Lost in the Dark

By E.M. Megs

Chapter 11 - Consequences

'I'm not scared,' she told herself repeatedly in her head as she stared at what seemed to be half a dozen guards, 'I'm not scared. He's pissed, but I'm not scared because I have a mission to do.' She drew a shuddering breath, reaching for her sword. "I wouldn't do that if I were you," Kyoya growled under his breath. The moment she'd moved he himself had pulled up a bow with an arrow set and pointed at her.

She froze and stared him in the eye. "Vyro Inesshig, just listen to me for a moment."

"No," he stated coldly, "I'm not going to hear any more of your Mljtbush." His eyes were practically on fire.

"Kyoya, please," she whispered, "Just a second."

"No." Much to her dismay his aim didn't waver from her throat for a second. "Why'd you come back? To spite me? To die? To kill me?"

She shook her head. "No," she mumbled, "God, no. I wouldn't come back to spite or kill you. And I don't plan on dying either."

He scoffed angrily. "You're such a goddamn liar. Sestar she." The guards behind him surged forward at the same time he lowered his bow to his side. She took the opportunity to draw her own sword and strike down the first guard she could. She knew there were too many of them. If she could get to Kyoya, she could get them to back off.

She could take on two of them at a time, three at the most, but all of the five remaining ones at the same time?

She had absolutely no chance.

She smacked one of them in the head with the butt of her sword right as another grabbed her left arm, yanking it behind her back. She tried to spin and hit him too but another grabbed her other wrist and twisting it. With a small cry, her sword clattered to the ground. She was forced to her knees in front of him, wincing at the strain on her arms. "Kyoya..."

"Don't call me by my name alone," he spat, "I never remember giving permission for that."

"Your Highness, then," she snapped impatiently. "You have to lis-,"

"Leta she ou iet ogeondu," Kyoya interrupted loudly. She was dragged toward the door, kicking out at the captors to try and free herself without avail.

"Dammit, Kyoya! You're in danger! Why else would I come back?" she yelled back through his bedroom door. He ignored her, the door closed. She stopped fighting and shut her eyes.

–

They threw her in a grimy old cell again, slamming the iron bars shut behind her. She pulled herself up slowly, pulling her knees to her chest and closing her eyes. She gathered her thoughts carefully, assessing her situation in a way only she could.

One: Kyoya saw her as a lying traitor.

Two: She had been given orders to warn him of the assassination and then kill him herself earlier than was said.

Three: She had been planning to follow those orders to a T.

Four: Since Kyoya saw her as a lying traitor, he didn't trust her. Therefore he wouldn't listen.

Five: She was going to die because he was an arrogant bastard.

Her eyes blinked open. She was going to die. That was it. She groaned softly and pushed herself to her feet, gripping the bars on the window lightly. She kicked the wall lightly with her toe.

She was angry.

Angry at herself.

Angry at Kyoya.

Angry at the General.

Hell, she was angry with all of Filandria.

And she hadn't even gotten to say goodbye to her father or Tamaki. And it seemed that the twins' good luck charms hadn't worked. "Dammit," she whispered under her breath, kicking the wall a bit harder. "Dammit, dammit, DAMMIT." With each swear her kicks got harder until she heard a satisfying crack of her toe jamming painfully.

"Shutyra arimorta baspulte. Shutyra Haruhi," she whispered under her breath. She fell to her knees, closed fists sliding down the wall in front of her while her forehead rested against it. Her right toe was throbbing where she'd jammed it. She ignored it, seeing nothing but her father's face in her mind. "Sha aer somar, Faetha."

–

Kyoya really didn't think that she was stupid enough to come back. Apparently though, his character judging skills were getting rusty. He'd thought she was smart. He shut his eyes and ran a hand through his hair.

Now he couldn't just leave her future to fate. Now he had to kill her, which he hadn't wanted to do. His brother was right. She was a valuable asset to them. It would be an incredible waste to just kill her.

