Utapri Short Stories

Strong Enough - Part 14

The First Immediate Ichinose couldn't believe the princess was right. There really was another way out, which forced them to dive into a lake and swim to the outside of it. They both ran across the island to the place where they had left the boat they used, but to their surprise, the boat was no longer there. "What now?! We're stuck here!" The princess felt her heart clench and her eyes filled with tears. They didn't have much time.

"I hope you're not crying for me..." A familiar voice made the two of them turn around, facing Captain Kurosaki. His expression was still in pain and he leaned on his sword like a cane. "You two stupid idiots! I warned you it wasn't to take a chance on me!" And he slammed the sword into the head of the first immediate, who apparently had been waiting for it.

"You should be resting! You shouldn't be here! The island is surrounded by Captain Icy Heart's men!" The princess ran up to him and raised her arm to give him a face slap, but eventually stopped. "You can't fight like this..." The Captain held her face with one hand and lifted it until they were close together. "You have the flower that will heal me... I can fight and I will, to protect the one who risked her own life to save mine."

The princess's heart pierced her chest, and her eyes met the captain's eyes, in surprise. The first immediate Ichinose cleared his throat, uncomfortable with the scene between them, but that didn't discourage the other man. "The question is, do you want to go back to the castle or would you rather stay with us and become an even stronger woman?" The captain's proposal was as tempting as it was strange. She had already decided that before. He himself had answered for her. What did he mean by that same question this time?

...

Picture isn't mine. If you know the artist, let me know, please.