Here we are at Chapter 25. The battle for Yuki's hand continues as a new player joins the game. I do not own Code Vein. They belong to Bandai Namco. I only own my OCs. Here's chapter 25. Enjoy.
Chapter 25: The Spider's Web
To say that the atmosphere in the room was tense would be an understatement. Things seemed pleasant enough when it was just Yuki with the candidates. However, when Hanazuki joined the party, everything changed. The other candidates glare subtle daggers at the unexpected obstacle in their path. The only one who looked a little relived was Yuki since she at least had someone she knew here now. Hana surprised her in more than one way just now. First, her sudden confession about wanting Yuki's hand in marriage, but also that despite all the hostility aimed her way, Hana is just casually sipping her tea like it's just another day for her.
"Lady Hanazuki, care to explain why you're here?" Minato asks.
"Hmm, isn't that obvious? It's just like I said before. I'm here to compete for Yukitsuki's hand in marriage," Hana replies, all nonchalant.
"We heard you, but we don't understand. The emperor did not choose you as one of the candidates to marry the princess. You were never even considered," Mary replies, displeased.
"Yeah, and weren't you one of the two guards that failed to protect the princess twice now. What makes you think you are even worthy of becoming her wife?" Izumi also asks.
"She's right. You lost the right to even be near Her Highness. She is someone we want to stand beside and protect with our lives. You already had your chance," Chinatsu joins the others.
"While you may have said some things that are true, not all of them are true. Remember, it was Her Highness, Princess Hikaru Akatsuki herself who chose Hiei and I to protect Princess Yukitsuki. Not any of you," Hana retorts calmly.
"And you failed, so choosing you was a mistake," Mary argues.
Hana slowly opens her eyes towards the elf, half her face hidden by her tea cup, "Are you implying that Princess Hikaru, the shining jewel of our great nation... made a mistake?"
The elf freezes upon hearing those words. What she just said could be seen as insulting a member of the imperial family. Such an act is punishable by death or life in prison.
"I-I-I never meant to insult the imperial family. I meant to say that you and that kitsune were the mistake, not Her Highness. She could never make a mistake," Mary is sweating a bit now.
Hana waves it off, "Oh, no worries, I know perfectly well what you meant. No need to get so nervous, dear,"
Yuki watches this performance unfold in front of her. Despite her being outnumbered, Hana remains as composed as ever. Perhaps because she's used to people giving her the stink eye. However, another thought begins to take route in her mind.
"Hana wants my hand in marriage. If that were to happen... Hana would become my wife. And knowing her, I could still become Hiei's wife and all three of us would become a family. Hana must be trying to help Hiei and me in her own way. But... what about her? Would she really be alright getting married to me? She wants to have children of her own, but I can't give that to her. Maybe she could have someone on the side to help with that regard? But, that would bring a load of drama we really don't need right now. What is her true motives here?" Yuki wonders as she watches the banter continue. "Still, if I were to get married to Hana, at least it's someone I know and trust."
"Lady Hanazuki, I think you've had your fun here. Perhaps you should go now while things are still peaceful. We don't want Her Highness' precious time to be disturbed," Minato says.
"Please, none of you can command me to do anything. If the princess wants me to leave, then she only needs to say so, and I will take my leave then," Hana says, looking at Yuki.
Yuki sees what Hana is doing. Hana wants her to make the decision. She won't be bullied by these noble girls, but she won't go against Yuki's wishes either. If that's the case, then...
"Lady Hanazuki, you may stay. I won't have any objections," Yuki says, to the other girls' slight shock and dismay.
Hana's smile gets bigger, "As you wish, Your Highness," she gives a subtle smirk towards the other ladies.
Outside the room, Fuyumi's group, hidden by her blood gifts, listen in on the party from the shadows.
"Wow, have to admit, Hana's got some serious guts for pulling off this stunt," Veronica whispers.
"Still, at least Yukitsuki has an ally in there now. But, at this rate, they might trade words for blade instead," Anelia notes.
"Maybe that's what Hana has in mind," Hikaru mutters.
