Overdue

                                    

                                          
Everyone gathered in the defense meeting room one last time to talk about their final task. 
                          
“Keep twenty soldiers ready to go as soon as he gives up the location. We must hurry.” Kira said.
                          
“As you wish, Your Majesty.” Everyone chimed in unison. 
                          
“If I may, Your Majesty, how did you find out it was Senior Viceroy who was the culprit?” One of them asked hesitantly.
                          
“The soldier was right, it is very hard to shake off the scent of Valerian once you have been in the vicinity of its making. Even when it is faint, it is detectable.” Kira answered. 
                          
With all arrangements done, Kira and everyone else held their breath as they awaited the most important thing that was needed to set the mission in motion. Kira paced back and forth in the defence meeting room with agitation. It was hard for her to hold herself as she waited to find out the location she needed to go to.
                          
Finally, the wait was over and the Viceroy gave up the information having no more energy to endure. As soon as the news was relayed to Kira, she picked up her sword and ran to where the pack of twenty soldiers were already present. They all hopped up on their horses and zoomed out of the castle gates with Kira leading the way on her beloved Storm.
                          
Their destination was the forest that began its vast spread only a little after the city ended. The cacophony caused by the hooves of the horses echoed throughout. After a while, they reached the foot of a hill. They looked up and found a small house-like structure at the top. 
                          
“This must be it.” Kira mumbled and they all got off their horses. This time, instead of swords, all the soldiers brought bow and arrows except Kira. They swiftly made their way up and as soon as they were sighted by the assassins keeping guard at the door, they began raining down arrows on them giving them no chance to stand their ground. Two of them died instantly.
                          
They quickly made their way in, with half the soldiers waiting outside. Kira held her sword up to block any incoming attacks but her main focus was to look for Gouenji. The rest of the soldiers behind her did all the fighting. 
                          
Finally at the farthest end of the house, she came across a thick metal door that had a big padlock on it. Kira began striking the chain of the padlock with her sword with all her might. Two other soldiers joined her and after a couple of strokes from each of them, it finally gave way. Kira quickly unlocked the bolt and opened the door with force. 
                          
The sight that present itself broke her heart. 
                          
Gouenji sat on the floor with his head rested against the wall in absolute exhaustion. His left wrist was handcuffed and chained to the wall and he had cuts and gashes on his wrist which made it evident that he had tried to pull on it to free himself. His face had patches of blood, dirt and sweat on them and he had his eyes closed as if in despair.
                          
Tears welled up in Kira's eyes as she ran and fell onto her knees right in front of him. She held his face and called out his name to bring him back to consciousness as two soldiers began striking the chain that had him tied near the wall and eventually freed him. 
                          
Gouenji slowly opened his eyes, barely enough to be able to look at Kira. The next moment he collapsed forward his head supported on Kira's shoulder. Kira held him tightly, stroking his hair and his back, tears falling out of her eyes incessantly now as the soldiers tied up the prisoners and made arrangements for their return. 
                          
After returning to the castle, Kira didn't leave his side for even a moment and only felt relief when he finally regained his consciousness. Even as the night grew thicker and the hours passed one by one she remained vigilant, watching over him as he slept. She seemed to have forgotten that she too was intensely fatigued. 
                          
Kira became alerted when she saw Gouenji shuffle and groan as he slowly opened his eyes in the middle of the night.
                          
“What is it? Is there something you need?Water?” She worriedly fired a series of questions. 
                          
In response he slowly shook his head, “Just making sure you're right here.” He managed to say in a feeble voice as he smiled weakly. 
                          
“I'm right here. I will never leave your side.” Kira answered softly as she held onto his hand that rested on the bed. She then lay down close to him, her hand still in his, and slowly they fell asleep, a sleep that was long overdue. 

                          
The end.