Regrets of The Fallen (Victis Honor Book 1) (6 page)

“You’re a good argument for fate, you know. What are the chances of my randomly meeting you here, in this town where neither of us lives, where neither of us often visits?” She paused, looking back at Haruka. “You
don’t
visit here often, right?”

Haruka smiled a bit, shaking her head.

“Then it’s FATE!” Isabella cried out, raising a hand victoriously. “Finally working in my favor for once!”

Haruka chuckled. How could you not feel good when someone was so happy about having met you? She was still getting used to this, being around someone who was just glad that she was
there
. She didn’t have to do anything or say anything; her presence seemed to be enough to make Isabella happy. Haruka didn’t claim to understand why; she was just grateful.

This put her in a mood that helped as they entered a heavily crowded market area of the town. So far they’d only passed one or two people, but now they were in the thick of it. Dozens, even hundreds of people milled about in this area, hundreds of eyes that could focus on and judge her. This was the test, she felt, but for what, exactly, she didn’t know. She didn’t get long to think about it, either, because Isabella grabbed her hand, flashed her a smile and pulled her through the crowd, weaving between moving bodies.

Isabella’s grip was reassuring, her smile more so, and her excitement soon cancelled out Haruka’s anxiety. The monk didn’t need to be an expert on people to figure out that Bella was doing this on purpose. It put the facts of her new life in front of her, really; made them reality. She realized her chosen devotion to the cobalt-haired woman gained her not only devotion in return but
support
, a partner that would be at her side through everything.

Haruka found herself embracing such ideas more quickly and fully than she would have thought herself capable of. She felt that, having been so solitary, removed and hard for most of her life, she should be more resistant to gaining such a strong friendship so quickly. Perhaps she’d never been lonely out of choice. Perhaps she’d just never had someone she wanted such a bond with and, now that she did, she was eager to see just how far it would go.

Isabella pulled her up to a stand, grinning like a child at the man behind it. Haruka examined the man’s stand and noticed all manner of food, mostly sweets and candy. For some reason, the fact that Bella chose this as the first place to stop didn’t surprise her. “Two of the least healthy things you have, please!” she exclaimed, causing Haruka to roll her eyes.

The man – an elderly gentleman dressed nicely for the crowds today – did glance at Haruka’s mask a bit long, as she expected, but encouragingly, he seemed interested rather than repulsed or cautious. Haruka supposed Isabella’s repeated assurance that she would ‘look mysterious’ had been correct all along. Maybe this whole thing wouldn’t be so bad after all.

The old man chuckled at Isabella’s energy and her order, looking at her in amusement. “I can appreciate the sentiment, young one,” he said as he worked on two items.

Isabella smiled. “Young one, huh? I don’t get that very often.”

“Oh, you may be well beyond your childhood, but still in your earlier years. I’m over eighty so, to me, you’re young.”

Isabella grinned at him. “You’re a human, right? I’m over three hundred, so I’m well older than you.”

The man chuckled again. “You may think that at first, but reaching the end of your life is more significant in matters of age than years are. The two of you are young to me no matter what you say.”

Isabella smiled respectfully at him. “I bow to your superior wisdom,” she stated, physically bowing. “I hope that means you won’t judge me for the extremely childish manner in which I intend to experience this day.”

Both the man and Haruka laughed at that. He then handed them each a shish kabob covered with candied fruit that dripped with syrup, grinning as Isabella’s face lit up. “Everyone needs to act like a kid every so often. Keeps you sane.”

Bella gave him a smile as she paid him. “
You
, sir, understand.” She handed one of them to Haruka, bidding the man good-bye as they started walking again, biting into the fruit and making the exact sounds one would expect from a child eating sweets.

Haruka smirked, overtly taking a bite like a
normal
person, an act that didn’t go past Bella’s notice. The blue-haired woman stuck her tongue out at her and Haru snickered. She looked back over her shoulder. “Speak well,” she said, referencing Bella’s conversation with the old man. “Get along.”

“I guess I’m something of a people person these days,” Bella agreed, sucking on a piece of apple, her favorite. “Mmm, apples…” She looked back over her shoulder as well before smiling at Haruka. “It’s really not that hard. Most people respond to the way you act. If you act standoffish, they’ll probably do the same. On the other hand, if you come to them with a smile, a good attitude and a bit of kindness, you’d be surprised how many people will treat you with the same.”

Haruka nodded; it was good advice, for most people. “Harder,” she stated, “for me.”

“I suppose it is…” Isabella looked at her. She opened her mouth as if to ask, but closed it again without saying anything.

Haruka understood, though, so she pointed to her chest just below her throat, indicating her voice. “Birth defect… weak chords,” she explained. It wasn’t something she liked admitting but it wasn’t like she could hide it. And besides, if she was going to spend a long time with Isabella, the woman deserved to know why her travelling companion only said one or two words at a time. “Too much,” she continued, “hurts; stops.”

“Oh, I see,” Isabella responded, looking at her sadly. That disappeared in a second, though, replaced with an affectionate smile. “I still think it’s cute.”

Haruka blushed again but answered with a smile, “Good.”

“I can imagine it must be frustrating. Being unable to do something can be the worst feeling.” Isabella watched her companion’s eyes as they walked. “Little unique things like that are good, though. It’s just another special part of you. And besides… It may be selfish, but…” Isabella herself actually blushed this time as she looked away, causing Haruka to raise an eyebrow. “Well, it
is
selfish, but I kind of like the idea that, eventually, I’ll understand what you say more than anyone else does. I’ve never had any sort of personal connection like that.”

Haruka gave an understanding smile. “Selfish,” she started, “about me…” She allowed herself to take a pause in between before continuing with another smile, “is good.”

