FIC: "Willowed Heart" (Kyou Kara Maou!)
Hello! Happy August to everyone! ^_^
And Happy Birthday,
damo_in_japan !!!! :-) Many happy returns of the day, my friend! *hugs*
And here is a little present for you too! Your very own unrequited. Josak-centric Kyou Kara Maou! tale. *grin* My apologies that it's not yet totally complete, but it got a bit more plotty than I'd really intended, and you know me - always getting a little carried away with the verbiage! Heh. (in fact, had to divide up the posts! *blush* - and am having EVER so much trouble posting today! Gah!)
For anyone else caring to read this, I'm afraid it's unbeta'd and only the first part, but I just had to post it today for DaMo's birthday surprise, of course! (well, since he lives in Japan, he gets to celebrate today AND yesterday, I suppose! ;-) Yay for international datelines!)
And for my DC friends, I also am hoping to get the next chapter of JLA: "Necessary Force" posted in the next day or two. (it's a long weekend here, so hooray for that too!) I'll try my best!
Hope everyone's having a lovely summer, and please, all, be safe on those roads!
Cheers, all!
Pax the Loquacious ;-)
Title: "Willowed Heart"
Author: Paxwolf
Fandom: Kyou Kara Maou!
Rating: PG
Warnings: Violence, Shounen-ai Themes, Shakespearean references, Much Unrequitedness herein.
Genre: Drama, Adventure, Hurt/Comfort
Pairings: (or more accurately, hints of pairings:) UNREQUITED Josak/Conrad, Conrad/Julia, Conrad/Yuri & Yuri/Conrad, (if that makes sense), Wolfram/Yuri, and tiny touch of Wolfram/Conrad. (Conwolf)
Disclaimer: I do not own KKM or its lovely, lovely cast of characters, just the few OC's, I suppose. KKM has been created and is owned by the ever-talented Tomo Takabayashi.
Summary: A deadly conspiracy plot against the Maou and his top advisors is uncovered by Gwendal's network of spies, so Josak and his Taichou set out to infiltrate the ring, bring it down, and save the day. (all amidst much personal angst, naturally!)
A.N.: This is only my second attempt at a KKM fic, (my first was " A Taste of Sunshine") and my first trying to write Josak, as well as Wolfram and other canon characters. I therefore hope the characterizations are somewhat close. I've also chosen to mostly use the name spellings from the 'official' English translation, in most cases, with the exception of some names and terms that I prefer from the Japanese or the fansubs, sometimes used interchangeably. (Hope that doesn't lead to undue confusion!) I realize there's also some controversy regarding the use of Japanese terminology and 'titles' from the anime, (aka 'fangirl Japanese'), but regardless, I chose to use a few of these (titles only, almost like 'nicknames', especially in Josak's case), as it was what I could better 'auditorialize' the Japanese voices of the characters in my head as I wrote the dialogue et al. I do hope it's not too disconcerting to readers who do not care for those minor useages. :-) Also, I was incredibly torn about how to refer to Conrad! Generally, I tend to think of him as Yuri does - and the majority of the audience, I think - as Conrad. But because this is mostly from Josak's POV, and as he has canonically called him 'Conrart', his actual given name, it seemed more accurate and fitting to do so here. It felt a bit weird to me, honestly, but I wanted it to be at least somewhat faithful to the source material, and it just seemed more accurate. Hope that's not awkward to readers either, and I do hope you enjoy!
A.N. 2: Where it all began: (i.e. Who's to blame *g*) This was written as a birthday gift for a dear friend of mine, the inestimable damo_in_japan, who, according to his lovely wife and my dear friend,
jen_in_japan , not only holds the character of Josak in highest regard, but apparently finds tales of unrequited love somewhat appealing every now and again. :-) Especially if they also contain plot! (Hence, the length of this, and my not being finished the story yet in time for his birthday deadline today. *blush*) He's also of the (rather shared) belief that Josak/Yozak is a tad more than just fond of one Lord Conrad Weller. I hope this fits the bill! Happy Birthday, DaMo!:-)
"Willowed Heart"
By Paxwolf
Part 1:
"Strive Against Hope"
"I know I love in vain,
strive against hope;
Yet in this captious and intenible sieve
I still pour in the waters of my love
And lack not to lose still."