Ever since she had told him the true identity of the Corporal that he'd put to death he couldn't seem to just make the split-second decision to kill Kiran prisoners of war. Like she'd somehow tapped into his long-locked-out conscience by saying that he had been Kiran General Fusawa's son.

Why did he always save her?

Why did he almost instantaneously trust her?

Why was it so hard to ignore her?

He growled under his breath with frustration and set off for the dungeon where the little worm was probably swearing her head off.

–

She was mumbling under her breath. But it wasn't Kiran or Narian. Kyoya blinked a few times catching the words shutrya pritnor. Was that... Moradian? "Speak Moradian fluently?" his tongue asked before he could stop it. Curse her ability to spring his curiosity.

She twisted around to face him in surprise, her voice ceasing immediately. She didn't say anything, just stared at him. Finally she muttered, "What the hell are you doing down here?"

He stood just outside the barred door of her cell. A cold look was plastered on his face. "You didn't answer my question. Are you fluent in Moradian?"

Haruhi pursed her lips and glared at him. "Yes. Why would you care?"

"Interesting... Only people I was aware that know the language are royalty and native Moradians. Considering you're Kiran and not technically the kind of royalty that would know it, it's odd." She closed her eyes, trying to block out the sound of his voice. What did it matter if he found out she was Moradian now? She was going to die. It didn't at all. Then, a light bulb seemed to turn on above his head. "Unless... You aren't Kiran. Which would mean that you lied to me about another thing."

"I didn't lie to you about anything," she spat angrily, "I merely withheld information."

His knuckles were turning white from how tight he was gripping the bars. He nodded at the guard near the door and stepped back carefully. When he stepped in, the guard moved to step in with him but he held up a hand. "She won't try anything if she's smart." The door closed behind him. "Why'd you do it?"

"Does it matter? You're just going to kill me."

He gritted his teeth. The ignorance was this woman was going to drive him absolutely crazy one day. "Answer the question, Namahi."

"No. It doesn't matter."

"Why'd you come back then?" She stayed silent, knowing that he wouldn't trust a word that she said. He sighed and kicked her shoe lightly. She glared up at him. "No explanation? No half-drawn together excuse?"

Her lips parted to let out a short doubtful breath. He wouldn't listen to her. "I came back," she murmured, "because you're in danger. If you'd been listening earlier you'd know that."

He snorted. "And why would you care about me? You just betrayed me in the biggest way you possibly could and you expect me to believe you?"

"I knew it," she breathed, shaking her head. "Forget it. You're just... Never mind."

"Exactly. I shouldn't believe you. Because you're a traitor. Because you lied to me."

"What did I ever lie to you about?"

"Your name for one."

"Hanaru is my name. One of them," she retorted.

"How many names can one person possibly have?"

"Depends on the person. I have three. And you know them all now."

His face was blank for a moment, his eyes still cold. "Second, your relationship in Kira. Those twins."

"I told you that I had friends in the army. And I told you that I've known Prince Tamaki since I was eight."

"Your magic! I asked you directly if you had magical abilities and you said no!" he snapped, squatting down next to her. "You lied to me about everything. I'm half-betting that the entire story about your sister and mother was a complete lie to."

"It wasn't important. I rarely ever use it except for healing myself anyway, which is automatic. The story, was partially true. I never had a sister but my mother was killed. Only it was when I was a baby," she murmured, spilling everything since it wasn't likely that she was going to live.

He stared at her, an odd expression on his face that was torn half-way between curiosity and suspicion. "Why are you telling me this now? You realize that I won't spare you because you've decided to be truthful now, right?"

"I know," she answered softly, "That's why I'm telling you. Because I'm going to die." She leaned her head back against the wall and stared straight into his face.

He snorted harshly, glaring at her. "Do you have any clue what you did when you told them of our plan? How many people died?" She was starting to lose her temper. She pursed her lips to keep from snapping at him. "Roughly 2,000 soldiers. Nearly 1,000 civilians." She swallowed the bile that rose in her throat and attempted to keep her face passive. "I thought you were concerned by high casualty rates. If you'd kept your mouth shut, that number would have been significantly less."