“Just remember you said that when I start acting smug around other people because I’m closer to you.”

Haruka chuckled. “They’d care?”

Isabella shrugged. “I dunno, it doesn’t really matter if they’d care. I just think I’ll get smug about it because
I
care.”

Haruka
's reply died on her lips as she noticed two figures in the crowd. More importantly they were two figures she recognized. She grabbed Isabella’s wrist, beginning to push her way through the crowd. “Ow! Haruka, what are you… Is something wrong?” Isabella looked around and soon spotted the two – in similar dress to Haruka – heading towards them.

It was really something, Haruka thought, as she watched all traces of childishness vanish from Isabella’s face to be replaced by a much harder, even intimidating look. One minute you wouldn’t think she could hurt a fly; the next minute you wouldn’t be surprised if she was a danger to the entire
city
. She wasn’t wearing her armor at the moment so Haruka was worried (she would be anyway), but at least she had her sword on her hip.

They and the two other Black Sun Monks broke into a run at the same instant. Fortunately they had reached the edge of the crowd so they darted into an alleyway and kept running. Haruka found that she was faster than Isabella, but the other woman had a natural grace that helped her keep up. It wasn’t like she was slow; she was far faster than the average person. But Haruka got the feeling that Bella paced her running due to her condition. Long-term, all-out sprinting probably wasn’t good for her.

Several streets down, once they were away from all the crowds, Isabella stopped and turned around as she pulled her sword from her belt (still tied into its scabbard, always tied into its scabbard). “We’ll never outrun them at this pace. You could do it yourself…” She looked at Haruka, smiling at the look she received.  “I figured you wouldn’t. Looks like we’re making a stand, then.”

Haruka moved up beside her. The two monks came running out to the street in front of them, stopping upon seeing them waiting. One of the monks was the blonde Sarya, Haruka’s former partner. Neither of the two women was surprised by this. The other monk was a man with
crimson hair swept to one side of his face and a sharp appearance. Unlike the other two he wore black; Haruka was a bit nervous about him.

Sarya’s blue eyes narrowed at Haruka. “So you’re siding with
her
now? Against your own people? Your
home
?”

Isabella looked at Haruka, who just shrugged. “Choice,” she stated. “Right one.”

The crimson-haired man sighed. “I still believe you are jumping to conclusions, Sarya.” He brought one arm across his stomach, resting the other elbow on it and curling his hand before his mouth in thought as his brown eyes focused on the brunette monk. “This is very disappointing, if true, Haruka. You had a lot of promise. The Masters will not like this.”

Haruka shook her head. “Tough.”

Sarya was getting angrier by the moment and directed it at the man now. “Why are you just
talking
, Kyne? Can’t you see she’s a traitor?”

“Until this point it didn’t seem like she had a choice,” Kyne responded. “She was injured – by
your
careless aim, I might add –“

“She could’ve dodged it if she didn’t save that-“

“By YOUR careless aim,” he continued, “and you just left her. This woman…” He looked at Isabella as if awaiting an introduction.

“Oh! Isabella,” she said, a little friendlier than Haruka thought was appropriate in this situation, but whatever.

“Isabella,” he continued with a smile, “took her and healed her. So of course Haruka has been with her for this time. That is not a crime. As for the lovely knight here, she got in the way of the job, but we have no personal quarrel with her. Neither deserves death.” He looked at Haruka. “You can still come back with us. Leave with us now, and you will have no further trouble. Isabella shall be left alone.”

Alone. When describing Isabella, that word was a lot more negative than Kyne had meant it. Haruka didn’t plan to leave the woman alone at all. She looked Kyne in the eyes, shaking her head apologetically. “Sorry.”

“So you truly
are
choosing a stranger over the Black Sun?”

“Not stranger,” Haruka corrected. “Bella.” Isabella smiled in amusement at that.

“You’ve only known her for two days. How much do you even know about her?”

Haruka didn’t seem bothered in the least. “Enough.”

“Enough for a decision like this? This is extremely rash and irresponsible. I had more faith in you.”

“Be silent,” Isabella interrupted, directing a hard gaze at the man. “She doesn’t have to suffer your judgment. She made a decision to change her life, to live a new one. What makes you think it’s even
about
me? Maybe she just wants more freedom.”

Kyne smirked, looking from her to Haruka. “Oh, it’s about you.” He lowered his hands. “It looks like we really only have one choice, then.”

“Fight?” Haruka asked. Upon seeing his nod she scoffed, cracking her knuckles against her palm and tilting her head to crack her neck. “Unfair.”

Isabella smiled. “You think they should get some help?”

“Some? Much.”

Kyne narrowed his eyes. “Your overconfidence is surprising as well as disappointing. You know you can’t take someone on my level.”

Haruka studied him. “Six.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Six what?”

“Five,” Isabella added with a smile at her.

Sarya frowned. “Is this some sort of code?”

“Four,” Haruka continued, rolling her shoulders.

“How could they have a code already?”

“Three,” said Isabella, shifting one foot.

“Two,” responded Haruka, clenching her hands into fists.

“Honestly,” Kyne said in irritation, “What
are
you-“

“One,” Isabella finished, exploding into movement so fast that Kyne barely managed to jerk his head to the side, avoiding the thrusting sword that shot past his face. Isabella redirected her movement, spinning clockwise and bringing her sword around, forcing him to duck. He then leapt back and she leapt after him.

Sarya wasn’t so lucky. The speed of Bella’s sudden movement had put her off-guard for just a moment. Unfortunately for her, Haruka had moved at the same time as Isabella, so the brunette’s fist collided with the blonde’s face and sent her spinning. Haruka went after her but she caught her balance, managing to parry the other monk’s attack. She deflected three more punches before skipping backwards, attempting to gain a little distance.