"At least Hana is helping Yuki out in there. Hey, what do you guys think about Yuki marrying Hana? They got along well enough as friends. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad," Veronica asks.
"Hmmm... well, I can't say anything about her having more than one spouse. I'm not one to talk considering my track record. I at least trust Hana and her species isn't an issue for me," Fuyumi thinks about it.
Back in the room, the tension continues to rise. However, the other girls are no longer trying to get Hana to leave since Yuki gave her permission to stay. They can't go against the princess' commands, not unless they want to get on her bad side.
"So, Your Highness, what are some things you like to do in your off time?" Izumi asks, wanting to get back on track.
"Hmm, well... I do like practicing my magic and dancing. I also like playing the harp. I had a lot of fun whenever I played alongside Hana in our performing arts class. Her singing is truly divine," Yuki says.
And the girls give quick stink eyes towards Hana, who merely smirks in return. Hana has the advantage of already having a rapport with Yuki. She's already ahead of them.
"If you enjoy music, I happen to know how to play a couple instruments. Perhaps we can find some time to play together. I'm probably not as good as you, but I am skilled," Mary says.
"I highly doubt you could protect her by playing music," Minato notes.
"All of us were trained to fight, Lady Minato. But Her Highness needs more than a simple bodyguard. She needs a partner. And a partner to a princess should have multiple talents, not just one," Chinatsu says.
"In that case, I have several talents, both combat related and non-combat related. I wasn't chosen to be her bodyguard just because of my pretty face," Hana fires back.
Yuki can see that the situation was starting to get worse. At this rate, they might start trying to kill each other for her hand in marriage.
"Well, if you're so skilled in combat, then why did you fail so spectacularly at protecting the princess, hmm?" Minato questions her.
"Are you saying that you can do a better job than me and Hiei at protecting Yuki?" Hana replies.
"That's exactly what I'm saying," Minato glares at her.
"I see... Then why don't we put that to the test?" Hana suggests.
"Hana, what are you thinking?" Yuki asks, concerned.
"I'm saying let's skip all the preamble and the crap and get to the good part. We're all here to win Yuki's hand in marriage. We don't like each other because we're all obstacles to that goal. So, let's settle this once and for all. There's a field out back that's used for training and duels, so let's settle this there. Part of being married to Yuki means protecting her from those that would attempt to harm her. If you think you can do just that, then prove it here and now. I know you want me gone, so let's settle this with a series of duels. I'll fight each of you in a series of one-on-one duels. Set up like a gauntlet. If any of you manage to defeat me once, I'll withdrawal from the competition. But, if I manage to defeat all of you, then you will not only back off from trying to court Yuki, but you'll also accept me as the candidate for her hand in marriage. No arguments. So, what do you say?" Hana throws out the challenge.
The other girls glance at each other, considering the option. The emperor never said anything about this. However, if they could prove themselves better than Hana, it would not only remove a player from the game, but also improve their own chances of marrying the princess.
"Fine, we accept you challenge Lady Hanazuki. Let us settle this like warriors," Minato agrees, while the others simply nod.
"Excellent, let's get ready and head out for some fun," Hana claps her hands.
The group exit the room, but Yuki stops Hana for a moment.
"Hana, what exactly are you trying to do here? You don't have to tie yourself down to me," Yuki says.
"Whoever said I was tying myself down. I'm just trying to help someone I care about after all. Besides..." Hana reaches out to take a few strands of Yuki's hair into her hand. "I wouldn't mind becoming your second wife. You're kind of my type after all, at least when it comes to relationships,"
Yuki finds herself blushing, "But... I can't give you a child. Didn't you say that you wanted to have children someday?"
"We'll cross that bridge when we reach it. Until then, I want to help you so you can be free. Don't worry, Yuki. Have a little faith. We arachne are much stronger than some people give us credit for," Hana say, blowing her a kiss before taking her leave as well.
Yuki watches her go, processing the words Hana left her with.
...
A few minutes later, everyone is outside in the courtyard in the back. Hana and Yuki were able to get the field cleared out so they'd have it to themselves. Fuyumi's group, still keeping to the stealth approach, watch from the trees in the back. This allowed Fuyumi to drop her cloak. They overheard the whole conversation and decided to see how this would play out.
