Of Assassins, Samurai, and Magic
A/N: And the next chapter is up! I've tried to keep everyone as close as possible to their characters in the anime though I'm sure there will be a few OOC moments. Comments and reviews are much appreciated. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: The characters and the worlds I write in do not belong to me. The stories that I write are intended for entertainment purposes. I do not make any money from them.
*** ~ Chapter 14: The White Devil ~ ***
"DIVINE BUSTER!"
The ground rumbled and shook as if a stampede of horses ran through the streets. A streak of pink tore through the road, sending bits of dirt, rock and grit into the air. Due swore under her breath, the hairs on the back of her neck standing on end as she narrowly evaded the beam of pure pink magic. Even missing the blast by mere inches, the residual magic left in its wake pricked at her skin like a thousand needles stabbing into her flesh.
Fate and Signum were left breathless, jaws slack and eyes wide as they stared at the area where the clawed blue assassin once stood. Even the assassin's companion couldn't but gawk at the devastation left in the wake of the attack. All eyes turned to the one who had just jumped into the fight.
Violet coloured eyes scrutinized them all, lingering longer on the two in blue. Fate swallowed, her throat suddenly as dry as sand paper. She shuddered slightly, still in a bit of shock at the most recent turn of events. Signum, on the other hand, was searching for an escape route. She had half a mind to toss the blonde over her shoulder and run, despite such actions being foreign to the samurai. Signum had never run from a battle in her entire life. But this battle could hardly be considered normal. This one, this white assassin, was no ordinary assassin.
Levantine had chimed just a moment before the pink attack razed the ground in front of them. Unlike regular magically infused weaponry, legendary weapons like Signum's Levantine were on a whole new level when it came to magical potency. The fact that Levantine chimed in time with the appearance of this stranger meant only one thing. The assassin in white was a legendary weapon wielder. And if Levantine hadn't revealed that truth to Signum, the sheer amount of magical essence that poured off of this assassin would have.
"Another nuisance shows up." Due narrowed her eyes at the white garbed intruder. She brandished her claw. If there was one thing Due hated more than anything, it was when someone interrupted her hunt. And this white assassin had done just that. The extreme magical power exuded from this person didn't faze her in the least. "I'm going to love tearing you apart."
Cinque leapt down from the rooftop and put a hand on her companion's shoulder before Due took off. "Due wait. This one is not like the rest." Cinque narrowed her one good eye, trying to make out the weapon this new assassin carried. But she was unable to get a clear view of it at this distance as it seemed to blend in with the assassin's white garb.
"We should retreat for now."
"What?" Due looked at her partner incredulously. When Due hunted, she hunted until her prey was captured or dead. There was no such thing as retreat for her. She would do whatever it took, no matter how long it took, until the job was done.
Cinque returned her gaze to the samurai captain. Feeling eyes on her, Signum turned back to the blue garbed assassins. The samurai raised Levantine in front of her defensively. For the time being, Signum would focus on the blue assassins. She still kept an eye on the assassin in white, but as they had yet to make another move, Signum left them alone for now. Maybe they'd get lucky and the white assassin was on their side. Not that she believed in or relied on such things as luck.
"He could be working with them" Cinque said, pulling five throwing knives from her belt. She glanced at the one in white again. "This could be a trap to lure us out."
"A trap with only two people? Don't be ridiculous." Due gritted her teeth. She was getting impatient. Her clawed hand twitched. "Get the girl. I'll deal with this… pest."
"Due wait!" Cinque's yell went unheard.
Due leapt into the air, easily overcoming the height of the closest two storey building, landing on its roof. Due dashed towards the assassin in white, leaping rooftop to rooftop, her speed increasing the longer she ran.
Cinque sighed. "This can end peacefully" Cinque said, despite the look Signum was giving her. "We just want the girl and we'll be on our way."
Signum narrowed her eyes. Another woman she noted. Was this particular clan only made up of women? She couldn't be sure. Normally, the clans would only be made of men. This was the first time she came across a woman assassin before.
"By order of the Empress, relinquish your weapons and surrender."
Cinque scratched the back of her head. "I would gladly relinquish my weapons to you. But as for surrendering, you know I can't do that." The five daggers in her hand began to glow yellow.
"And you know I will not hand over Testerossa-san either" Signum replied. "It is my duty to protect the citizens under the Empress and she is one of them."
