69 _ A Clash Between Friends.
Hikaru lay against the cold dungeon walls wounded all over , his thoughts near death. It could not be over. No they could still fight, They had to fight...
Or it would have all been for nothing.
He drew back as he heard the sound of approaching steps. Maybe it was Zhuo Fan , he thought, back to torture him some more for his own amusement.But Hikaru was given a surprise as a sword was thrown in to his cell and lay before him. With some painful grunts , he got to a standing position and took up his weapon and held it.
"Reveal yourself ere
"It is I , Hikaru." Lucian scoffed in reprimand as he stood before Hikaru.
The other man sighed in relief as he lowered the sword . They both moved quickly inside the walls without interference as Lucian had incapacitated most of The Bandit King's men. Soon were exit out of the walls that had once kept them captive and were progressing into the forest.
"Zhuo Fan knows who you are." Hikaru said with his wounded arm over Lucian's shoulder , leaning his weight against him as they moved. "I heard some of his men talking about it before now. It seems he has informed Li Huang of our presence here."
"His men must already be after us." The latter snarled.
"My thoughts were along a similar line." He replied as he rested against the trunk of a tree to steady him momentarily. "We need to find our horses and get as far away from here as possible. With only a few days walk to the Shunde Rivers ; The Kindjuki Peaks lies not far beyond our reach..."
"We can not leave without Kaya." Lucian stated coarsely as he turned away, wanting to head back to the chamber where Kaya was being held but Hikaru drew him back and the two men were now squared up against each other , their breathing harsh and expressions tensed.
"Have you taken leave of your senses?!" He said fiercely as tautened his grip on Lucian, glaring angrily at him. "She is a demon...A monster! She deceived us from
the very start , lied to us about what she truly was. Kaya or whatever she truly is was never intended to come on this journey and leaving her is the only choice we are left with."
The dark haired man withdrew and they stood at a distance from each other , eyes glazed with challenge and unspoken feeling.
"Suppose she had told us" Lucian uttered his words in a low tone. "It would have gotten her killed ...If we had not killed her ourselves. She could have killed us both in an instant, but she did not. We fear things we cannot comprehend and do away with others that overwhelm us." His hand formed into a fist as he went on. "I
will save Kaya ; no matter the cost."
Hikaru took a deep breath. "It was a mistake to bring her along with us in the first instance ; A mistake I will not be fallible to make again. We have been together for all this time Lucian, through all the good times and the dark ones , I have stood by your side ; Never wavering. And I will not let you risk your life...I will not let you die." He unsheathed his Sword from his scabbard and held it firmly towards Lucian.
"If you truly want to go back into that hellscape , You will have to kill me first!"
The man stood in silence as a stiff breeze blew past as the trees swayed to the wind. "I do not want to fight you ." He declared and turning his back away to the one that opposed him.
Perceiving movements behind him , Lucian's hand fell upon his Blade and he drew his weapon as their swords clashed and both sides were driven back by the collision.
"We do not have time for this Hikaru!"
"You remember back in the Palace when I tried to kill you" Said the second man who maintained a resolute look on his face. "You spared me and I made an solemn oath, right there and then ; that I would always always be ready to do whatever was necessary to defend you.... And intend on keeping that pledge."
"It has come to this Hikaru?" Lucian exhaled and gripped his Blade. "You leave me no choice.
The men charged forward as the clashing if steel filled the air as they engaged in fierce combat. Lucian deftly deflected every attack thrown by Hikaru his way.
Hikaru did not relent , moving quickly as he thrusted his sword , wanting to deliver a decisive blow with aim to wound but not to kill. The dark haired man narrowly escaped The sword slicing through the air heading towards his arm and feinted a high attack. When Hikaru tried to take advantage of it, Lucian gave him a low strike that pushed him to the dust and also inflicted a deep cut above his eye.
"What are you waiting for?!" Hikaru shouted at him as blood oozed from the cut above his eye. "End it!"
Lucian returned his Blade to his sheath and stepped away and headed in the direction of the chamber.
"If you refuse to aid me , you might as well depart without me because I will never leave her behind ." He said referring to the horses that stood nearby that had been kept by Zhuo Fan.
"Come back here and Fight me like a man !!!!" The bleeding man yelled in fury once more both received no reply as Lucian had already disappeared from his sight. Filled with extreme anger , Hikaru saddled one of the horses and sat astride it ; Digging his heels into the horse's , he set off into the esoterica of the Forest.
They had once been so sure , Escaping from the Palace to the Beyond the Peaks where they could live their respective lives in peace. But he was willing to give that all up , all they had risked and sacrificed...
"Every man for himself." Hikaru muttered as he rode his Steed ruthlessly through the leaves and vines. Lucian could go to the Nine Hells if he wanted to...
He did not care anymore.