- All's Well That Ends Well
I.
I think we might be in trouble here.
That was the overwhelming thought that pervaded Josak Gurrier's mind as he ducked and dodged, swung and struck, all the while trying to keep one eye on his wounded captain's back as Conrart Weller fought unflaggingly at his side.
Well, Taichou, we just may have bitten off more than we can chew this time.
But Conrart was in fine form, even with his fresh injuries - damn, I'm going to kill those two-bit traitors! - and in a few economic, too-swift-to-be-seen moves, had cut down the burly assailants before they could get under his guard.
Josak heaved a silent sigh in relief even as he dispatched his own irritant, and tossed a thumbs up at his captain, which was good cover for his attempt to scan his body for signs of just how bad off he was. Conrart still managed to catch the look and return it with a slightly pointed glare of his own. Josak shrugged with a grin and tugged his own bloody scarf tighter around his upper arm.
"Keep sharp, Josak," Conrart called, voice strong as if with something to prove. He twisted to the side to face the square again where more men were beginning to mill, but not before Josak spotted the bright stripe of scarlet that ran down Conrart's hip and over one thigh.
Unbidden, memories rose like fire in his mind of a certain devastating battle in the not-so distant past, a battle which he and his captain had also shared.
He didn't want this one to end the same way. Not if he could help it.
Why do we always end up in these messes? Magnet for trouble, aren't we, Taichou?
But the odds were against them this time too. And Josak would be damned if he allowed Conrart to die there, or be captured, or even to suffer a life-threatening injury and then die, even if it was just on the inside.
Again, he amended mentally, even as he leaped away from a pair of slashing swords as yet another attack began, even as an alarming knot of fear tightened his throat at the comparison.
I can't let that happen ever again! I won't, dammit!
He remembered how stubborn his friend had been then, how determined and relentless in his course of action, and how terrifyingly reckless he had been as he fought to save as many of his men as he could, only to fail utterly in the end, all of his courage and his manifold sacrifices to no avail.
All had been lost.
Apart from the battle itself. Against overwhelming odds, the battle had been won and the victory had swung the tide of the war with the humans in favour of Shin Makoku. But the cost of that achievement had been terrifyingly high.
Josak swallowed hard as he remembered. He could still feel the hot blood blossoming over his hand from Conrart's side where he had been pierced, still feel the thready pulse in the feverish skin under his fingers, still feel the dead weight of his captain in his arms.
He still remembered what it was like to feel Conrart begin to slip away.
He shook his head savagely.
No ...
That was in the past. Conrart hadn't succumbed. He'd survived.
He had won the battle ... and then lost nearly everything . He had lost ... lost Julia. And every one of Conrart's comrades had died that fateful day.
Except for Josak.
Josak had survived to carry his captain home from the battle, only to very nearly to lose him in the process.
It had been so close ...
It had been the worst day in both of their lives, and they had each seen some doozies, before and since.
But they were comrades and companions, friends and brothers in arms, a bond forged between them deeper than most people could ever know. And if Josak sometimes wished for something more, and felt more than the bonds of that camaraderie and friendship, well, he tried to push it out of mind, most days, and clung onto what precious ties he had been given. He and Conrart had always stood fast to each other, with loyalty and trust that went beyond words, and Josak knew that Conrart would, without hesitation, give his life to save his. And Josak, without question, would gladly do the same.
Sometimes he felt it was more than just enough.
But so many times crises had threatened to rip them asunder, and so many times had the things Conrart had been asked to bear been near impossible, and overwhelming in their need and demands.
