Bride of the Demon Prince chapter 6

Chapter 6

                      Hinata’s heart pounded in her chest at what had just occurred and how close the monster had come, its disturbing visage practically having appeared up close with no warning.

Her companions gathered around her in an instant, tenten by the door, as Sakura and Ino prepared protection spells, ready to ignite their separate magics the instant they needed them.

“Keep the princess safe.” The Captain spoke, with a commanding tone.

“Tenten, leave her to us.” Tenten spoke with little issue. There was no sense in disregarding his authority over her in this situation, though it felt a little odd to take orders from a fox demon… a kitsune warrior.

The guards were already off of their steeds, who were ready to also fight, essentially doubling their force, as more demons materialised from the fog, each one more grotesque and terrifying than the last. Their hulking forms were barely visible in the thick mist, but the glint of their sharp fangs and the glow of their malevolent eyes pierced the gloom.

To the girls who stared out the window, they moved with unnatural speed and coordination, their twisted bodies blending into the shadows beyond the fog as they launched a series of relentless and coordinated surprise attacks.

The demons swarmed the guards in waves, their claws slashing through the air, testing the defences, and skill of each one, probing for any weakness amongst them to utilise and break.

The captain barked orders, his voice a calm commanding anchor amidst the chaos of uncertain enemy numbers and location, but even his tactical considerations couldn’t fully stem the tide in the unfavourable situation.

The guards fought valiantly, their swords and spears clashing against the demons' razor-sharp claws and snapping jaws— their reactions barely fast enough that even a moment's hesitation and they would fall.

The captain was fast, defending, and striking with such speed that he took down any demon beast that attacked him. The foxes growled and leapt, bit and scratched with claws and fang sinking into flesh, protecting their riders.

Quickly the air was thick with the sounds of battle—metal striking bone, the snarls of the demons, and the grunts of exertion from the soldiers. Despite their bravery, the guards were steadily being pushed back, unable to see the attacks coming through the fog, they couldn’t push forward, calculate numbers, or prepare a proper strategy; the sheer number and ferocity of the attackers overwhelming them as they had no choice but to stand their ground.

                      Inside the coach, Hinata trembled, her fear palpable as the battle raged around them. The coach rocked and shuddered a few times under the force of the attacks that managed to get by their defenders, and the glow of the internal lanterns flickered as if the very light was being suffocated by the malevolent presence.

Despite her fear, Hinata looked out the window, concerned for the captain and his entourage, wishing them safety, but something caught her sharp eyes emerging through the mist, Hinata had caught sight of a figure that made her blood run cold—a towering demon, far larger and more fearsome than the others. His body was armoured in dark, jagged scales, and atop his head sat a twisted crown of horns that seemed to writhe and pulse with dark energy. His eyes burned with a hatred so intense it felt like a physical force, and his grin revealed rows of sharp, bloodstained teeth.

The figure leapt towards the carriage with a blade that looked like chiselled bone, ragged in shapes, and with a chipped edge.

It sliced through the roof of the carriage, a dome of energy sparking as it stopped the sword, Sakura yelling out as the force of the impact was felt by Sakura, as it was her spell, and the drain on her magic was sudden, as if someone had reached in to her chest and pulled it out by force.

“SAKURA!” Ino gasped, concerned.

“It’s… okay… I… got it.” she winced, as she refocused from the moment, and  kept the defensive field  around them.

As the sword scraped over the barrier, Sakura felt it through her spell, but the pressure relieved as the demon pulled away— Just in time to block a strike from the Captain.

They quickly exchanged blows, their blades sparking a little from protective spells that were enchanted upon their weapons to make them more durable, more protected from damage, and generally more dangerous.

The Captain stood between the carriage and the demon, defensive, focused, though his opponent backed away into the thick fog once more, to vanish.

With a voice that resonated with dark power, the demon leader taunted the captain, his words dripping with venom. "Your peace is a lie, fox." he snarled, his voice echoing through the fog like a death knell. "I will see this pathetic Hyuuga princess dead before she ever sets foot in your city.”

Hinata felt a weight on her chest, the words were clear, so very clear, as if he was speaking from right behind her. Her breathing felt increasingly difficult, like the air around her was running out.

“This land belongs to the strong, not to weaklings who cower behind treaties!" the leader continued, the captain’s eyes narrowing, his grip tightening on his sword as the demon’s words hung in the air, his chest tightening as he felt… fear? He could see around him the morale of his men wavering under the weight of the demon’s presence.

