've been hit by a bus then?" Yuri asked flinching as his throat hurt.
"I'm afraid the poison affected your system before I managed to administer the antidote." Gisela decided not to point out that she didn't know what a 'bus' was, guessing that it must be something from Yuri's home world. "You should be fine in a couple of days. Until then please just stay in bed Your Majesty."
"At least I can get out of doing the paperwork." Yuri smiled and Wolfram hit him lightly on the arm.
"Wimp," Wolfram smiled and Yuri smiled back. Conrad coughed catching the other's attention.
"I think it would be best if Yuri went back to sleep."
"Yes sleep is very good for a speedy recovery." Gisela's lips twitched as she held back a smile. Yuri sighed but nodded and closed his eyes. Gisela reached out and picked up a bottle filled with a blue liquid. "This will help to sooth your throat and help you sleep." Gisela gave the bottle to Wolfram who helped Yuri sit up and drink the medicine.
"Thank you Gisela." Wolfram smiled and Yuri nodded his thanks as well making a face at the taste of the medicine.
"You are welcome; call me if there is any change in Yuri's condition." Wolfram nodded looking serious. Gisela packed up her stuff in a large brown bag and Conrad walked with her to the door. Yuri reached out and laid his hand on Wolfram's stomach with a soft smile.
"At least it wasn't you who got poisoned, since then two lives would have been at risk." Wolfram sighed and placed his hand over Yuri's. "How long as it been now?"
"Five weeks," Wolfram said softly then grinned, "And you should have known that you wimp." Yuri chuckled and rubbed is husband's flat stomach.
"Yeah I guess I should have." Yuri glanced at Wolfram then his eyes travelled down to his stomach. "I guess it's still hard to believe that a baby is growing inside you." Wolfram smiled and leaned down to kiss Yuri gently.
"You mean our baby is growing inside me." Yuri smiled and kissed Wolfram back.
"You're right, this is our baby."
:-:
Ryan stood in front of the archway staring through it as if he could see the green fields of Shinmakoku beyond it. The light coloured stone shone in the morning light as the army of humans lined up behind Ryan watching events unfold with interest. David nudged his horse to walk forward and the beast snorted walking forward until it was alongside Ryan.
"Open it." David ordered. He felt that they had wasted too much time getting ready to move out and the demon was getting closer by the second. Ryan nodded, took a deep breath and opened his arms. For a moment nothing happened and the army began to murmur but David watched saying nothing.
A blue light began to gather around Ryan gaining in brilliance as it grew. David smirked reining back his horse as it snorted flatting its ears back at the light. The soldiers fell silent watching in awe as the light coloured stone began to glow in response. Suddenly there was a rush of wind making the horses' rear and the tents, which had been left pitched, flapped in the wind as if trying to take off into the sky. Blue light exploded outwards from the archway with a rushing noise like a storm in a tunnel. Then as sudden at the wind rushed out of the arch it stopped and the inside of the archway was replaced with a shimmering blue surface. The surface rippled like water but the appearance was too solid. The humans glanced at one and another in fear wondering how they would be able to walk through that. What would happen to them? All they had was David's word that it would transport them to Shinmakoku.
David smiled and looked at Ryan and motioned with his head that he was to walk through. Ryan nodded and stepped forward towards the great arch.
:-:
Sliver was only minutes from reaching the lake when a strong wind hit them sending them flying like leaves. Alviss and Elvira grabbed Sliver trying to stay on her back as the wind tore at them. Alviss lost his grip and slipped of Sliver's back.
"Alviss!" Elvira screamed reaching out to grab his hand but she missed. Sliver spun around and snatched Alviss out of the air with her foot. Alviss gasped in pain as his chest hit Sliver's hard scales his old wound hurting again. Sliver battled the winds to land on the edge of the forest. Just as Sliver was about to land the winds vanished and a blue light flared in the sky before fading away. Sliver landed being careful not to squash Alviss in her foot as she did so.
"What the hell was that?" Alviss gasped as he stood up. His legs were still a little shaky from his near-death fall to the ground.
"Are you ok Alviss?" Elvira asked and Alviss waved a hand.
"I'm fine, what I want to know was what caused that wind and did you see the light?"
I did but I do not know what it means. Sliver said glancing in the direction that the wind had come from. We should check it out.
"Wait what if there is another freak wind?" Elvira asked glancing at Sliver then Alviss. "The last one almost killed Alviss."
"I will be fine, let's go." Alviss jumped up onto Sliver's back and Elvira sighed.
"I still think that this is a bad idea." Elvira muttered as Sliver took off again rising higher in the sky than before hoping to escape any more high winds.
"Wait, what is that?" Alviss leaned forward narrowing his eyes against the wind and Elvira followed his finger to see what he had seen. It looked like an entire army was on the edge of the lake marching forward slowly. But that wasn't what Alviss was looking at. A massive arch made from a strange light coloured stone was on the lake's edge. The inside of the arch was filled with a strange blue light than rippled like water but looked solid. Ten men would march forward and disappear through the light then another ten would follow. They didn't come out the other side of the arch, they just vanished.
"Ok that is weird." Elvira blinked and glanced at Alviss. "Do you think this is some kind of human power?" Alviss shrugged and shook his head.
Didn't the rider you killed mention an arch that would take the human army to Shinmakoku? Sliver asked and Elvira nodded.
"Yes," she said slowly, "but he also said that Ryan was the key right?" Sliver nodded. "Ok so that means Ryan must be down there somewhere!" Alviss looked down at the mass of troops and shook his head.