"Do you think we should stop Hana or, or maybe even give her a little hand. She's all by herself here?" Iris suggests.
"No, I'd say let Hana have her fun. This might get interesting," Veronica isn't helping.
"Fuyumi?" Hikaru asks.
"Let's see how this plays out. If Hana is willing to take such a risk, then perhaps she has a plan up her sleeve. We'll play things close to the chest until we get a better hand," Fuyumi replies, keeping her eyes on the field.
Aside from Yuki and a few servants, the contestants had changed their attire. Hana was back in a tight-fitting black outfit similar to that of a kunoichi, while the other women wore either pieces of armor or outfits similar to hers. Hana's first opponent would be Chinatsu, wielding a chain-scythe as her weapon. Hana has her trusty daggers in her hands.
"What are the limits here?" Chinatsu asks.
"No killing. And no injuries that may prove fatal. We keep going until one of us is knocked out, unable to continue, or concedes the match. Now that that's out of the way, you may make the first move," Hana explains, readying her daggers.
"Don't mind if I do," Chinatsu replies.
Chinatsu twirls her chain-scythe around before swinging it around at Hana. Hana ducks under the swing, then deflects a blow from the other end of Chinatsu's weapon. On one side is the blade, while the other has a metal club to act as a bludgeoning weapon. Chinatsu dances around as she swings her weapon around. Hana keeps up a good defense, deflecting and dodging her strikes. She's not jumping around that much like she normally does. Yuki figures out why. In an open field like this, Hana can't make the best use of her silk or agility.
"Why would she give herself so many unfair disadvantages?" Yuki thinks.
Chinatsu closes in on Hana, pulling out and throwing a few small knives at her. Hana swipes them aside with one of her spider legs. Chinatsu throws her chain-scythe, wrapping around one of those legs. She tries pulling Hana off balance, but Hana uses this chance to pull Chinatsu instead. The arachne spins the human girl around, taking her for a ride. Chinatsu lands on her feet and throws more knives, but Hana knocks them aside with her daggers. Seeing how this isn't working, Chinatsu pulls her chain off of Hana's leg. Hana jumps into the air, falling towards Chinatsu. Chinatsu jumps back, avoiding her legs. Hana goes on the attack now.
"Not so fast," Hana fires off her silk.
Chinatsu tries to dodge it, but her left leg gets caught and stuck to the ground. Chinatsu stumbled for a second, but a second is all Hana needed. Firing more silk, she entraps her foe and then tackles her to the ground. Chinatsu freezes upon feeling the edge of a blade at her throat. Hana looms over her, all the cards in her hand.
Chinatsu grits her teeth and looks away, "...I yield,"
Yuki lets out a breath she didn't know she was holding in. That's one down. After Chinatsu is freed from the webbing, Izumi takes her place. She wields a pair of gauntlets with three claw-like blades as her weapons.
"My turn now," Izumi licks her lips.
Hana returns to her side. A moment later, the two charge. They clash their blades against each other. While Hana seems focused, Izumi looks like she's actually having fun by fighting. They break off and attack with their blades several times. However, Izumi slowly puts Hana on the defensive as her attack speed is greater than Hana's. Of course, that's only if Hana were using just her daggers. She started throwing strikes with her two front legs. With her being attacked by four limbs now, Izumi started backing up. She jumps back and starts running around Hana, looking for an opening. She jumps at Hana's left flank, but Hana fires off her silk. Somehow, Izumi dodges it by twirling in the air. She swings down her claws, but Hana blocks with her daggers in time. This process repeats a few times until Izumi gets past Hana's defense and gets a strike in on one of her legs.
"Damn it!" Hana curses.
"Hana!" Yuki exclaims.
"Don't worry, Yuki. I'm fine," Hana pushes through the pain.
"I wouldn't be so cocky if I were you. Bold to challenge us all like this, but can you really outlast all of us by yourself?" Izumi taunts her.
She attacks again, but Hana fires more silk. Izumi is faster than Chinatsu and manages to evade it. In the forest, Fuyumi's group continues to watch.