That’s when it hit him, he knew this trick. “Words of a coward.” The captain spoke, “not surprising since only cowards strike from hiding while speaking of strength.”

Hinata looked around her, Sakura, Ino, even Tenten, were trembling. She never expected this, yet, their expressions were showing how they were struggling with their own feelings, pushing to be brave.

“I am no coward. I face you knight of the fox demons.” The leader called out, before appearing out of nowhere, striking through the captains form, only to be met with smoke, the captain was instead knelt, and struck upwards, the demon barely managing to bring his bone blade in to place to protect himself from being cut, though not the force of the impact, that sent him flying back and into the fog.

“Hiding behind fog, instead of skill, and you don’t think you are a coward?” the captain called out. “And using your voice… your magic to weaken our resolve?” his tone turned to mockery.

The battle was still raging on, with the guards struggling to hold the line against the relentless onslaught of demons.

Tenten heard that statement, “Weakening… our resolve?!” she mutters. “A… fear spell?!” she frowned at the realisation, gritting her teeth and steeling her resolve in the face of this magical trickery.

The leader emerges once again, but instead of coming for the Captain, he aimed for the carriage again, bypassing the defender, but as he approached the door burst open and Tenten leapt forward, drawing her sword and slashing out at the demon leader, making him yell out as his blood splashed across the floor, his stomach cut.

“LITTLE BITCH!” He cried, about to strike her down in anger, only for the Captain to join by Tenten's side, the two of them crossing swords to block the enemy's blade.

Naruto pushed the blade up, while Tenten moved to strike again forcing the leader back, only to be dashed at by the Captain, the demon blocking him, only for Tenten to land a second strike.

“GRAAAAHH!” he yelled out in anger, exasperated by the double teaming of fox and human.

“See now that we will not let you get to the princess.” The Captain yelled.

The leader had no choice but to leap away, and hide back in the fog again. 

“Protect the carriage.” The captain said, “In case he tries again!”

Tenten looked over, and smiled, she was a little excited about this fight, and felt she and the Captain fought well together, even though it was only for a moment.

As she jumped back to the door, Ino stepped out, still shaking, trying to use her magic to fight off the fear that was filling the area.

                    The fog had thickened, and the sheer number of attackers, alongside the fear that was being placed upon them magically, was wearing down even the bravest of the guards. The demons, sensing the fatigue and fear, pressed harder, their claws tearing through armour, their snarls echoing through the thick mist.

Inside the coach, Hinata’s heart raced as she watched her friends, Sakura, Ino, and Tenten, doing their utmost, despite the fear, despite the pressure.

Ino, with a determined expression, chanted a spell, her hands glowing with a soft, blue light, before she released the energy in a sweeping wave, freezing the demon attacker in their tracks as their bodies stiffened, encased in a thin layer of ice. 

Sakura, not missing a beat, stepped out and called upon her holy magic, summoning radiant orbs of light that streaked through the fog, striking down demons with purifying energy. Each strike sent dark smoke billowing from the monsters as they writhed in agony.

They were protecting the fox guards and their steeds, giving them the moments they needed to strengthen their resolve.

Tenten, her twin swords drawn, danced between the demons that dared to approach with incredible speed and precision, her blades glowing with an ethereal light, each slash leaving a trail of energy that cut through the demon’s thick hides as if they were paper. She moved with the grace of a seasoned warrior, her focus unwavering as she defended the coach with every ounce of her strength, the sounds of battle having stirred even more beasts to join the frey.

Despite their combined efforts, the demons were unrelenting, their numbers seemingly endless. The fog seemed to conspire against them, not only making it difficult to see, but it was as if it was spawning the creatures, and with each kill, simply restoring the beasts back to the field.

Hinata moved to the window to look out, seeing as much as she could, including the captain, facing off against the hulking leader as he leapt in and out of the fog, trying to get a hit upon his rival.

Hinata’s fear was tightening, the spell that filled the air enhancing her natural hesitations, and deep seated anxiety, not just for the battle, but for her uncertain life in the future.

She imagined the worst traits of her future husband, the worst ways to be treated by him, forced to kiss him, held down upon their bed, treated as nothing… being alone.

And then she saw the captain, a strong strike by the demon leader, forcing the captain to his knee. The fog around her heart lifted, and in a moment of desperation, Hinata felt something stir within her—a power she had rarely tapped into, a trait of the Hyuuga’s ancestry. Without fully understanding what she was doing, she reached out with her latent magical abilities, and a burst of light exploded from her, radiating outward in a sphere of warm light, the head of a lion taking shape and roaring with a tone that shook the world around them, the creatures recoiling, howling in pain and confusion as the light seared their eyes, and the roar showing their puny fear spell what true fear was, and giving the guards and her friends the much-needed advantage.