Josak gritted his teeth. Conrart never turned away from what was asked of him, what was constantly required of him, no matter the price he was forced to continually pay.
And there's always, always a price.
And so very often Conrart had tried to go off into the night, to shoulder all the burdens the world thrust upon his shoulders, and upon his heart, on his own, all too often in the midst of danger and uncertainty and confusion beseeching Josak to keep himself secure and leave him, to leave Conrart to face the monsters and the darkness by himself.
Oh, Taicho, can't you see ...
But Josak would never leave him, never forsake him to stand against the terrors of the world all alone.
There was never any doubt about that.
Never.
He smiled grimly and his grip tightened on his sword.
A sound out of place alerted him and he jerked his attention back to their present predicament just in time to spot the sudden newest threat.
"Taichou, look out!"
Conrart seemed to hear him in the nick of time as he spun and caught the charge of a new adversary against his blade as the giant of a man tried to flank him from the rear, and deftly turned the attack away, only to be pushed back as he engaged two others who had converged on him from the shadow of the tavern, swords flashing. The group waiting in the square rushed forward simultaneously, weapons scything through the air along with their shouts.
"Get them!"
Josak swallowed back his fear and plunged more fiercely than ever into the battle, struggling to reach Conrart's side.
Sure they were outnumbered ten to one, but he wasn't the top agent of the kingdom for nothing; nor was Conrart still often called by his old war hero title as merely a long-idle honorific from the distant past.
He smirked as he watched his friend speedily take care of the newest attackers. Didn't these dinar-a-dozen hoodlums recognize how horribly outclassed they were?
They should really quit while they're ahead.
But even at the thought entertained itself in his head, a sudden shout from the street had both of them yanking their heads up in time to see a fresh wave of the brigands pouring of the surrounding streets and descending upon them, murderous intent in their eyes. There had to be nearly two dozen of them, all of them armed, and all of them in particularly foul moods to find that their game had been given up. They seemed especially determined to cut their losses, and there was really only one way left for them to do that.
Uh oh. This can't be good.
He exchanged a quick glance with Conrart and as one they backed up until the wall of the tavern was solidly against their backs, swords held in readiness in front of them. Josak noted uneasily that Conrart's breathing was more laboured than it ought to have been, and he twisted a little to try and get a look at just how bad the wounds were.
Damnit, if only Jenzen hadn't ...
"Josak," Conrart said quietly, gaze not leaving the encroaching band, "Get out of here." Josak took a moment to cast a look of incredulity over his shoulder at him, but Conrart ignored it, and remained focussed on the enemy. "We both know it's me they want. If you make a break for it, they probably won't pursue. You can get out."
"And leave you to their tender mercies?" He narrowed his gaze. "All alone? Surely you jest." He suppressed a growl of his own and shook his head with a trademark grin. "You always have picked the worst times for your cracked sense of humour to leak through, Taichou."
Conrart hissed a breath through his teeth, and Josak was uncertain if it was exasperation at his words or due to the pain. "I need you to be safe!" Josak felt a pang go through him at that. "And ... you can get word to Gwendal. Make sure that they're all safe, and that Yuri ..."
His next words were lost as the ruffians encircling them gave a great shout, and brandished their own weapons, some glaring at the two menacingly, some with wicked smiles curving their lips at the knowledge that they had them.
I need you to be safe too, Conrart. I didn't leave you back then when you ordered me to. And I sure as hell won't be abandoning you now!
"You're ours," the bearded man in the lead grunted, and whirled his cutlass in front of him in a nasty, skilled little mulinette. "Go ahead. Make things more fun for us." He showed a mass of yellowed teeth as he grinned, and the men behind him guffawed, also hefting their various weapons.
"Josak," Conrart cried in desperation or anger, it was hard to tell which. "Go! Please!"
