Kaze: Guardians

Flame

WARNING! This is the climax. In other words, remember the warning in the very first chapter? Yeah. This chapter is why. It could get a bit dark. And bloody. Everyone got they're flashlights? Good. Strap your wonderful selves in. Here we go!
Kasumi and I managed to make it to the Fisherman's house. I had unsheathed my sword just in case of attack. "Fisherman! Fisherman, it's us! Open the door!"
He appeared. "Juno and Yara already left. Go!"
"Okay. Kasumi?"
She looked tearfully between us. She threw her arms around the Fisherman and hugged him tight.
"Kasumi..." He swallowed tears. "Be a good girl. Go with Kaze. Do what he tells you. You need to go."
She nodded and wiped the tears as the Fisherman sat in a rocking chair on his porch. Patiently awaiting the inevitable.
"I'll never forget you." I said. "We'll see each other again one day. Come on, Kasumi!"
"Good luck!" He shouted after us.
We were running to the market when Kasumi sprinted into the crowd. She tackled a boy from behind. He and his female companion turned. It was Juno and Yara! I ran over and got lost in the jumble of panicked hellos.
"What is it? Did you guys see it?" The priestess asked.
"A navy fleet!" I replied.
"If it's a foreign navy, we need a plan." Juno said.
"We can go hide in the castle!" Yara smiled.
"Will that work?" I asked.
"It should!" Juno said. "The palace is super strong! It should hold us if we can get there undetected."
"Let's go, then!"
We tore through the streets. Nobody knew how much danger their lives were in. Until the first casualty. We had ran until we heard a young voice cry out in pain. I turned and saw Juno slump over, a knife buried in the back of his neck. He didn't get back up. I couldn't believe what I was seeing.
Juno had died.
I grabbed Yara's hand. "Come on! Kasumi, we don't have time for grieving!" She looked up at me. "I'm very sorry. We need to go." She stood and followed me.
Getting into the palace was easy. The guards were out fighting the invaders, so we had free run of the place. We went up to Yara's room and barricaded the doors. We had a brief moment to catch our breaths. No words were spoken. All of us had seen what happened. 'Why had we left him behind?' The thought rattled my mind.
Soon, the invaders banged on the door, scaring us all. "You need to go!" Yara said, shoving us toward the window.
"We can't leave you behind!"
"You have to. Go!" Yara insisted.
"No! I... I can't..."
"You know I'm right. Please. Go."
Yara was right. If I didn't leave with Kasumi, she would be killed. "Okay. We'll go. Take care of yourself. Don't die, okay?"
"Okay."
I grabbed Kasumi. "I won't forget you!" I shouted as I slid down the roof.
"I know..." The doors were flung open and she went into her fighting stance.
Running through the streets was harder now that everyone knew what was happening. I ran as fast as I could, eventually giving Kasumi a piggyback ride. We flew out of the city and ran left. We continued running until we saw a cliff. Invaders closed in on us, forcing us near the edge. I struck back, passion burning bright and hot as a star. Swords clashed for what felt like centuries and milliseconds at the same time. Kasumi watched and threw some psychic energy back into the mob where she could, but despite our best efforts, we were driven back. The cliff crumbled into a spraying ocean, a harsh rock stabbing through the waves. If we fell and hit our heads on that, it was game over. If we ran through the enemies, it was game over. The only thing I could do to save Kasumi was...
"The Fisherman's gift!" I pulled it out of my pocket and held it tight. "Kasumi, I'm going to protect you until this is all over!" She turned and looked at me. She nodded in understanding: Do it. "Shrobos kitane Kasumi!" I shouted. The orb glowed for a second before Kasumi was pulled into the gem. I saw her wave goodbye before disappearing. The stone landed in my hand. I picked up a long piece of grass and tied the orb around my neck.
"You want her? You'll have to get me, first!" I shouted. They readied themselves and charged. I saluted them and stepped backwards off the cliff. My adrenaline gone, I swam until I touched the bottom and passed out.
15 Minutes After Disaster