"I know very well the consequences of my actions, Vyro Inesshig," she snapped quickly, "I am regretful but I know that won't waver your decision to put me to death."

"Why did you come back? You aren't stupid and you must have known I'd be angrier than anything on the planet. The only thing I can think of is to murder me."

She scoffed. "So you think that I'm a murderer now?" She paused. "The assassins were one thing. Self-defense. Killing an unarmed man who hasn't attacked me at all is completely different."

Kyoya, who had been containing his anger as much as he could as to not resort to physical violence, half-rolled his eyes and muttered, "So, if I were to attack you like this," he paused and kicked her roughly in the stomach. She gasped and fell toward the floor, back sliding against the wall. She grasped her stomach, groaning softly. "you'd retaliate?"

"Yes," she growled, "I would." She had to make him listen to her. She was sure that there were other assassins waiting near the castle. They were probably waiting to strike at the same time she did. An image of his sister's kind face popping in the door flashed in her mind. And a faceless 5-year-old that she'd never met but knew existed as Kyoya's niece. She wasn't just protecting Kyoya, she was protecting them. Even if she had to kill him later. She was following her orders.

Fast as she could and quicker than he ever expected, she hooked her feet around the back of his, yanking them toward her, swiping his legs out from under him. He tumbled to the floor ungraciously. She scrambled up and pulled the sword that was sheathed on his belt out of it's place, pinning him down and holding it to his throat.

Kyoya stared at her with murder in his eyes while the guard outside started to unlock the door. "You move and I'll kill him!" she yelled at him before realizing that he didn't speak Kiran. "Puy wemo oda Mli mlki nhi!" The guard outside the small cell froze. She kept her eyes on the Prince under her, sword still pointed at his throat. "That goes for you too," she whispered then called to the guard, "Ueps xaya somf iet pord."

"I knew you only came back to kill me," the man pinned underneath her uttered softly, "Do it. I've caused you grief. It would only make sense that you would seek vengeance for that."

"Please," she scoffed, glaring into his eyes. The guard was yelling for help. "IUTS RU!" She could already hear rushed footsteps headed their way and cursed softly. "This seems to be the only way that I can get you to listen."

"So talk," he grit out through his teeth.

"Tch... Baspulte," she mumbled, resisting the urge to convert to her native tongue so she could speak faster. "I did what I did to protect myself and my father. I knew you were going to kill me when I got back but I didn't care. Because my father is all I have left. When I lied to you or withheld the truth it was because I wasprotecting myself. I didn't know if you were trustworthy or not."

"Sopd pury bponwe!" She glanced over at the bars quickly to find three different soldiers with bows and arrows drawn and pointed at her. She laughed a bit harshly.

"J oca mlki nhi gorebe puy oca oagema pt potsh ne!" she bit back, pushing the tip of her stolen blade a bit closer to her captive's neck as if to prove a point. "Frankly, I'm surprised you let yourself be pinned down by awoman," she added softly to him, eyes glinting.

"I didn't let you. You forced me down by threat of death," he retorted sharply.

She resisted the urge to roll her eyes and continued her little speech. "I came back for one reason and one reason alone."

"To kill me."

"No," she spat, "God. Don't be so... so fetor out tersec. I did not return to this hell hole that makes my chest hurt just to kill you. I came back to warn you that you're in danger. You may be a bastard but that doesn't mean you deserve to die."

"Why warn me?"

"God... I thought you were smart." Her torso throbbed where he'd kicked her and she couldn't help adding, "And you probably bruised my ribs. Baspulte. I'm warning you... Because I'm loyal to you."

"Right," he snorted, "And you're just holding a blade to my throat because you care."

"Exactly. Because this," she wiggled her right arm which was holding the sword briefly, "appears to be the only way to get you to listen to me. I'm loyal to you and Tamaki. You hear me? I'd just as quickly betray him as I did you. If it had been your father dying, I'd save him too. I came here to save your sorry ass. Princess Fuyumi and Prince Yuiichi too."

