EMBRACE || a violet evergarden fanfic #1

XIX

  Continuous gunfire rang the air. The smell of gunpowder filled our nostrils. It felt like it was never-ending. I saw Kaji and Akihiko come from different sides, each leading a team of men.

They fired their rifles - the sound of their rounds piercing my ears. I joined in, and stabbed my blade to a nearby guard and stole away his shotgun. Using it, I took on three guards myself, with Dietfried firing his revolver - his aim never faltering.

The confrontation lasted for two and a half minutes, and I was surprised to find Uenoyama still alive. Around him lay the bodies of his men - our soldiers ; all in a lifeless heap, nearly buried in pools of blood.

"I'm surprised that you're still up and standing, Uenoyama," said a tireless Dietfried. Nearly half of his beautiful face and uniform was stained in enemy blood. His braid loosely held up his hair, most of his dark-blue strands have already started to come undone.

Uenoyama coughed up blood as he was brought down by both Kaji and Akihiko, and stared at Dietfried straight in the eye, "I will continue to serve the Marchioness, until the very end, unlike you, traitor." He spat.

"Traitor," Dietfried played with the words as he lifted his revolver and pulled back its hammer, "oh, Uenoyama ... what do you know about betrayal? The saddest thing about it, is that it never comes from your enemies."

"You ... you ungrateful boy -" The old man cried out.

"Ungrateful, traitorous, call me whatever you want. You won't live long to survive my torture anyways," Dietfried interrupted, "you may think you know me, but you don't. There is one thing you forgot about me, Uenoyama. I love treason, but hate traitors."

Uenoyama's eyes widened in alarm as Dietfried lazily flicked the hammer of his revolver, and pulled the trigger back. A shot rang out, and instead of aiming for the head, it hit his chest.

"Farewell, 裏切り者," He smirked. Traitor.

I watched as Kaji and Akihiko both let go of Uenoyama as the old man fell backwards. Dietfried sheathed his gun as he stole a glance at the lifeless heap, "Have his head, and leave the remains on her doorstep. We'll take the back entrances."

"Form up. We've wasted enough time," He shot a look at me and walked away without another word.

I stayed long enough to hear Kaji's blade driving deep across Uenoyama's throat. Bloody once he pulled away from the now-headless body, I hurried to join Dietfried. A few moments later, Akihiko and Kaji were both tailing after me - Akihiko having a cream-colored sack in his hand and his saber sheathed across his back.

We continued to navigate in a steady pace towards the main corridors of the residence, and found the narrow passage we had been walking through had opened to a dimly-lit hall.

Suspiciously, Dietfried seemed to know his way around this place - considering that it had actually belonged to the Rhododendron Marchioness. I wanted to ask how, but I kept myself quiet and followed him.

"If you're trying to sneak up on me, you're doing a good job," A lady-like voice commented.

All of us halted in our tracks, and right then, the lights burst to life. I had to shield my eyes to avoid blindness, but I pulled my arms away from my face just as the voice spoke again,

"You're doing a good job, I'll give you that," there was a sneer-like tone in her voice, then as if in some consideration, she said, "not great, but good."

Beside me, Dietfried suddenly let out a cry and lurched forward in pain. Amidst the confusion, I could spot a figure swishing around, a flash of silver in its hand ; as easy as that I could tell he or she was holding a blade.

"So what do I owe the visit of another Bougainvillea heir?" The voice asked, her voice filled with authority. I focused on her voice. She was easily spotted standing on the balcony that overlooked the entire hall with side stairs that led down to us.

Her voice sounded unnaturally distant. I tried looking around for help. Kaji and Akihiko must have spotted the shadow as well, because they were trying their best to catch it. The rest of the soldiers have met their downfall under the hands of the mysterious figure.

I must stop whoever it is, I thought with determination.

I drew in a sharp breath and clenched my fists at my sides. The shadow was distracting Dietfried from his target ; distracting both Kaji and Akihiko from their tasks. I must stop them from doing so, I repeated to myself.

I tightened my grip on the blade's hilt, and I flung.