Josak only laughed out loud, eyeing up the forces beginning to advance on them. "You've lost more blood than I'd have guessed to make you this idiotic, Taichou. You really want me to leave you to your own devices? You're a riot and a half today, Captain. You know you can't get along without me." He smirked again. "Besides, the kiddo would skin me alive if I let you get sliced and diced any more than you've been already." He shook his head even as he raised his blade in readiness. "You're always so much work! Really, you need someone to take you to task once in a while for your pig-headedness, Taichou, and looks like that job is falling to me today!"
"Josak ..."
But whatever protest or command or plea that was about to spill from the man's lips was lost as the their assailants surged forward in an attempt to overwhelm them with sheer numbers. And Josak's own thoughts and fears were drowned out by the clash of steel and the need to focus all of his energies on fighting back, on staying alive, on protecting Conrart's back.
There's too many of them ...
He fought with everything he had, trying to take out as many as he could, all the while keeping the corner of his eye on Conrart, trying to watch for when he faltered, or when an enemy's weapon got through a hole in his defence, determined to be there when it did, regardless of the cost to himself. There were so many, and they were relentless, and with their prize in sight, they gave no quarter.
"Remember, men!" He could hear Jilt calling out from the side of the fray in a loud, gleeful voice. "Don't get too carried away! We need Weller alive! Bring him down!" He pointed his pike at the two half-Mazoku, greed and malice flashing in his eyes. "He'll fetch a pretty price, oh yes he will." His glance turned from hungrily assessing Conrart to meet Josak's baleful glare. He grinned nastily. "And go ahead and kill the half-blood spy."
Jilt, you moron, you are so dead.
Josak gritted his teeth and swore aloud as a fast, vicious assault nearly disarmed him. He drove back the attacker before turning to the next one, keeping one ear on the gasps that were coming with alarming frequency from the man at his side. It didn't seem to slow the soldier down too significantly, though, his training and his skill and stamina serving him well, and he was cutting down one man after another.
But there were so many, and they just wouldn't stop coming.
Damn it! They're going to ...
A swing from a cudgel got through his shield of parries, and glanced a heavy blow off the side of his head. For a moment, all he could see were stars as he fell to one knee.
No! If I go down, then Conrart's lost ... I can't fail him ... I can't let them take him!!!
He tried to surge up to his feet, lashing out with his blade, but the cudgel wielder was only a blur before him, and danced out of reach, swinging the heavy weapon around again, and the next thing Josak knew the whole world had tilted crazily, and the ground seemed to take up the whole horizon.
No ... damnit, no ... I won't let you ... you can't have him!
He heard a shout of triumph go up, and a sharp cry was torn from his friend, but it seemed to come from a very long distance away, and even as he struggled to see where Conrart was, and what was happening to him, a fuzzy-edged boot blackened his sky and a bolt of pain again lanced through his head.
I'm sorry, I'm sorry ... I didn't mean to forsake you, I'm sorry ...
He couldn't see anything anymore, and even as he cursed uselessly, silently, he could feel his consciousness start to bleed away, and surely he must already be dreaming because he could hear voices, and they weren't belonging to the men who had swarmed them, but were familiar, nearly familial, voices, voices of home, and he was dreaming, and remembering, and he was leaving, leaving, no, don't want to go ... can't go ...can't leave you ... leaving, leaving, and quite suddenly was back where this whole mess had begun.
-----
To be Continued ... in the very next Post right ... Here. (this fic has already got so lengthy that it won't fit into one posting window! And SO many posting problems today! Arrrghh!)
- Also, I thought I'd share a couple pieces of fanart I'd found over the last year or so, that I found inspirational to look at when I write. I'll put up one with the parts as I post, if I can, starting with this lovely Josak/Conrad piece below! (Regrettably, I can't read Japanese, and I mean no disrespect to the artists and creators of these works, but as they were from Japanese sites, I'm afraid I don't know how to properly credit. I am simply admiring and sharing them, with hopefully no harm or foul. :-) )
This particular one, however, I believe is by an artist called 'Milky Apple', and it really strikes me as startlingly appropriate for what Josak is remembering in this opening scene of the story. I hope you enjoy! :-)
Awww ....