She'd been ignoring the guards shouting at her until another, apparently a superior, appeared and regarded the scene. She continued, passing a glance quickly at the new arrival. She almost fell over when she realized it was Yuiichi. "Continue, Namahi," he prompted, looking angrier than Kyoya had the first time she saw him.

She huffed softly and pretended that he wasn't there once more. "Kyoya, there are assassins planted everywhere. In disguise. I don't know who they are or where exactly any of them are. I just know that they're here and they're all assigned to a different person. I-I just barely was able to come back here."

She glanced over to look at Yuiichi's hard expression. He murmured something to one of the guards that she couldn't hear. She turned her gaze back to Kyoya. "You heard that right?"

"Yes," he said softly, swallowing.

"And you'll take the necessary precautions?"

"Of course."

Slowly, she lowered the sword in her hand to the ground, keeping her eye on his face. "You can hang me now or whatever. I don't care. I just needed you to listen to that," she murmured as she stood.

Something pierced her side. She winced but saw it coming. "I let him go and you shoot me, Vyro Inesshig? I was never going to hurt him. That would be counterproductive." Kyoya pulled himself up.

"Kyoya," Yuiichi ignored her and addressed his brother while she allowed herself to fall to her knees and attempt to yank the arrow out of her side. "Get out here. Now." The younger pretended like he hadn't heard anything from his elder and knelt down next to Haruhi.

"It'll heal by itself if I pull it out, right?" he murmured to her. She nodded. "Brace yourself."

"Kyoya!"

She laid down on her side. He placed his hand near the arrow, his other wrapped around the tail of it. She got ready for the pain that was sure to come. He yanked, she shut her eyes and cried out softly. A second yank and it was out. "Dammit," she hissed, sitting up again. She removed her jacket and pressed it to the wound to soak up the blood. It started burning with the signs of healing. "Thanks."

The Third Prince nodded and breathed, "I'll be back," as he stood and exited the small cell.

She looked after him. Phase 1 of her mission complete.

And maybe she wouldn't die quite yet.

–

When Kyoya returned, he was still angry but not at her. "Qeno ui," he ordered softly. The guard hesitated and muttered something inaudible, "J otdo seca iatw Yuiichi mdto puy. Qeno ui." Reluctantly, he complied to the order. "Come here," the Prince murmured, gesturing to her.

Haruhi struggled to her feet, cringing as her side ached ever so slightly. She managed to get her way over to him. The guard once again protested but a single look from him silenced her.

He didn't know how she did it, but she'd convinced him not to kill her.

Again.

He took her arm carefully and led her out of the dungeon, much to her surprise. "You're telling me everything as soon as we get to my chambers. You hear me? Everything. And not goddamn lies either. The truth."

–

"What about your brother?" she asked softly from where she was sitting on his bed, holding her soaked red jacket. "I can't get this damn thing to stop bleeding." And she was light-headed to prove it.

"He'll cool off. He shouldn't have shot you. Lie down," he replied shortly, adjusting himself to face her better.

"What?"

"Lie. Down," he repeated slowly, pushing her shoulder a bit to prompt her to lay down. She did so, with a bit of bewilderment. He pressed his fingers to her side, ignoring the fact that he was getting blood on them. "Cruor Tela," he whispered. She stared at him. "You aren't the only one with magic that you rarely use."

"Thank you," she whispered, letting the healing take over the wound.

"Anyway, don't worry about Yuiichi. I talked to him. As long as you tell me the truth about everything from now on, you'll be safe." She nodded cautiously. "Now, you speak Moradian fluently because you are Moradian, correct?"

"Yes. My father and I are two of the few survivors. Your father... That's why I was so disinclined to tell you anything."

"You were afraid I might turn you in to my father." She bobbed her head a bit. "Understandable. However, I won't. Because I believe that what Uherfa tried to do to the Moradian race was unneeded. The Witch?"