"How are we supposed to find him in all of that?"
"The real question is how are we supposed to get down there without being killed?" Elvira muttered.
:-:
In Shinmakoku a few guards walked around the cities wall looking out for approaching carriages. One in particular was leaning on the wall half-asleep. His name was Thomas and he had been up most of the night patrolling. The only thing Thomas was looking forward to was a good day's sleep. That's when the blue light exploded on the field just outside beyond the wall. Thomas almost fell over when the wind rushed around the wall for a moment then disappeared as suddenly as it had started. Thomas stared at the blue arch wondering if he had fallen asleep on guard duty again. Then a figure appeared through the strange blue light and stood to one side. Thomas leaned forward trying to make out who it was but the light was shinning on him making it difficult to see more than a silhouette. Then people began to march through, ten at a time, human soldiers dressed for war. Thomas gaped for a moment before coming to his senses and running to raise the alarm. Before he could get ten paces an arrow whistled through the air and buried itself in Thomas's back. He was dead before he hit the ground.
:-:
Sliver flew around the gate out of arrow range as her two riders argued back and forth how to get to gate without being cut to ribbons by the human's arrows. Sliver's eyesight was better than Alviss and Elvira's so she scanned the area looking for the Prince. She knew what he looked like from seeing him in Alviss and Elvira's memories but she couldn't spot him among the humans.
David glanced up at the dragon circling above them and glared at the two figures on its back. The demons had somehow gotten a dragon to fly them around the place, no wonder they had caught up to him so fast. David rode up to one of his commanders.
"We are moving too slow make the men move faster I am going through with my riders." David turned his horse away just as the commander called out.
"But Sir, what about the dragon?" David glanced over his shoulder.
"If it comes anywhere near you then have the men shoot it out of the sky." David said simply before kicking his horse into a trot. Kage and Kirai watched the dragon then jumped on their beasts and flew through the gate following their master. Seeing David trot through the gate and the riders go through helped the men to believe that the gate did in fact work and they weren't walking to their death so they walked faster. Little did they know that they were half right.
:-:
Alviss frowned spotting the riders and their Night Crawlers flying through the gate. There were two of them and Alviss wondered why they would go through the gate instead of attacking them.
I don't see Ryan down there; I think he must have gone through the gate already. Sliver pointed out and Alviss glanced at the gate.
"I think we should go through the gate as well. If what Yami said was correct then that gate leads them to Shinmakoku and we have to stop them." Elvira glanced at Alviss then nodded.
"I agree but how do we get though the gate?"
"Sliver, can you fit through the gate?"
Yes.
"Ok then Sliver you fly down and blast fire at the humans then fly through the gate, I will use what water power I can use here to protect us from any arrows."
"It's not the best plan ever made but I guess it's all we've got." Elvira muttered as she took a deep breath and braced herself. This is it, Elvira thought to herself as Sliver lined up then dropped like a stone. The wind rushed through Elvira's ears blocking all other noise. She felt her heart jump in her chest as excitement tingled through her body. She lent forward to cut the wind resistance against her body as she felt Alviss make a half circle of water around them trying to block at least some of the arrows that flew at them.
Sliver roared and let loose a huge tongue of flame making the human troops scatter in panic. Alviss drew the water shield as tight around them as he could but he couldn't protect Sliver's wings and arrows whistled through the air and punctured the thin skin of Sliver's wings. Sliver roared again but ignored the pain and tucked her wings in at the last moment to avoid the edges of the gate. The blue light sucked them in and for a moment Alviss couldn't hear or see anything. Then they burst out into the light once more and Sliver shot upwards into the air.
Alviss looked around and was shocked to see that they had arrived in Shinmakoku just like Yami had said they would. The archway had become some sort of shortcut between the human world and the Mazoku world. Already a battle was raging inside the gates of Shinmakoku but it was clear that the humans had taken the Mazoku by surprise. Smoke rose from several building and the screams of the dying and terrified filled the air.
:-:
A soldier burst into the throne room of Blood Pledge Castle making everyone jump. Conrad, Josak, Gunter and Gwendal turned in surprise to face the panting soldier.
"Sirs Shinmakoku is under attack!"
"What!" Gwendal exclaimed making the soldier snap to attention.
"Humans have come through this, portal thing and are swarming over the city sir! We have taken heavy causalities already for there are many human magic users that are rendering our Maryoku inert." Gwendal muttered something unrepeatable under his breath and Conrad and Josak exchanged worried looks.
"Send as many of our own soldiers that do not control an element to deal with the human magic users and send the others to protect the people." Gunter ordered and the soldier bowed and hurried away. The four men exchanged worried glances.
"Just what hell is going on? How did they get so close without anyone seeing them?" Josak asked. The others shook their heads.
"I do not know but for now that it not the most important issue. I will inform His Majesty about what is happening," Conrad said.
"Right, I will take my soldiers and defend the castle." Gwendal turned and swept away and Gunter nodded.
"I will lead the men into the city since I do not control an element." Gunter spoke.
"I will go with you." Josak said at once and Gunter nodded the three men went their own ways getting ready to defend their home. Conrad almost ran to Yuri's room and opened to door without knocking. Yuri was half asleep and Wolfram as watching over him when Conrad entered the room and both of them looked up in surprise.
"Big brother?" Wolfram asked.
"Shinmakoku is under attack by humans." Conrad said breathlessly, there was a short silence.
"What!"
*End Chapter*
And cue the drum roll! LOL Please review