"Signum-sama…" Fate frowned. Not that she wasn't appreciative of Signum's protectiveness over her, she was rather touched by it. But Fate was worried. Could Signum, in her current state, fend off their attackers long enough for reinforcements to arrive? And what of that white robed assassin?
"So be it" Cinque said with resignation. With the flick of her hand, the magically charged daggers went flying.
"Flier Fin."
The assassin in white took to the air, somersaulting backwards out of harms way just as Due swiped at him with her clawed hand.
"Hold still!" Due growled.
They had been exchanging blows for the past few minutes - or rather, Due had been attacking the white assassin with everything she had for the past few minutes - while the annoying bugger just dodged each of her attacks. She had yet to land a clean hit. While Due was known for her incredible patience, as required for some of her longer term infiltration missions, the fact that this assassin, this mockery, was deftly evading even the best of her attacks, infuriated her to no end.
"I said hold still!" Due zigzagged across the roof towards the assassin again, her claw outstretched demanding blood.
The white assassin feinted right, Due lunging at him, her claw within reach of his neck. But then he dodged left, evading her claw yet again, Due rushing past him harmlessly, unable to change her current momentum. She glared at him scornfully, green eyes narrowing at violet. He was mocking her. Due was sure of it. He was making a mockery of her! Evading every swipe of her claw by mere inches. Dancing around her like a wisp of wind unscathed and untouchable. Ever so silent, watching her, always one step ahead of her, always out of her reach.
"Stop running and fight back!" Due slashed at the white assassin again.
"Restrict Lock."
Due yelped, suddenly finding her clawed arm immobile and unmoving, mere inches away from the white assassin's face. "What in the-" Due gaped when she saw a ring of pink light surrounding the wrist of her clawed hand. Push or pull as she may, her hand would not budge no matter how hard she struggled.
Emerald eyes glared at the white garbed assassin, knowing full well she was at the mercy of the man. Using what flexibility she had, she tried to punch and kick at him with her free limbs, but the man was just out of her reach. Much to her shock, the assassin did nothing as she still tried to attack him. He merely turned his attention back to Cinque and the rest.
"Flying… Dragon Flash!" Signum's Levantine lashed out at Cinque in snake form, chain links infused with burning purple flames.
Cinque gritted her teeth, flipping over backwards to narrowly miss the burning whip. The sheer heat of the attack, even as she evaded it, made her sweat. If it wasn't for her magically enhanced vest, she would have been set aflame long ago, even at this distance.
Cinque was always better suited for the behind the scenes work on a mission. She was a strategist and an explosive arms expert. It wasn't to say however, that she was completely defenceless when it came to hand to hand combat. But even so, she had yet to face an opponent this skilled in all out combat.
Cinque didn't have the speed like some of her other sisters did. She didn't have the best stamina either. So when it came time to challenge the samurai captain to a duel, by all logic, Cinque should have just run away and fought another time. But Due was stubborn and refused to leave. So too was Cinque, refusing to leave her sister in an unfavourable situation. So when the snaking whip curved around for a second run at her, Cinque launched another wave of exploding daggers outwards, this time her target not being the samurai captain herself but the charge she protected instead.
Signum's eyes widened. Despite Signum's best efforts to keep herself between Fate and their attacker, Cinque had gotten an angle on the blonde. At this point however, Signum was overextended, her Levantine slicing at the assassin with no hope of returning to its sword form in time to defend against the flying daggers barrelling towards Fate. So she improvised.
"Panzergeist!"
Signum dove between Fate and the exploding daggers, a mist of purple magic covering her form, as a double explosion erupted at the same time.
"SIGNUM!"
Violet eyes widened, a shocked gasp escaping from the white assassin's lips. But his concern was for naught as both Signum and Fate survived the blast, still in one piece. Signum breathed heavily, down on one knee, holding her side. Fate knelt next to her, a hand on the samurai's shoulder.
"Cinque!" Due exclaimed, when she saw the state of her companion.
Cinque was crouched in a crater, a few feet away from Fate and Signum, favouring her left arm gingerly. Her magically enhanced vest had dulled the force of Signum's attack, but even so, it still felt like she'd been run over by a dragon. A fat one at that.
"Surrender now and I promise you will be unharmed" Signum said between clenched teeth. She was exhausted. The sheer amount of magic the samurai had just used in that short period of time was extremely draining. Not only that, the wound in her side had gotten worse through her exertions, making things more difficult for her. Shamal was going to have a fit when she found out about this one.
