Author's Note: My brainchild from insomnia and a book which I've read a long time ago. I am still searching the said book as of today and it thoroughly displeases me to inform you that I could not locate it for my room is still in shambles because of my overflowing and disheveled bookcase and horribly organized desk.
Please view my story. Rate if you must. As I said, this is a simple brainchild. If the ratings are good, I shall continue the story. If not, consider this forgotten. I do have three other chapters written ahead.
If you are interested to be my beta, please do review with your email and indication of interest. English is not my best subject [it is not my primary language in the first place and I do have troubles in writing Japanese as well. Thank you.
PROLOGUE.
She cowered at the sidelines as she watched the young blue-eyed man go against her old man. She was doomed.
Her grandfather, Lord Kinomoto is the fiercest of all the lords in Japan. Big-boned and highly trained, the man was rarely challenged. But there he was, blue eyes and all, doing jousts with the man as if he was nothing. It was indeed something to be expected, seeing that he is the best friend and right hand man of the scourge of China, Lord Li.
"My master wishes that Lady Kinomoto would be accompanied to his castle where she would be his wife."
"NO. I will not accept it." Lord Kinomoto's eyes bore a glint of mischievousness. "Not without tripling his dowry."
"It is his fervent desire…" the young man reasoned back. "He is willing to have the woman even with such a low dowry."
Sakura sobbed in the corner. In all her seventeen years, never was she able to have someone asking for her hand in marriage. Not with that miserable land as a dowry she wouldn't. Hikagawa, the barren and overworked land in the very edge of her grandfather's land was something that no lord would ever like. It was a dead giveaway - she would be sacrifice.
Yes, sacrifice. She has heard all about Lord Li from the scullery maids and kitchen servants when she secretly roamed about around the dingy castle. They all said that Lord Li had horns. He was a druid who sacrificed his wives to make him live longer.
She is good as dead.
"Of course Lord Kinomoto. Master Li has given me the dowry in coins." the young man said as he pillaged his robes for the bag of money. "I would appreciate it if Lady Kinomoto would start packing for our journey."
She whimpered and tried to run away from the clutches of the men but she was jerked back violently by a pull of her grandfather's strong arm. "Didn't you hear the young man? Get your stuff and leave this place, you filthy scum!"
That was all her grandfather thought of her since her father and brother disappeared. She was a fithly scum to his eyes. Her green eyes annoyed him when it clashed his vision, thus his fervent desire for her to keep her face down. Her hair was mixed and unkept. She was a bastard daughter and she had no use to him.
Cowering and shaking in fright, she ran up the stairs. A little while longer, the blue-eyed man started for her room as well. What he found there suprised him greatly.
She stood with a sword in hand, positioned to attack him. It was not just any sword but that of fine craftsmanship. He would've swooned at the beauty but he had no time left, the young lord was impatient as it was. As fast as lightning, he drew out his sword. With a skillful jerk, he parried the sword out of the young lady's hand. This prompted the girl to go into hysterics.
"PLEASE! Do not hu-hurt me..." she pleaded, her body shaking so violently.
"Please do not misunderstand me, Ms. Kinomoto. I will not harm you," said the man with the sapphire orbs.
Who would misunderstand the man? He was the one and only Eriol Hirigazawa, the beast of England. His face bore a mask of black and silver, covering all his features except his eyes and lips. The mop of hair in a tainted voice of blue was well-kept and his graceful features however seemed to make the description untrue. However, it was not wise to displease the man. Anyone from the close relations of the Scourge is to be frightened about. Besides, he has a great reputation for hitting women and children for entertainment. The statement only drove her to more nerve-wracking sobs.
"I daresay you do not need anymore supplies," Eriol said as he started picking out her dresses. Bloodstained and ripped, he tutted at the appearance of her tattered clothes. "Stop it lady, I have no stomach to hurt you."
No stomach to hurt… "But I have to bring these there since I..."
"Your husband will provide you with your newest clothing."
Pulling her from her room, he dragged her to the courtyard where his men waited with two saddled and breached stallions. One was jet-black and the other was a shade of peach.
"Let's move out." he commanded as they left the courtyard.
Young Hirigazawa noticed the Kinomoto. She never looked back until the castle was out of sight from the most stringent sentry, riding as fast as she could away from her old home. This intrigued the young knight.
"Why did you not look back, Lady Kinomoto?"
"I wish to forget," the young lady replied. "Never again will I return to that hell hole."