"That cat girl sure is fast, but also annoying," Iris notes.
"Izumi was trained to be an expert fighter. Though, she never was the most disciplined," Hikaru adds.
"Hana won the first fight, but can she win this one? What do you think, Fuyumi?" Anelia asks.
"She's light on her feet. But... if Hana plays her cards right, she can turn that against her," Fuyumi mutters.
Izumi continues to race around Hana, making little hit and run strikes as she does. If they were in the forest, Hana could use the trees to her advantage. But, in an open field like this, that's not happening. She fires off more spider silk, but Izumi continues to dodge it. However, at one point, Izumi goes to jump again, only to fall flat on her face.
"What the-what is this?!" Izumi looks and notices silk on the soles of her feet.
As she tries to get up, her hands get caught in more silk. Izumi takes a closer look and finds small strands of silk covering the ground as well.
"You think I was just firing my silk out blindly, hoping to hit you. Even after the silk comes out, it'll remain sticky for a while. Just had to make sure enough of it got onto your hands and feet to slow you down. Now then..." Hana stabs one spider leg dangerously close to Izumi's tail. "Ready to submit yet, or do I need to shave off all the fur on your tail first?"
"Ah! Not the tail! Anything but the tail! I give. I give!" Izumi cries in defeat.
With that, Hana won her second duel, but she took more damage this time. Still, the arachne refused to submit. After she was freed from the silk, Izumi left the field and Mary took her place.
"Don't think I'll be as easy an opponent as those two. Spirits of wind, guide my aero gaze across this land... Gale Force!" Mary conjures up a powerful gust of wind that engulfs the field.
Hana holds her ground within the gust, but she was never a real target. Hana glances over and sees all the silk she laid out across the field being blown away.
"Those little tricks of yours may have worked on the first two, but they won't work on me. I will prove myself worthy of standing by Her Highness' side," Mary says, full of determination.
Hana stabs her spider legs into the ground as she creeps close to Mary, wary of getting blown away by her magic. Mary relents on her storm and aims her arm.
"Spirits of wind, cut down my foes... Air Cutter!" Mary sends out several wind blades at Hana.
Hana jumps around to evade them. Mary's magical talent is excellent. No wonder she was chosen as one of Yuki's candidates. Hana tries to get close, but Mary keeps her at a distance with her wind magic.
"You can't touch me, Arachne," Mary taunts her.
Hana throws one of her daggers at her.
"Spirits of wind, blow everything away... Air Burst!" Mary creates a field of wind that blows the thrown dagger into the air.
Hana rushes in at her. Mary creates more air cutter blades and fires them at her. Hana evades some, but a few get some hits on her. Even if the wounds are slight, they're still growing in number on her body.
"Rushing in blindly? Are you that stupid?" Mary says.
"No, I'm just gutsy!" Hana fires her silk, but it goes high into the air.
"Hmph, you missed," Mary smirks.
Hana smirks back, "No, I didn't,"
Mary looks back up to see the silk line hit the dagger in the air. Hana pulls hard, causing the dagger to swing down quickly. Mary can't make another chant in time before the blade gets close. She moves back, the blade barely missing her. As she regains herself, Hana throws her other dagger, forcing her off-balance again. Hana then swings her silk line like a whip and snags Mary's ankles. Pulling hard, she makes the elf lose balance and tumbles to the ground. Mary gets up, only to have a dagger at her neck.
"Don't do anything stupid," Hana warns her.
Maey growls, but concedes, "I yield,"
Three down and only one to go. Retrieving her other dagger, Hana walks back to her position just as Minato takes hers. Though this is the last duel, Hana is not at her best. The three past fights took much of her strength and most of her silk. The wounds she gained had weakened her. Meanwhile, Minato was at full strength.
"Let's end this charade," Minato draws her sword.
"As you wish," Hana readies her daggers. "Hopefully, this won't come back to bite me in the ass."
Yuki watches as Hana prepares for her last and toughest opponent.
And that's the chapter. Hana won her first three duels, but can she win the last one at her current strength? Until then, please Read and Review.