Cinque grimaced but remained silent. She struggled to stand but faltered halfway up and crumpled to hands and her knees. That last hit hurt a lot. She needed just a bit more time to recover. But the pounding of feet in the distance reached her ears indicating her time had run out. Reinforcements were finally here.
Due roared in anger, the Restrict Lock binding her clawed hand shattering much to the white assassin's shock. They will not have her sister!
"Round Shield!"
The white assassin threw out his hand at Due, a red circle of magic manifesting at his finger tips. Due's clawed hand clashed violently against the shield, small arcs of red lightning dancing across the metal of the claws. But Due pressed on, harder and harder, her rage fuelling her strength and power. "You will not… take her!"
Violet eyes widened as the circle shield started to crack little by little, under the brute force of the blue assassin's attack. A startled yelp caused both Fate and Signum to look up, just in time to see the white assassin crash into the side of the closest building with a stomach turning crunch. Soon after, an enraged Due leapt off the roof and dove head first, towards the pair, her claw outstretched at Signum.
Signum moved to rise, but collapsed to her knees again, gritting her teeth. A pained groan escaped her lips. Wine coloured eyes narrowed at the attacking assassin, the hand on Signum's shoulder tightening.
"T-Testerossa-san!" Signum gawked at the blonde when Fate jumped in front of her, arms open wide. Her yellow magatama jewel bracelet was clearly seen now, the golden gem glinting in the sunlight.
"Bar-"
"Flash Move!"
A blur of white invaded Fate's vision, the white assassin suddenly appearing in front of her.
"Divine Shooter Full Power."
Orbs of pink energy condensed in the air around Fate, Signum and the white assassin. Fate and Signum stared wide-eyed at the scene. Due ignored them, her clawed hand twitching in anticipation of piercing the white assassin's flesh. But Due would never get the chance.
A whisper. "Shoot."
The twelve orbs of magical power shot off like rockets at Due, nearing super sonic speeds. The assassin twisted and rolled her body in mid air, missing most of the blasts that shot at her, a few grazing her garb inflicting minor damage. She smirked after clearing the attack, but was startled when the assassin in white merely turned their face away.
"Due! Behind you!"
The twelve pink orbs of magic all pulled an aerial U-turn behind Due, before rifling towards her again, this time arching around to the left and the right rather than head on. The startled assassin could do little else other than cross her arms in front of her face in the hopes of defending herself. All twelve orbs impacted her from both sides at the same time. The mid air explosion was immense, the white assassin calling up a protection barrier to defend himself as well as Fate and Signum from the aftershock.
When the explosion ended and the dust cleared, the two blue assassins had vanished. Violet eyes caught a glimpse of the two retreating forms atop a roof, three buildings down from them. One sole eye regarded him, the assassin's unconscious companion draped over their shoulder, before Cinque leapt off the rooftop and out of sight. Violet eyes narrowed.
"Who are you?" Signum rose to her feet shakily, clutching her side. Levantine was held limply in her hand, yet pointed at the assassin in white.
The Captain of the Samurai narrowed her eyes. Now that she had a closer look at him, Signum confirmed that he was indeed a legendary weapon wielder. A large red magatama jewel, the size of one's fist, rotated freely near the top of their white staff with pink and gold highlights. (A male assassin with a partially pink staff?) His forearms were bound with a dark blue, as was his shins. Signum got a good look at the insignia on his back as well, when he defended them from the final explosion just moments ago. Stars. Three dark blue stars were on his back.
"Signum-sama!" Fate held onto the samurai's arm. "He saved us."
"Look at his weapon Testerossa-san" Signum said shrugging off Fate's grip. "He wields a legendary weapon like mine. You saw his destructive power first hand. He's dangerous."
Signum glared at the white assassin. Something about him bothered her. Aside from the typical questions that ran through her head (Like why did he help them? Was he a friend or a foe? What were his true intentions?), Signum realized it was something else that nagged at her. It was his eyes. They were not filled with the lust of power or blood like she had seen others succumb to. Nor was there any malice or hate in them. Just… concern. And sadness. Where had she seen that before?
"You're hurt!" Fate exclaimed, looking back to their mysterious saviour. Blood stained white and blue on the assassin's right forearm. Fate reached for their injured hand.
The white assassin pulled away, taking a few steps back.