And Happy Birthday,
damo_in_japan !!!! :-) Many happy returns of the day, my friend! *hugs*
And here is a little present for you too! Your very own unrequited. Josak-centric Kyou Kara Maou! tale. *grin* My apologies that it's not yet totally complete, but it got a bit more plotty than I'd really intended, and you know me - always getting a little carried away with the verbiage! Heh. (in fact, had to divide up the posts! *blush* - and am having EVER so much trouble posting today! Gah!)
For anyone else caring to read this, I'm afraid it's unbeta'd and only the first part, but I just had to post it today for DaMo's birthday surprise, of course! (well, since he lives in Japan, he gets to celebrate today AND yesterday, I suppose! ;-) Yay for international datelines!)
And for my DC friends, I also am hoping to get the next chapter of JLA: "Necessary Force" posted in the next day or two. (it's a long weekend here, so hooray for that too!) I'll try my best!
Hope everyone's having a lovely summer, and please, all, be safe on those roads!
Cheers, all!
Pax the Loquacious ;-)
Title: "Willowed Heart"
Author: Paxwolf
Fandom: Kyou Kara Maou!
Rating: PG
Warnings: Violence, Shounen-ai Themes, Shakespearean references, Much Unrequitedness herein.
Genre: Drama, Adventure, Hurt/Comfort
Pairings: (or more accurately, hints of pairings:) UNREQUITED Josak/Conrad, Conrad/Julia, Conrad/Yuri & Yuri/Conrad, (if that makes sense), Wolfram/Yuri, and tiny touch of Wolfram/Conrad. (Conwolf)
Disclaimer: I do not own KKM or its lovely, lovely cast of characters, just the few OC's, I suppose. KKM has been created and is owned by the ever-talented Tomo Takabayashi.
Summary: A deadly conspiracy plot against the Maou and his top advisors is uncovered by Gwendal's network of spies, so Josak and his Taichou set out to infiltrate the ring, bring it down, and save the day. (all amidst much personal angst, naturally!)
A.N.: This is only my second attempt at a KKM fic, (my first was " A Taste of Sunshine") and my first trying to write Josak, as well as Wolfram and other canon characters. I therefore hope the characterizations are somewhat close. I've also chosen to mostly use the name spellings from the 'official' English translation, in most cases, with the exception of some names and terms that I prefer from the Japanese or the fansubs, sometimes used interchangeably. (Hope that doesn't lead to undue confusion!) I realize there's also some controversy regarding the use of Japanese terminology and 'titles' from the anime, (aka 'fangirl Japanese'), but regardless, I chose to use a few of these (titles only, almost like 'nicknames', especially in Josak's case), as it was what I could better 'auditorialize' the Japanese voices of the characters in my head as I wrote the dialogue et al. I do hope it's not too disconcerting to readers who do not care for those minor useages. :-) Also, I was incredibly torn about how to refer to Conrad! Generally, I tend to think of him as Yuri does - and the majority of the audience, I think - as Conrad. But because this is mostly from Josak's POV, and as he has canonically called him 'Conrart', his actual given name, it seemed more accurate and fitting to do so here. It felt a bit weird to me, honestly, but I wanted it to be at least somewhat faithful to the source material, and it just seemed more accurate. Hope that's not awkward to readers either, and I do hope you enjoy!
A.N. 2: Where it all began: (i.e. Who's to blame *g*) This was written as a birthday gift for a dear friend of mine, the inestimable damo_in_japan, who, according to his lovely wife and my dear friend,
jen_in_japan , not only holds the character of Josak in highest regard, but apparently finds tales of unrequited love somewhat appealing every now and again. :-) Especially if they also contain plot! (Hence, the length of this, and my not being finished the story yet in time for his birthday deadline today. *blush*) He's also of the (rather shared) belief that Josak/Yozak is a tad more than just fond of one Lord Conrad Weller. I hope this fits the bill! Happy Birthday, DaMo!:-)
"Willowed Heart"
By Paxwolf
Part 1:
"Strive Against Hope"
"I know I love in vain,
strive against hope;
Yet in this captious and intenible sieve
I still pour in the waters of my love
And lack not to lose still."