The captain, surprised, seized the opportunity, his voice booming “NEVER SURRENDER!” as he rallied his men for a final counterattack. "Now! Push them back!" His sword flashed as he called for the charge, slicing through the disoriented demon leader with precision. The guards, inspired by this, fought with renewed vigour, the light of the lion warming their spirits, and filling their resolve to the limits, and allowing them to counter with increased vigour, driving the demons back into the mist.

Amidst the chaos, all that remained was the stubborn leader of the attacking demons, his towering figure stepping forward, not back.

His blade clashed once more with the Captains, over and over, with great force, his overwhelming strength making his smaller opponents arms grow increasingly worn trying to block and parry.

The onslaught was ferocious, anger fueled, even desperate to end the Captains life before he could move on to weaker pray.

Hinata felt her body grow heavy, her energy draining, Ino recognized the signs of mana depletion and leapt to hold up Hinata as the magic stopped erupting from hinata’s body. As it did, the lion exploded, the energy pushing away the magical mist, returning Kitsumori to it’s darkened forest state, but also, as it hit the demon leader, he seemed to shimmer, and change from the horned monstrosity, to a more human figure, though his long wild red hair, and red eyes were proof of his origin as a hulking Kitsune.

The captain’s blue eyes narrowed beneath his mask as he recognized the figure. "Lord Akuro!” he spoke, before growling. “This magic is unexpected from an ignorant warmonger like you.” He pointed his sword to the fox lord. “Where did you get it?" he growls, his grip tightening on his sword, and his eyes turning red in anger. “Your title and family is already forfeit for this betrayal, I will show mercy if you…”

Akuro sneered, his voice resonating with dark power as he addressed the captain. "Mercy? Who are you to speak of mercy, some small captain? A messenger? Lackey of the royal family?” he snarled with an arrogant tone. “Our Queen has become too merciful in her old age, and it seeps into us like a disease. This war was finally bringing us back to our true selves, and she gives it up!”

“I don’t think you felt her mercy a hindrance when she has allowed your arrogance in court.” The captain says. “Such gratitude and loyalty you show now.”

Akuro’s laughter bellows, resonating through the forest. “Mercy for our kind is different than mercy with humans, fool.” he snorted with venomous tones. “And to make sure it never happens, I will see this pathetic Hyuuga princess dead before she ever sets foot in the city.” he then spits. “Weaklings who cower behind treaties and marriages with humans… our bretheren have truly fallen as demons!"

The captain’s expression darkened, his resolve hardening at Akuro’s words. The air around him seemed to thrum with energy as he prepared to strike. But before he could move, Akuro’s eyes widened in sudden realisation, he knew that energy!

He stepped back, his confidence in defeating this random captain fading fast, the captain aura growing dark and red as emanated magic, and a fearsome presence, and only now did he feel the error of that assumption, and notice the burnt orange hues that adorned the captain's armour and cloak, turning his bravado in to hesitation.

“W-Wait. Why… Why are you… here, acting as a mere escort?” Akuro stammered, fear creeping into his voice before shouting "Why are YOU protecting the princess?!"

The captain’s lips curled into a cold, malevolent smile. “Who else would they send, fool?” he said softly, his voice carrying a deadly edge.

In an instant, the captain vanished, reappearing before Akuro in a blur of movement, Akuro barely raising his own, still the jagged bone blade used in his previous form.

The guards gathered around the princess and the girls, no longer hindered by battle and watched as their captain hit the lord with blows heavier than Akuro had previously given him.

Hinata was amazed, but also a little scared, just like when he fought the wolf, the captain was different, scarier, moving with deadly intent, and sent cold shivers throughout her.

Tenten watched on, admiring the skill and strength of the captain, but despite it all, it felt wrong. This was how she had seen demons fight, with ferocity that sent fear through their opponents, a skilled savagery that was as fascinating as it was daunting to any warrior.

The Captain and Akuro locked their blades, their faces close, and growling with furious intent.

“You are a fool, Prince, like your grandmother, and mother. Can you not see that this sham marriage is pointless for you?” Akuro growled. “It may bring peace to both sides, but it won’t bring YOU peace! A pathetic half breed being used for the whims of true Kitsune?” Akuro grinned, as he could see his words stung. “...She’s a human, how many of her kind… her people, have you killed? Do you think you’ll have a happy life? A wife who will stare at her husband with disgust.” his tone amused, trying to distract the Captain even for a moment. His eyes glancing over his shoulder towards the princess. “She has looks, I would throw her to the goblins, they’d enjoy her.” he mocked.

