Brave Heart

Odette's eyes widened. "Who are you and what are you doing here?!" She asked preparing her weapons. "Go away now and I will let you pass without punishment." She rose her voice but she wasn't yelling, she was just saying what she had to hoping it wouldn't come to a battle.

The man smirked. "Hehe. I wouldn't be here if I was planning on simply walking away." He laughed a little flipping his spear around his fingers. Shadows were following the spear as he was observing his target looking for weak spots.

Lancelot stood in front of Odette. A flash of memories came to him. He had already seen that man before. It was back then inside of Argus' hideout. He was one of his men that walked up to his master while they were talking. Didn't Argus call him Moskov? He remembered his cold gaze that made his heart stop for a moment. He felt a very dark vibe. He didn't like him.

"Isn't that funny." The man laughed. "Such a strong woman has to hide behind her man." He smirked.

Odette stepped forwards. "I could beat you alone!" She pushed Lancelot aside. "And I can prove that to you. I will defend my honor." She said.

Moskov grinned as he swung his spear knocking her back, to the ground. He wanted to throw his spear towards her but something colided with it before he could do anything else. Lancelot jumped inbetween them and prevented his attack with his rapier.

"Get away from her! You're expecting her to play fair and you're playing dirty yourself." He said loudly as he pushed him aside. There they could talk without Odette hearing them. "What the hell are you doing here?" He muttered. "I thought the plan was to wait until I get the book?!"

Moskov grinned once again. "You were taking too long. I was sent here as a reinforcement. Why don't we just catch her and make her give us the book so we can both go in peace?" He asked while they were pretending to fight.

Odette was still recovering from the punch.

Lancelot didn't hesitate with reply. "No! There is no way it will work! She is a very strong person and won't give up on things such as that! She would never betray her nation."

The purple man now pushed him away. "And how so that you're talking so positive about her even while telling me my plan won't work?! I can see it in your eyes! Nothing will become of you I'm afraid!" He spoke.

Lancelot pressed his blade against his spear once again as he said: "Please, just give me a little more time. I've got this but nobody needs to be hurt if they don't have to."

Moskov didn't look satisfied. "Fine! But stop lazying around and get your hands dirty!" He said. "If you'll wait until she simply lets you in the library, none of us will live long enough to see that... And we're immortal!"

"Shut up!" He said as he kicked his spear away and punched him in the guts. Moskov used some magic to grab the spear. "Fine! Let it be. But I'm watching you." He said before disappearing in the mist of dusk.

***

Kagura was in trouble. Her attempt to leave the tent she was stuck in ended up with a physicaly strong woman grabbing her. She screamed but it only attracted more unwanted attention. Both Roger and Irithiel were there in a moment. In one hand, it gave Hayabusa enough time to grab his weapons and in other hand, it left Kagura alone, exposed to the danger.

She wiggled although it was completely useless. Roger then took her away from Hilda. "Well, well, well. Isn't that the little girl that scared you off?" He asked gazing at Irithiel.

The tiger rider was slightly emberrassed. She didn't know what to say so she just tried getting away. "I see you've got this. I'll just-- feed Leo." He said as she walked away from them.

Kagura was left with Roger and the unknown girl who seemed to be phisicaly stronger than the rest. She was carrying a large axe that was approximately the same size as the little mage herself. It scared her a little even though it wasn't the time for fear...

Roger asked: "Hilda, how much do you think we can get for a girl like her on black market? Maybe even more than what we can get for the ninja." He gazed at the woman. She just shrugged and started with deep voice: "I was never good with stuff like that..."

Kagura said: "Let me go!!" She tried freeing her hands but ended up just getting punched in stomach by the man. "You know what. I like you kid. I like the fire in your eyes but it won't help you now. You made a big mistake coming here." He said.

Meanwhile, Irithel was walking towards her tiger with a big piece of meat but whole time, she had a feeling somebody was following her. Once she walked in a little bit hidden area, Hayabusa jumped on her and in a matter of moment pressed his blade against her neck. "Silence." He said as he forced her to the ground where he tied her up and left on the ground, muted by a piece of cloth in her mouth. Two down, two more.

He sneaked to the place where the remaining two were, talking about their buisness but before he could act, a person jumped out of the bushes on the opposite side of the clearing.

It was a blonde man dressed in blue long coat. His skin was fair and eyes were dark gray as his look was showing his self-confidence. Under the coat was black outfit with several chains and a sky blue scarf that fullfilled his stunning looks. He was wielding a large silver blade decorated with few blue jewels. It was burning in blue flames as he swung it around.

He decided to play against the odds and risk one on two battle. Hilda just pulled out her axe and blocked his sword. She thought fast and had only one thought - protect her fellow.