- All's Well That Ends Well
I.
I think we might be in trouble here.
That was the overwhelming thought that pervaded Josak Gurrier's mind as he ducked and dodged, swung and struck, all the while trying to keep one eye on his wounded captain's back as Conrart Weller fought unflaggingly at his side.
Well, Taichou, we just may have bitten off more than we can chew this time.
But Conrart was in fine form, even with his fresh injuries - damn, I'm going to kill those two-bit traitors! - and in a few economic, too-swift-to-be-seen moves, had cut down the burly assailants before they could get under his guard.
Josak heaved a silent sigh in relief even as he dispatched his own irritant, and tossed a thumbs up at his captain, which was good cover for his attempt to scan his body for signs of just how bad off he was. Conrart still managed to catch the look and return it with a slightly pointed glare of his own. Josak shrugged with a grin and tugged his own bloody scarf tighter around his upper arm.
"Keep sharp, Josak," Conrart called, voice strong as if with something to prove. He twisted to the side to face the square again where more men were beginning to mill, but not before Josak spotted the bright stripe of scarlet that ran down Conrart's hip and over one thigh.
Unbidden, memories rose like fire in his mind of a certain devastating battle in the not-so distant past, a battle which he and his captain had also shared.
He didn't want this one to end the same way. Not if he could help it.
Why do we always end up in these messes? Magnet for trouble, aren't we, Taichou?
But the odds were against them this time too. And Josak would be damned if he allowed Conrart to die there, or be captured, or even to suffer a life-threatening injury and then die, even if it was just on the inside.
Again, he amended mentally, even as he leaped away from a pair of slashing swords as yet another attack began, even as an alarming knot of fear tightened his throat at the comparison.
I can't let that happen ever again! I won't, dammit!
He remembered how stubborn his friend had been then, how determined and relentless in his course of action, and how terrifyingly reckless he had been as he fought to save as many of his men as he could, only to fail utterly in the end, all of his courage and his manifold sacrifices to no avail.
All had been lost.
Apart from the battle itself. Against overwhelming odds, the battle had been won and the victory had swung the tide of the war with the humans in favour of Shin Makoku. But the cost of that achievement had been terrifyingly high.
Josak swallowed hard as he remembered. He could still feel the hot blood blossoming over his hand from Conrart's side where he had been pierced, still feel the thready pulse in the feverish skin under his fingers, still feel the dead weight of his captain in his arms.
He still remembered what it was like to feel Conrart begin to slip away.
He shook his head savagely.
No ...
That was in the past. Conrart hadn't succumbed. He'd survived.
He had won the battle ... and then lost nearly everything . He had lost ... lost Julia. And every one of Conrart's comrades had died that fateful day.
Except for Josak.
Josak had survived to carry his captain home from the battle, only to very nearly to lose him in the process.
It had been so close ...
It had been the worst day in both of their lives, and they had each seen some doozies, before and since.
But they were comrades and companions, friends and brothers in arms, a bond forged between them deeper than most people could ever know. And if Josak sometimes wished for something more, and felt more than the bonds of that camaraderie and friendship, well, he tried to push it out of mind, most days, and clung onto what precious ties he had been given. He and Conrart had always stood fast to each other, with loyalty and trust that went beyond words, and Josak knew that Conrart would, without hesitation, give his life to save his. And Josak, without question, would gladly do the same.
Sometimes he felt it was more than just enough.
But so many times crises had threatened to rip them asunder, and so many times had the things Conrart had been asked to bear been near impossible, and overwhelming in their need and demands.
Josak gritted his teeth. Conrart never turned away from what was asked of him, what was constantly required of him, no matter the price he was forced to continually pay.