"Wait!" Fate called out, reaching out a hand in vain as the white assassin flipped backwards effortlessly and landed on a roof of the nearest building. Pink puffs of magical energy disappeared from their ankles. The white assassin turned his back on them and moved to leave.
"At least tell me your name!" Fate called out again. She didn't know why, but she desperately wanted to know who this person was.
The white garbed assassin looked back over his shoulder. Fate could not see his lips, but she could tell he was smiling. It was his mysteriously captivating violet eyes that gave his smile away. There was something so familiar about him.
"Do I… know you?" Fate whispered.
The white assassin's gaze lingered on her for a second longer before they leaped off roof and disappeared over the other side of the building.
"Taichou-sama!"
Signum turned back to see a group of ten samurai running up to them. Her lieutenant was among them. Signum frowned. What had taken them so long to get here?
"Taichou-sama! Are you alright?"
Fate breathed in relief at the sight of reinforcements. She hadn't realized how wound up she was over the ambush until she was finally able to breathe freely. The blonde felt tired and drained. Looking down at her wrist, wine coloured eyes narrowed slightly at the yellow magatama jewel on her bracelet. She had almost resorted to that. Almost. If it wasn't for that white assassin…
Fate looked away. She didn't want to think about that. What would Signum have thought of her once she learned the truth? What would Nanoha think-
Fate's eyes went wide. "Nanoha!" she exclaimed startling the samurai with her. "We have to get to Nanoha! If they came looking for me, they must have gone after her too!"
"Nanoha! Nanoha! Wake up!"
The said brunette groaned as someone shook her shoulders roughly.
"Nanoha!"
Sleepy violet eyes blinked open, staring at the fuzzy face in front of them. "Fate-chan?"
Fate immediately hugged the half awake Takamachi, Nanoha yelping at the sudden forwardness of her best friend.
"Fate-chan? What's wrong?" Nanoha was wide awake now, looking at Fate in concern. Her gaze soon moved past the blonde and found a dishevelled looking Signum leaning against the wall by the door with her arms crossed over her chest.
"Signum-sama!" Nanoha exclaimed. Her gaze went back and forth between the two. "What happened! Are you alright?" Not only did Signum look a little worse for wear, but Fate was awfully flustered by something. And Nanoha hadn't even teased her about anything for the day yet.
Signum gave the confused brunette a curt nod without saying anything further. Nanoha didn't need to know about the thwarted kidnapping attempt on Fate. Signum had taken extra measures to protect the two girls from now on. No one was going to get close to them without her knowing about it. No one was going to lay a finger on them unless they went through Signum first. And for those who tried, may Kami-sama have mercy upon them.
"Are you sure?"
Nanoha frowned, very much aware of Fate's clinginess to her. Not that she minded of course. It was just that, Fate was being more clingy than usual right now. As if reading her thoughts, Fate pulled away in embarrassment, realizing just how long she had been hugging the brunette. The blonde's cheeks were pink as she murmured a soft apology. Nanoha just giggled. Fate-chan was cute.
"I am fine Takamachi-san" Signum said, keeping her as face as straight as ever. The girl's concern was touching, but again, Signum was not about to divulge the near death battle they had faced a few minutes ago.
Nanoha tilted to her head to the side and then giggled again.
A pink eyebrow went up. "Something the matter Takamachi-san?"
Nanoha smiled. "Is it perhaps… Signum-sama is not a morning person?"
Signum blinked in confusion at the statement. It was only when Fate giggled as well that she understood. A faint blush formed on her cheeks, Signum turning her head to the side as she not so stealthily fixed her hair as best as she could.
"I had a long night" Signum said in excuse. It was a complete lie, but it was better than telling Nanoha the grim truth.
"Nanoha! Your hand!"
"Eh?"
Fate held up Nanoha's bandaged right hand gingerly. "What happened?" Wine coloured eyes stared at the white bindings, Fate gritting her teeth. Did they get to Nanoha after all?
Signum must have wondered the same thing, for her expression darkened significantly.
"D-don't worry about that" Nanoha said quietly. She didn't meet Fate or Signum's gaze.
"Tell me Nanoha. Please?" Fate looked at Nanoha pleadingly.
The youngest Takamachi raised her gaze and immediately regretted it. Fate looked so scared. Signum looked rather distressed as well.
"Ah well…" Nanoha scratched the back of her head laughing warily, before looking away again. "Onii-chan and I got into another fight this morning" she murmured.