Roger's eyes started glowing red as he let go of the girl. He pulled his shotgun out of nowhere as he started firing. The unknown male blocked everything with his sword that started shining red like blood.

He was doing a pretty good job fighting off the two of them until Roger grew bored with the attacker. He showed his right form turning into a big gray creature - werewolf. He jumped towards the blonde man as he started rapidly scratching anything in front of him.

Hayabusa was just watching the battle hidden from sights. He wanted to slide in, grab Kagura and disappear but soon he realised it won't be possible. He had to help the man against their common enemy. He didn't know who was he nor why did he fight but he knew that enemy of his enemy is his friend.

He started by summoning four of his shadows and jumping in the battle as a ninja he was. A shuriken here and there and he appeared in the place of one of the shadows grabbing the werefolf away from behind, trying to stab him with his blade.

The other man was surprised with the helper he has just gotten. He just fought the muscular woman who looked as if she was a part of a tribe. She swung her axe and actually made a fair cut in his coat but he just skillfuly turned her heavy axe into a weakness as he beated her with several quick strikes. She fell with few open cuts. He then just left his sword stuck in the ground as he walked to Kagura and helped her up. "Are you okay?" He asked.

Hayabusa was still fighting with the werewolf whose regeneration was just impossible to counter. He was having big troubles, until he saw the unknown man pulling up his girl. Then, he just felt additional strength running through his veins. He landed the final blow on the werewolf, not killing him but at least knocking him out.

After that, he rushed over to Kagura and pulled her into a hug, away from the man. He might be a little overprotective but he couldn't help it. Something was just boiling in him as soon as he saw her getting close to another man.

Kagura blushed deeply. "Haya-- I'm fine... H-he was just helping..." She whispered her gaze was switching from one to another man.

The man in coat laughed. "Don't worry my friend, I'm not trying to do anything. The name is Alucard and I'm a demon hunter, actually, 'whatever-people-pay-for hunter, who was trying to bring this little criminal group to the power of light and when I saw this little girl in trouble I couldn't just stand aside."

Hayabusa now felt a little better but still didn't let go of Kagura. He wouldn't let her go any more, this was enough stress for him. "Thank you Alucard. This would be hard without your help."

Kagura didn't manage to say a word but she did focus her gaze of the man who pressed her so close to him as if she was his teddy bear during creepy and cold nights.

Alucard grinned again. "No, thank you. Without you, it would be very hard to take them out. I have underestimated them."

Hayabusa nodded. "The remaining two are tied up somewhere around. Feel free to take them with you. We have something else to do somewhere else."

The man just walked to the two bandits on the ground as he tied them up. "No problem. I'll leave you two lovebirds alone." He dragged the two with him as he disappeared from their sights.

Kagura now gazed into Hayabusa's eyes. There was so many questions in them but she couldn't even mouth one. Luckily, it was enough for the man. She needed to say nothing and he already started:

"I'm sorry if I overreacted back then but I just couldn't even imagine you in somebody else's arms. Listen here, Kagura. I should've told you earlier but all this time I feared for your life. I have realised exactly why. I will never let you go again. I love you and I want to stay by your side not matter how much it costed."

Kagura didn't know how to react. She just started deep into his eyes. "I-I--" Her heart was beating extremly fast as she felt her cheeks burning. She was scared not knowing how to proceed but once again, Hayabusa took the lead and leaned closer.

She stood there as if she was a stone sculpture. The man, seeing she didn't resist, just went all the way and connected their lips. He placed one hand behind her back pulling her closer while other hand made its way on her cheek.

The kiss was soft and romantic, for both of them, that were few moments they will remember whole life.

***

Odette and Lancelot had returned to the castle. Odette was puzzled about the mysterious attacker they encountered while Lancelot was worried about how was he going to make the Princess let him in the library. He knew it was either he succeeds or she gets hurt.

He needed to do something. "Odette,..." He started, "Where is the entrance in the library?"

Odette was slightly surprised by the question. "It is near my quarters in the castle... Why are you asking?" She said.

He sighed. "I think you have a serious problem with the Codex of Apocalypse. It is what they are trying to steal but I think I have a solution for you." His mind was running 100mph. He didn't want to mess up everything he has already achieved.

"Really...? What do you have in mind?" She asked curiously.

"We need to move the book somewhere else." He said. "If you keep it in the library, they will eventually find the way and steal it. You need to move it if you want to stay safe... And I can do it for you if you want. I can take it to a place they will never find it."

He had a serious look in his eyes. Did he just want to steal the book like others or did the time he spent there really change him and made him turn back to light?