His plan was poor.

“I never expected her to love me.” The Captain said, his tone becoming calm, having accepted the words he spoke before he had even left. “I never wanted to fight, but protect… I let my anger loose, and I will live with that burden, and that blood.” he pauses, his energy surging, “She may never look at me how she has been these few days once she knows… but it doesn’t matter… even if I disgust her, even if she fears me… I will do my best to give her a good life!”

The pressure on Akuro’s blade increased, and suddenly, a crack formed, and in a single, swift slash of his blade cut through the air,hitting the ground in a flash, cracking it.

Akuro blinked, as a red line slowly appeared, like a single scratch. His body staggering backward slowly opening up as if his body was being peeled, and collapsing to the ground in two halves with two heavy thuds. 

There was silence after, before the guard cried in triumph. No one had heard the exchange, so did not approach their captain to comfort the ache in his heart at having spoken the hard truth of his feelings towards the marriage.

Hinata could see his hesitation to turn around, and believed he had pushed himself once more, but before she could move, she was hit with the aftermath of the battle—the road littered with the bodies of fallen demons, the air thick with the stench of blood and death.

The captain stood amidst this carnage, his cloak still billowing in the wind as he finally moved, his eyes scanning the battlefield, ensuring no more threats lingered.

Hinata, who had watched the entire scene unfold, felt her stomach finally churn at the sight of the corpses. Her first experience of a brutal battle finally dawns on her, leaving her feeling a mix of dread, fear, and sickness.

Her friends quickly gathered around her, offering comfort and support, whispering reassurances, trying to distract her and get her back into the carriage.

The captain, noticing her distress, approached, but the blood on his armour and the violence she had just seen made her instinctively step back, with an expression of fear.

Understanding her reaction, the captain said nothing, simply turning to check on his men, before addressing "Lady Sakura." he called, his tone firm but gentle. "May I ask for you to tend to the wounded."

Sakura hesitated, her eyes flicking between Hinata and the captain.

Reluctantly, she nodded, “Of course.” She spoke professionally, moving to help the injured guards while Tenten and Ino stayed close to Hinata, ensuring she was okay. 

                           The rest of the ride was silent, a heavy, contemplative silence that settled over them like a blanket. Despite Sakura’s best efforts, the injuries she had healed were still sore and would need time to recover.

Exhausted from the battle and the intense healing she had performed, Sakura slept soundly, her head resting on Ino's lap. Ino gently stroked her hair, the tender gesture contrasting with the rivalry they often bickered through.

Hinata watched them, a small smile touching her lips. Despite everything throughout their life, the bond between Sakura and Ino was undeniable. She had witnessed their bickering and teasing over the years, but she knew that their friendship was as solid as steel.
They were more like sisters than mere friends, always ready to close ranks and defend each other when it truly mattered. She had even heard teasing gossip amongst the maids, suggesting something more intimate between them, but Hinata dismissed it as mere speculation.

Tenten, seated across from her, seemed far more relaxed now, as if the battle had released a tension she hadn’t realised she was carrying. There was a calm in her eyes, the kind that comes after surviving something dangerous, when adrenaline ebbs and the mind clears.

“He was strong, wasn’t he?” Tenten says softly.

“Who?” Hinata asks, though it was obvious.

“The Captain.” she replies. “Kind of scary though, right?”

Hinata couldn't shake the unease that gripped her, and Tenten could see it. “...yes.” she quietly admitted. Her thoughts return to the battle, the violence, and her own reaction afterward. She remembered the way she had instinctively recoiled from the captain, the flash of hurt she had seen in his eyes, even through his mask. The memory made her heart ache with guilt.

Breaking the silence, Hinata hesitated before asking, “Tenten, how can you be so calm after what happened? I can’t stop thinking about it… all the blood, the danger… how are you dealing with it?” her tone showing how she wished she had such an ability right now, to be so calm and centred.

Tenten looked at Hinata, her expression softening as she saw the worry in her eyes. She took a moment before responding, choosing her words carefully. “It’s not that I’m calm, Hinata.” she began, her voice steady but tinged with a quiet intensity. “It’s that I’ve had to learn how to cope with it. In a fight, people die. It’s not something anyone should ever get used to, but it’s something I’ve had to accept, and move on from.”

