Endless Rain - Part 9

Endless Rain
Part 9: When the winner looses
©2004 Kitty Ocean

"Lady Aiko!" Taoru screamed from the battlement. "Lady Aiko! Dammit; everyone, attack!" Archers ran up and tried to hold the Mikomi tribe away from the gates. A rain of arrows was formed, and the first brave Mikomi members died.
"Lady Aiko!" Taoru ran down the stairs and into the throne room. "Lady Aiko!"
"What do you want?" Aiko snarled. "And what is that noise all about?"
Taoru bowed. "My Lady, the Mikomi are ATTACKING us!"
"What?!" Aiko fumed and jumped up. With big steps she marched to the courtyard, where at that moment the Mikomi tribe burst through the gates. "How dare they! And how futile!" She started to laugh. "They actually think they can stand a chance... Hey, you!" She grabbed a passing soldier. "Go to Shuhan and the others and kill them! Flood the cell!"
"Yes, milady." The soldier bowed and ran off.

On the courtyard a bloody battle took place. Men, women, all were fighting. The odds were more than uneven; it could be hardly called a fair fight. Yet, somehow, the soldiers had trouble battling against this small army.
It was not because the Mikomi was a strong tribe. No, far from. The strongest warriors had even gone along with Shuhan. Young and inexperienced warriors had stayed behind.
In her head Hitori could hear Kino speaking to her, just before she left. 'You've showed more courage than any of us Hitori.' He told her. 'But, that doesn't mean that you are invincible.' Hitori had nodded.  'The children and elders like me will stay behind... come home... Lady Hitori.'
Tears formed in her eyes, making her vision blurry. "I-WILL-NOT-GIVE-UP!" She screamed while she pushed her sword through the metal of her opponent's armour. She quickly pulled it out, spun around, and hit another Sendo enemy. Blood streamed out of their bodies, and painted the muddy ground red.
Hitori looked around, just for a small second and saw her tribe becoming smaller and smaller. Friends, her loved ones... one by one they all fell. For a small second Hana took the time to exchange eyes with her best friend.
'Rather dead than serving those filthy Sendo!' She had said, and Hitori knew that was what all her tribemembers were thinking. The reason why it seemed their wounds didn't matter to them was because... they had nothing to loose.

The soldier finally reached the cell from Shuhan and the others. He quickly glanced in it, having a smirk on his face. But, that smirk easily vanished!! The cell was empty! "What the..." The soldier said astounded, and turned the key of the cell. The door opened, and the soldier dropped dead on the floor.
The sword in Shuhan's hand had suddenly turned red. He turned around, looking at his tribemembers who came from their hiding places. "Let's join the party, shall we?" He grinned.

Outside Hitori felt the blood streaming from her arm. She had been hit, more then once, but knowing what would happen if she died, or if she would survive, was the reason she kept on fighting. Death would free her from sorrows, but who would protect the tribe then? Alive would mean slavery... Hitori kept on fighting, knowing her opponent was too strong. She wouldn't make it! She was too weak! She was just a young woman, not even 20 years old yet!
In the scratched armour of her opponent she suddenly spotted something else. Something that made her loose all sense of sound. A shadow... someone was ready to kill her from behind... And funny enough... Hitori rested in her faith. She couldn't escape at all, and she felt her strength ebbing away. 'Go ahead', she smiled peacefully, 'Do it... May the Gods be kind to you...'
"Oh no you don't!" Metal slashed through the air and stopped the back-stabber just before he could kill Hitori. Seeing Hitori getting tired, her saviour pushed her away and the sword flashed through the air once more.
Hitori fell on the ground and her fingers touched the cold reddish mud. In the corner of her eyes she could see something she hadn't seen in days... a ray of sunlight. And it shone, more brightly then ever, even though the sun was calmly setting. Hitori saw who saved her.
With trembling hands and legs she tried to stand up. The sounds around her told her what was going on. The Sendo tribe... even though Hitori's army was tiny, it now once again grew... when the best warriors joined the battle once more.
"Shuhan?" Hitori could barely speak. "You... are you alive... you are alive..."
Shuhan smiled at her. "I knew you would take the lead." He said to her.
Hitori came close, tears streaming down her face. The man she admired so much... he was still alive! She touched his body. Even though he was taller and almost 5 years older than she was, she felt bigger and smaller at the same time.
Shuhan rubbed a tear from her eye. "Shh..." He hushed her. "We'll settle this later... at home..."

Taoru saw what had happened. "My Lady, go inside!" He ordered Lady Aiko. "Don't worry, we shall be victorious, but inside you are safe."
"Act like you please Taoru." Aiko said to him. "But I won't tolerate any mistakes!" Taoru nodded and saw Aiko getting inside.
Taoru drew his sword and went into battle. Right, left, he didn't even have to look to his opponents to kill them. 'I want her!' He hissed in his thoughts. 'SHE is responsible for this!' His eyes went left to right, searching for the young blue-haired chieftess.
And finally... he spotted her... close to that moron Shuhan!
"Hey sis, you're doing this all wrong!" Hana heard from behind. The tease in the voice was familiar and Hana jumped around. "Just follow me!" The young man said. "Left, right, up and STRIKE!" Another Sendo tribe member fell. But Hana could not move any more... all that was happening... was the tears streaming down her face. Her brother... he was still alive!
Suddenly her thoughts went to Hitori, and her eyes quickly found her best friend... near Shuhan?! He was also still alive?! Hana felt happy and sad at the same time. They were all still alive, but would they make it out of battle?
Then Hana's eyes noticed something else. Taoru, with his sword high.... "HITORI LOOK OUT!" She screamed with a pitched voice.

Hope you can do something with this Blonde Teraesa. It seems the story gets to an end... anyone suggestions for a part 2?