And there's always, always a price.
And so very often Conrart had tried to go off into the night, to shoulder all the burdens the world thrust upon his shoulders, and upon his heart, on his own, all too often in the midst of danger and uncertainty and confusion beseeching Josak to keep himself secure and leave him, to leave Conrart to face the monsters and the darkness by himself.
Oh, Taicho, can't you see ...
But Josak would never leave him, never forsake him to stand against the terrors of the world all alone.
There was never any doubt about that.
Never.
He smiled grimly and his grip tightened on his sword.
A sound out of place alerted him and he jerked his attention back to their present predicament just in time to spot the sudden newest threat.
"Taichou, look out!"
Conrart seemed to hear him in the nick of time as he spun and caught the charge of a new adversary against his blade as the giant of a man tried to flank him from the rear, and deftly turned the attack away, only to be pushed back as he engaged two others who had converged on him from the shadow of the tavern, swords flashing. The group waiting in the square rushed forward simultaneously, weapons scything through the air along with their shouts.
"Get them!"
Josak swallowed back his fear and plunged more fiercely than ever into the battle, struggling to reach Conrart's side.
Sure they were outnumbered ten to one, but he wasn't the top agent of the kingdom for nothing; nor was Conrart still often called by his old war hero title as merely a long-idle honorific from the distant past.
He smirked as he watched his friend speedily take care of the newest attackers. Didn't these dinar-a-dozen hoodlums recognize how horribly outclassed they were?
They should really quit while they're ahead.
But even at the thought entertained itself in his head, a sudden shout from the street had both of them yanking their heads up in time to see a fresh wave of the brigands pouring of the surrounding streets and descending upon them, murderous intent in their eyes. There had to be nearly two dozen of them, all of them armed, and all of them in particularly foul moods to find that their game had been given up. They seemed especially determined to cut their losses, and there was really only one way left for them to do that.
Uh oh. This can't be good.
He exchanged a quick glance with Conrart and as one they backed up until the wall of the tavern was solidly against their backs, swords held in readiness in front of them. Josak noted uneasily that Conrart's breathing was more laboured than it ought to have been, and he twisted a little to try and get a look at just how bad the wounds were.
Damnit, if only Jenzen hadn't ...
"Josak," Conrart said quietly, gaze not leaving the encroaching band, "Get out of here." Josak took a moment to cast a look of incredulity over his shoulder at him, but Conrart ignored it, and remained focussed on the enemy. "We both know it's me they want. If you make a break for it, they probably won't pursue. You can get out."
"And leave you to their tender mercies?" He narrowed his gaze. "All alone? Surely you jest." He suppressed a growl of his own and shook his head with a trademark grin. "You always have picked the worst times for your cracked sense of humour to leak through, Taichou."
Conrart hissed a breath through his teeth, and Josak was uncertain if it was exasperation at his words or due to the pain. "I need you to be safe!" Josak felt a pang go through him at that. "And ... you can get word to Gwendal. Make sure that they're all safe, and that Yuri ..."
His next words were lost as the ruffians encircling them gave a great shout, and brandished their own weapons, some glaring at the two menacingly, some with wicked smiles curving their lips at the knowledge that they had them.
I need you to be safe too, Conrart. I didn't leave you back then when you ordered me to. And I sure as hell won't be abandoning you now!
"You're ours," the bearded man in the lead grunted, and whirled his cutlass in front of him in a nasty, skilled little mulinette. "Go ahead. Make things more fun for us." He showed a mass of yellowed teeth as he grinned, and the men behind him guffawed, also hefting their various weapons.
"Josak," Conrart cried in desperation or anger, it was hard to tell which. "Go! Please!"
