Shangri La Pt. 1

149: Loss

As much as the loss terribly saddened her, Izumi and Katsuki decided to take the greenette's deceased body out of the city and into the forest that was nearest to them. 

Izumi could only use her powers to create a bed of flowers made from Lilies of the Valley as Katsuki carefully rested the deceased greenette's body over it. The pair knelt down before the burial and placed their hands together as they could only pray that Inko was escorted to the afterlife and made it to Heaven in peace. 

'You've done so much for me, that all I wanted to do was pay you back with how thankful I've been that you are my mother. I'm so sorry this has happened to you, and I hope that you will look over me for the rest of my life. I love you, and I will miss you... mom.' Izumi prayed as a single tear streamed down her cheek in silence.

But this long awaited silence did not last long, as Katsuki quickly noticed that they weren't alone. He jolted himself to his feet and grabbed his sword while jerking his head back and forth, only for Izumi to notice how cautious he became. 

"Katsuki– W-What's wrong?" 

"Whoever's hiding out there, you better show yourself, now!" Katsuki demanded. 

There was no response in those few seconds, but when the pair heard the sound of something rustling through the bushes, this turned serious. And as the greenette stood to her feet, the two of them watched as a man–with a thin sword strapped to their waist–appeared from the bushes and faced them.

"A soldier?" 

"Who the hell are you?" Katsuki growled, pointing his sword out to the man. 

The soldier didn't react in any way, as all he did was raise his hands up and away from his own sword to look at the pair. 

"No need to become hostile just yet, not when things have already escalated this way." 

"E-Escalated? What're you talking about? Who are you?" Izumi questioned. 

"Forgive me, but I am one of Her Imperial Majesty, the Empress', most trusted assassin–" 

"An assassin?" 

"I have come here, on the behalf of Her Imperial Majesty, the Empress', to escort the two of you back to the palace unharmed." the assassin clarified. 

"The Empress? Wants us at the palace, but why?" 

"Ah– It seems the two of you have been absent from the palace long before the chaos started." 

"Chaos? What chaos?" 

"T-The wedding, what about the wed–" 

"It concluded with chaos." the assassin answered, and that struck a chord for the greenette.

"T-Then... w-what about Her Majesty, the Princess, and His Majesty, the Young Prince?" 

"I cannot answer that, as I have only been told to bring the two of you back at once. If you refuse to do so, then I will just have to kill the two of you now and bring your gems to Her Imperial Majesty, the Empress that way instead. And if you do agree to be escorted, but try to use your powers against me, then you could also be killed because of that as well. Please just make this easy for me, as I don't like to make such a mess on myself." the assassin added. 

The pair knew exactly what would happen if they were to see the Empress now, but getting killed at this very second wasn't an option for them.

'If we can last in the Empress' chambers, then maybe Emra will show up and stop this from getting worse.' Izumi thought as she reached her hand out and grabbed the blond's without any warning.