Chapter Text
My POV:
I stared up at the bright blue sky. The clouds drifted closely together, disappearing from the sky when they reached the end of it. The clouds were so free, so simple. They wandered the horizon aimlessly, with no purpose. It’s like they didn’t need a purpose. They simply existed. I sighed and turned my eyes to the sight in front of me.
It was an awful sight. The Imperial Demon Army was once again at war with the vampires. The battle was gruesome, more losses than the Army normally experienced. However, there was still a great number of soldiers left. And they all fought as hard as they possibly could.
Screams of anguish echoed from every direction, and blood soaked the ground. I heard the clean shink as swords entered and exited out of bodies, blood spurting out of wounds. I watched as one of my own comrades was stabbed through the heart, a splotch of red blossoming on his chest.
In the heat of battle, my friend, Kirei, and I were fighting with everything we had. As part of the Moon Demon Company, as well as members of Guren’s special squad, we couldn’t afford to lose. It was exhausting, watching our own men be slaughtered by the enemy, yet having to push forward.
Both of us had drawn our weapons countless times, taking the lives of countless vampires. I glanced at my best friend, whose brunette locks swung in the breeze as she defeated her foes. A wave of dizziness suddenly came over me, and I put a hand to my temple.
These field rations are inadequate for proper nutrition, I thought.
“Kirei,” I called out to her. “It looks like the fight is slowing down.” The bright eyed girl looked at me and grinned.
“I think you might be right.”
•
At the moment, we were at the camp, resting up. The battle was at a temporary halt. Sitting outside of a tent, I took a gulp of water. I noticed a figure approaching me, and I turned my head to greet them.
“Hello!” Kirei said cheerfully as she neared me.
“Hey,” I replied with a smile. Before I could say anything else, we were interrupted.
“Hello, ladies,” said a new voice from behind me.
I turned my head to find Lieutenant Colonel Guren Ichinose, signature smirk on his lips. Swiftly, I stood up as a show of respect to my superior. The lightheadedness quickly returned, and I swayed a little, but didn’t lose my footing.
“Lieutenant Colonel,” Kirei and I addressed him.
“I just want to say that you two did an excellent job today on the battlefield,” he complimented. “I hope to see the same from you tomorrow.”
I grinned, and Kirei enthusiastically told him, “Will do, sir.”
As Kirei made conversation with Guren, I stood there. The dizziness had not yet faded, and was, in fact, worsening. Spots swam in my vision, and my senses were becoming dulled. Am I about to faint? I thought, worried.
My vision was now black, and my hearing was fuzzy at best. I began breathing heavily, and finally, I gave up the fight to remain conscious.
Guren’s POV:
Yukino looked more pale than usual. Is she ok? I wondered. Kirei glanced at her friend. Her expression quickly became concerned. “Yukino, are you alright?” She asked. The woman in question was unresponsive.
Suddenly, her knees buckled. Before she could collapse, I caught her in my arms. Yukino’s eyes were closed now, her face covered in a thin layer of sweat. Kirei began to panic.
“Yukino!” She cried. Her breathing quickened significantly.
“Don’t worry,” I quickly assured her. “She just fainted. Probably as a result of measly field rations and over exertion, but she should be fine in no time.”
However, Kirei did not stop worrying. Her eyes misted over, and she was still panting. I sighed, knowing what my next step had to be.
“Kirei,” I said calmly. She looked at me, and before she could speak, I punched her in the gut. She let out a strangled cough, then collapsed. Just like her friend, I caught her in my other arm. My lips pulled up a little.
Better not let a certain someone see this, or he’ll get jealous.
•
My POV:
I opened my eyes, feeling as if there was a bag of sand in them. I then took note of the fact that I was lying in a bed in one of the tents. It was dark, with only a little light coming through the tent flap. Sitting up, I found Kirei asleep on my right, also on a bed. Guren was sitting on a chair at the entrance of the tent.
“Finally, one of them is awake,” he commented.
“What happened?” I asked him.
“You fainted, and upon seeing your state, Kirei freaked out. So I knocked her out, caught you both, and brought you here.” Guren responded dryly.
Suddenly, the tent flap opened and a young man entered in. “Guren!” He said. “What are you waiting for? Come outside so you can show me the trick you said I can learn to do with my sword.”
Guren sighed. “Yuu, get out. I’ll be right there, ok?” Growling with frustration, the boy reluctantly left.
“Anyway,” Guren continued. “Where was I? Oh, right. You two fainted, and here we are.”
My face flushed in embarrassment. “I’m so sorry, Lieutenant—“
“Save it,” Guren interrupted, standing up. “I’ll be taking my leave now, just take care of Kirei.”
I nodded at his command. After he left, I got up and sat by Kirei’s bed, waiting for her to awaken.