Signum's lips pressed into a fine line. "Did you hurt you?" Signum knew Kyouya to be an honourable man and to think such things about him would be blasphemous. But ever since the incident at the Takamachi dojo, the man hadn't been same.
"I-Ile…" Nanoha said shaking her head. "He didn't hit me. Onii-chan would never do that." A pause. "I just… Lindy-san once told me Camomile tea was good to calm the nerves. So I made some. I wasn't paying attention when I was taking the kettle off the stove and burned myself."
The brunette offered her companions a forced smile. "Nyahaha… Lindy-san was right though. It calmed me right down! So much so, that I fell asleep here. Hehe…" Nanoha looked sheepishly at the booth she sat in. Her half filled mug of tea sat on the table, having turned cold at this point.
Both Fate and Signum breathed in relief. "You should have Shamal-sama take a look at it Nanoha. Just to make sure." Fate gave Nanoha a relieved smile.
"I-Iie! I don't want to trouble her with something like this" Nanoha said quickly. "I mean, she's already busy enough with her stuff at the palace…"
"I'd feel better if you did that Takamachi-san" Signum said agreeing with Fate. "Shamal-san won't hurt you. That I promise."
A knock on the door interrupted Nanoha's reply. Signum slid the door to Midori-ya open halfway.
"Taichou-sama" the samurai on the other side of the door said. "The preparations have been made."
"We'll be right out."
"Hai!"
Signum closed the door before turning to look at Nanoha and Fate.
"Preparations?" Nanoha said in confusion.
"Do not worry yourself about that Takamachi-san" Signum said with a nod. "All has been taken care of, for your day with the Empress today."
"EHHHHHHHH!" Nanoha jumped to her feet, gaping. "T-t-t-t-that's today!"
"Hai" Fate said chuckling. Nanoha could be such a ditz sometimes.
"So that's why…" Nanoha stared at the pink haired samurai.
Signum nodded. "I'm here to escort you to the palace."
"I can't believe I forgot!" Nanoha tugged on Fate's hand, practically dragging the blonde behind her towards Signum. "We should leave n-"
Signum cleared her throat. "You may want to… change into something else Takamachi-san."
"Eh?" Nanoha looked down at herself. "EHHHHHHHHHHH!" The brunette squeaked as she did her best to cover herself up with her arms. She was still in her pink pyjamas, the ones with little bunnies printed on it. Nanoha flushed deeply.
"I-I'll be right back!" she stuttered. And then Nanoha was gone.
Both Fate and Signum stared at the doorway Nanoha disappeared into.
"So tell me something Testerossa-san."
"Hmm?" Fate turned to look at the pink haired captain. She raised an eyebrow when she saw the older woman fighting to conceal a smile.
"Takamachi-san likes rabbits huh?"
After ten minutes of running around, followed by frantic cries of "where is my sash!" or "I knew it put it in the closet!", Nanoha was finally ready. The brunette chose to wear her favourite kimono, a pink one with cherry blossoms printed on it with a white sash to match. Her hair was tied up in her unique side ponytail, her red magatama jewelled necklace hanging around her neck hidden under her clothes. With a quick glance in her bedroom mirror, Nanoha did a quick swirl in her spot to make sure nothing was out of place.
Soft rapping came from her door. "Nanoha? Are you alright in there?" It was Fate.
"Hai! I'll be right out Fate-chan!"
Satisfied with her outfit, Nanoha quickly tossed her discarded pyjamas into her closet with the rest of her laundry. Including a familiar white outfit partially stained red. The brunette made a quick note to do laundry when she came back later. Blood was a horrible thing to get out of clothes, especially from white.
Closing the door behind her, Nanoha grabbed Fate's hand and zipped down the stairs to meet up with Signum. "Here I am Signum-sama! Ready to go?"
A/N: This was my first attempt at writing a battle scene. And I admit, it was rather hard! Lol. Let me know what you think about it. Was it realistic? Was it overdone? Could there be more action? I'm not sure I like how it turned out, so feedback on it is much appreciated.
For those of you unfamiliar with the non-English words, I have translated them below.
Hai = Yes
Ile = No
Taichou = Captain
Kami = God
Panzergeist = Armor Spirit/Tank Spirit
For an explanation of Japanese honorifics (eg. [name]-sama), please check out: http:/en[dot]wikipedia[dot]org/wiki/Japanese_honorifics