Josak only laughed out loud, eyeing up the forces beginning to advance on them. "You've lost more blood than I'd have guessed to make you this idiotic, Taichou. You really want me to leave you to your own devices? You're a riot and a half today, Captain. You know you can't get along without me." He smirked again. "Besides, the kiddo would skin me alive if I let you get sliced and diced any more than you've been already." He shook his head even as he raised his blade in readiness. "You're always so much work! Really, you need someone to take you to task once in a while for your pig-headedness, Taichou, and looks like that job is falling to me today!"
"Josak ..."
But whatever protest or command or plea that was about to spill from the man's lips was lost as the their assailants surged forward in an attempt to overwhelm them with sheer numbers. And Josak's own thoughts and fears were drowned out by the clash of steel and the need to focus all of his energies on fighting back, on staying alive, on protecting Conrart's back.
There's too many of them ...
He fought with everything he had, trying to take out as many as he could, all the while keeping the corner of his eye on Conrart, trying to watch for when he faltered, or when an enemy's weapon got through a hole in his defence, determined to be there when it did, regardless of the cost to himself. There were so many, and they were relentless, and with their prize in sight, they gave no quarter.
"Remember, men!" He could hear Jilt calling out from the side of the fray in a loud, gleeful voice. "Don't get too carried away! We need Weller alive! Bring him down!" He pointed his pike at the two half-Mazoku, greed and malice flashing in his eyes. "He'll fetch a pretty price, oh yes he will." His glance turned from hungrily assessing Conrart to meet Josak's baleful glare. He grinned nastily. "And go ahead and kill the half-blood spy."
Jilt, you moron, you are so dead.
Josak gritted his teeth and swore aloud as a fast, vicious assault nearly disarmed him. He drove back the attacker before turning to the next one, keeping one ear on the gasps that were coming with alarming frequency from the man at his side. It didn't seem to slow the soldier down too significantly, though, his training and his skill and stamina serving him well, and he was cutting down one man after another.
But there were so many, and they just wouldn't stop coming.
Damn it! They're going to ...
A swing from a cudgel got through his shield of parries, and glanced a heavy blow off the side of his head. For a moment, all he could see were stars as he fell to one knee.
No! If I go down, then Conrart's lost ... I can't fail him ... I can't let them take him!!!
He tried to surge up to his feet, lashing out with his blade, but the cudgel wielder was only a blur before him, and danced out of reach, swinging the heavy weapon around again, and the next thing Josak knew the whole world had tilted crazily, and the ground seemed to take up the whole horizon.
No ... damnit, no ... I won't let you ... you can't have him!
He heard a shout of triumph go up, and a sharp cry was torn from his friend, but it seemed to come from a very long distance away, and even as he struggled to see where Conrart was, and what was happening to him, a fuzzy-edged boot blackened his sky and a bolt of pain again lanced through his head.
I'm sorry, I'm sorry ... I didn't mean to forsake you, I'm sorry ...
He couldn't see anything anymore, and even as he cursed uselessly, silently, he could feel his consciousness start to bleed away, and surely he must already be dreaming because he could hear voices, and they weren't belonging to the men who had swarmed them, but were familiar, nearly familial, voices, voices of home, and he was dreaming, and remembering, and he was leaving, leaving, no, don't want to go ... can't go ...can't leave you ... leaving, leaving, and quite suddenly was back where this whole mess had begun.
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To be Continued ... in the very next Post right ... Here. (this fic has already got so lengthy that it won't fit into one posting window! And SO many posting problems today! Arrrghh!)
- Also, I thought I'd share a couple pieces of fanart I'd found over the last year or so, that I found inspirational to look at when I write. I'll put up one with the parts as I post, if I can, starting with this lovely Josak/Conrad piece below! (Regrettably, I can't read Japanese, and I mean no disrespect to the artists and creators of these works, but as they were from Japanese sites, I'm afraid I don't know how to properly credit. I am simply admiring and sharing them, with hopefully no harm or foul. :-) )
This particular one, however, I believe is by an artist called 'Milky Apple', and it really strikes me as startlingly appropriate for what Josak is remembering in this opening scene of the story. I hope you enjoy! :-)
Awww ....