"She killed my mother and cursed me because I'm my father's daughter," she said bitterly, "And I wasn't lying about the curse. Chances are that if she sees me, she'll kill me."

"You have a lot of people out to get you don't you?"

"You could say that," she mumbled in good humor.

"The Hitachiins," he stated, looking down on her since she had stayed lying down.

"Known them as long as I can remember. Five of eight people over there that know I'm a girl."

"Who're the other three?"

"My father, Hunny, and Mori."

"How long have you known the other two?"

"Roughly five months. They knew my gender just from watching Hikaru and Kaoru's protectiveness over me. They're like big brothers. It's just a little bit ridiculous."

"Why don't you use your magic?"

She bit her lip. "Why don't you use yours?" she retorted softly.

He stared at her. "You're the one being questioned here." She gave him a look and he sighed. "You know that traditionally in Filandria there's only one child in a family who has well-conditioned magic right?" Her head bobbed carefully. "Traditionally, it's the oldest so Yuiichi's that child. Fuyumi, Akito and I have it but we don't know how to use it as well. No one taught us besides the minor spells that could keep us alive if the situation arose. But you're an only child so you can't use that excuse."

She looked at him. It made sense. With the twins it was similar, though because they were twins they both got the conditioned magic. Kaoru just chose to keep his more under wraps than his brother's. "I got my magic from my mother. And she was never around to teach me. You know how only parents can really teach their children. Dad... doesn't know anything about magic. He's never had a drop of magic in him. So... I learned minor things from the twins' mother, learned on the fly to close the portal, but that's it. And it weakens me so horribly that's it hardly worth it."

"That makes sense," he murmured softly, "One more question, then I suppose we'll retire to bed. Which of your three names should I call you?"

She blinked a few times. "Haruhi," she replied with a small smile.

He just sat there and regarded her quietly for a moment. "I know I've heard that name somewhere. Why did you choose it?"

"You said that was the last question."

"Answer it."

"Moradian Princess's name. Makes me feel somehow connected to my heritage," she half-lied smoothly. "Now are you going to show me to my room?"

"You're already there, Haruhi." She stared at him, not quite comprehending what he was telling her. "Akito thought it was odd that you weren't sharing a room with me since he thinks that we're lovers. Well, and guests of Father's have taken your regular chambers."

She swore under her breath. "So I'm sleeping here?" He nodded. "In your bed?" He nodded again. She pursed her lips. "You better stay on your side of the bed or God so help me I will kick you right off the end."

He chuckled as he slid under the covers. "Or you could sleep on the floor."

"Three weeks of sleeping on the floor? I'm a soldier, but even I get tired of that after awhile," she mumbled in reply, crawling up slowly on the opposite side to hunker down too. He sat up a bit and blew out the candle on the beside table. The dim light in the room was extinguished, leaving a light haze from the partially opened curtains. Haruhi turned her head toward him a bit, just barely able to make out the outline of his arm reaching over to the table to set his glasses down. "Thank you," she whispered, "Second time you've saved my life by listening."

"Lets just say that you owe me," he replied, turning his back to her as she curled up, way too tired to even protest sleeping in his bed.

–

A/N: She did always think he was a good guy deep down. Hrrm. Something seems off about Kyoya's personality to me though. I dunno. It's just... DRIVING ME NUTS that I can't figure out exactly what though.

Kudos to: XxNightShroudxX, Enigmaticrose4, BlackestNight BrightestDay, just another review (You should be used to it by now. Luckily though, sometimes I'm NICE.), Twilightrewriter, Mrs. Ootori43ver, Mikame15, Agent Twinkle Toes, Ariel (Sorry you stayed up till 8 AM! I didn't really think that it would be quite THAT good! But the comment warmed my heart.) and Koharu Veddette.

GUYS. I FELL OVER WHEN I SAW THAT KUDOS LIST. SERIOUSLY. THAAANK YOOOU.