Hinata’s eyes widened slightly, the raw honesty in Tenten’s voice striking a chord within her. “But… How can you accept it? How can you just move on after seeing… all that?”

Tenten sighed softly, her gaze distant as if she were looking back on her own battles. “When it’s your life on the line, or the life of someone you care about, you do what you have to do. In that moment, there’s no time to think about the blood or the death—you just act. And afterward… Well, you have to find a way to live with what you’ve done. You can’t dwell on it, can’t let it consume you, or it’ll eat you alive.” she spoke honestly. 

It strikes a chord with Hinata, wondering if the Captain was the same, and if so, what had he witnessed… or done, for it to still hurt him, that the last two violent encounters seemed almost normal in comparison. “But doesn’t it hurt?” Hinata’s voice was barely above a whisper, her eyes searching Tenten’s for some kind of reassurance—was it for her own, or was it to know the captain better? His feelings, his hurt.

Tenten looked at her, her expression softening further. “Of course it does,” she admitted, her voice gentle. “It hurts every time. But with time, you learn to justify it to yourself. You tell yourself that what you did was necessary, that it was for a good cause, that it was the right thing to do. And sometimes, that makes it a little easier to bear.”

Hinata bit her lip, trying to understand. “But what if… what if it doesn’t feel right? What if you can’t justify it?”

Tenten reached out and took Hinata’s hand, her grip firm yet comforting. “Then you hold onto the people you did it for. You remind yourself that you protected them, that they’re still here because of what you did. And sometimes, that’s enough. But it’s never easy, Hinata. It never will be. Because the day it becomes easy…”

Tenten let the unfinished words hang in the air, letting it fall between them in silent understanding.

Hinata’s heart ached at the thought of the burden Tenten and the others carried. She squeezed Tenten’s hand, feeling the strength in her grip. “I don’t know how you do it, Tenten. I’m not sure I could ever be that strong.”

“You don’t have to be, Hinata,” Tenten said softly, her voice filled with compassion. “You’re not a warrior, and that’s okay. You don’t have to carry the same burdens warriors do. That’s why we’re here, to protect you, to do what needs to be done so you don’t have to.”

“But I don’t want to be a burden to you.” Hinata whispered, her voice trembling. “I want to help, maybe be a little strong like you.”

Tenten smiled gently, giving Hinata’s hand a reassuring squeeze. “You’re not a burden, Hinata. And you’re stronger than you think. Just because you don’t fight with a sword doesn’t mean you’re not strong.” she smiles. “Your kindness, your compassion—that’s your strength. And it’s just as important as any sword or spell.”

Hinata felt tears prick at the corners of her eyes, but she held them back, nodding as she looked at Tenten with a newfound respect. “Thank you, Tenten. I think… I understand a little better now.”

Tenten’s smile widened, and she gave Hinata’s hand one last squeeze before letting go. “That’s all you need to do, Hinata. Just keep being yourself. That’s more than enough.”

                 For the first time, Hinata began to grasp the true nature of what it meant to be protected. It wasn’t just about being shielded from physical harm—it was about being kept away from the darkness, the harsh realities that warriors like Tenten, Ino, Sakura, and the captain had to face in the pursuit of that duty. It was a darkness she had been spared from, but tonight she had glimpsed it for the first time.

Ino, who had been listening quietly to the conversation, smiled warmly at Hinata. “But don’t forget what you did today.” she pointed out, her voice mature and reassuring for a change. “That burst of light you summoned—it wasn’t just a flicker of a candle. I would dare to say that without it, we might not have made it, that you turned the tide of the battle, Hinata.”

Hinata stared at her hands, the same hands that had unleashed that powerful magic. The memory of the light, bright and pure, fierce in its appearance, lingered in her mind. She realised how much she had neglected her magical training, choosing instead to focus on the graceful and delicate arts expected of a princess, and noblewoman.
But now, a wave of determination surged within her. Now that she was entering a world as dangerous and unforgiving as the demon realm of the foxes, she did not want to be the weak princess, but a strong woman in the land of the Kitsune..

In a soft but resolute voice, she turned to Ino. “Would you help me? Tutor me in magic?”

Ino’s eyes lit up with eagerness. “Of course, Princess. I’d be honoured to help you.”

As the coach continued its journey deeper into the shadowed forest, Hinata felt a new resolve taking root in her heart. She might not be a warrior like her friends, but she refused to remain helpless. She would learn, she would grow stronger, and she would be more than just a princess waiting to be protected. In this land of demons and danger, she would find her own strength, and she would stand alongside those who had fought for her, not just as a princess, but as an equal.