This story was based around a kind of medival setting world, however not a world like ours. It would be a completely new world, remade for my purposes.
Disclaimer: The characters do not belong to me, I just dress them in monkey suits
"Misaki wake up!" Mother's urgent voice broke through my slumber, as she shook me roughly by the shoulders. As I forced my eyes open, I could make out her slender frame leaning over me, and her black hair, which I had inherited, falling out her usually neat bun. Her eyes were opened wide with fear, and she held me with a death grip as if she was scared that I would disappear. Violent pounding on our fragile door dispelled any lingering fatigue, as a sense of dread filled my stomach.
"What in the worl-" I began, but was cut of my mother's hand quickly clamping over my mouth.
"This is not enough time for questions. I need you to hear me out. Will you?" She asked anxiously, her voice filled with underlying tension. I nodded meekly, and she let out a puff of air.
"You are one of the favoured Misaki. As was your father."
My eyes widened with horror, as I felt my heart begin to race. The favoured possessed the ability to manipulate an element, of which they would be categorized as favoured by it. Though in the past the hierarchy had welcomed such abnormalities with open arms, recently since the prince had been crowned he had decreed all of these beings a threat to the monarchy as they possessed powers that could not be controlled by the crown, and sentenced them all to execution by burning. I shuddered at the thought of all the gruesome activity which had happened in the town square as result of it.
"There's no way I could be-" I interrupted in my shock, only to have mothers hand clamp over my mouth again.
"Let me finish Misaki. You have not exhibited this trait before, because the talent remains locked up until the seventeenth birthday of the favoured. This way, children do not mess around and end up killing themselves with something too large for them to grasp. Do you follow me?" She asked expectantly.
"Yes," I answered frightened of this sudden confession from her. My seventeenth birthday was tomorrow. The prospect of it loomed overhead me now with this sudden news. "What about Suzuna?"
"Suzuna is not one of the favoured. Only one child in every family is granted with the bloodline, and that happened to be you in ours," she responded, then smiled wryly. "However I can understand if you were to despise being granted it because of recent developments. But enough of that rant. If you understand the situation, you must take Suzuna and flee far from this wretched land and its tainted methods. Get up now!" She hissed, yanking me up by the material of my night dress, and then dumping a thin cloth bag in my arms. She then dashed out of the room and returned with Suzuna who was rubbing her eyes incoherently.
"I love you both very much," Mother said, tears glistening in her eyes.
"Don't do this mother. Come with us!" I begged desperatly.
Mother ignored me as she pecked me and Suzuna on the cheek, then pushed us through the back entrance hidden by the gardens, and turned bravely to answer the door.
"MOTHER!" Suzuna shrieked causing me to cover her mouth and hurry away in the darkness. Mother's choice sat like a stone on my heart, but it was too late to change her decision. She had stayed behind to stop them for getting us. From getting me. I could not let her choice go to waste. I must escape the country and protect Suzuna.
The morning of my seventeenth birthday dawned bright and early. After putting on the only change of clothes given to us by my mother to be rid of our bed things, we continued towards the harbour. I carried Suzuna upon my back when she began to doze off, but took no break for myself. I refused to succumb to something as trivial as sleep when the lives of me and Suzuna could be at stake.
Mother's words washed over me as I walked. "The talent remains locked up until the seventeenth birthday of the favoured," she had said. That means today I would display some abnormality that would most probably expose us as runaways. My stomach twisted dreadfully from the nervousness I was feeling, and my head pounded. The headache had been there for the majority of the day. Could it be a coincidence?
"Enough," I scolded myself mentally. I need to get out of the country. That's all that matters. Everything else can wait.
From my back, Suzuna began to stir. "we're near the harbour." She pointed out, eagerness underlying her usual dead pan tone. Suzuna had always secretly wished to travel aboard and explore the world, though she knew it was an impossible wish, as women were forbidden to be part of a ship's crew. I smiled at her enthusiasm.
"Misaki," she began somberly. At my expectant gaze she continued. "Why are we fleeing? Is mother alright? What on earth did she tell you that convinced you to leave the country? And why-"
"Take a breath sister, and listen," I said to her, interrupting her question stream. "Even I don't know why. Mother insisted we flee, saying it was a matter of life or death." My stomach sank at the lie I told her. I did know why mother sent us running, but I could not bring myself to reveal it to Suzuna. I was too afraid she would be horrified with me, and after already loosing mother, I couldn't bear to lose her as well.
Suzuna regarded me for a minute, and then turned her head sideways on my back. She obviously hadn't believed my lie either, but had the grace to let it slide. I exhaled, and continued marching towards the steadily approaching harbour.
The stench of rotten fish hit me hard, causing me to wrinkle my nose in disgust. I had entered the harbour all right. Looking around my eyes took in several tightly knit decaying buildings, and poorly paved roads. Towards the horizon lay murky water, in which several boats were docked. The new king had clearly been neglecting funding's for the harbour, but then again he had no use for it while a private harbour had been designated just for him. My heart ached for the old king. He had been a compassionate fellow, much loved by the inhabitants of the land. If he was still in rule, I would not have to be fleeing, as there would be nothing to fear. I sighed and looked for an Inn where I could leave Suzuna while looking for a boarding on a ship.
"Misaki, I can get down now," came Suzuna's muffled voice from my back. I kneeled down to the ground and she jumped off, a bit unsteady on her feet. I grasped her shoulders and steadied her.
"Thanks," She said smiling at me. I rolled my eyes fondly at her cuteness, and then proceeded back to my original search. Scanning my eyes through the shops, I spotted an Inn which looked the least shady of them all and began walking towards it holding Suzuna. The board with the name "The wanderer" etched upon it swung back and forth as I pushed open the door.
The interior of the Inn was painted sunshine yellow, with a faint lavender smell in the air. "Can I help you?" An elderly man called from the front of the Inn. An aged woman, presumably his wife stood at his side radiating gentleness and peace. I frowned as I realized they seemed familiar. Where do I know them from?
"Young lady?" He called again, snapping me out of my reverie. I quickly strode to the front of the room.
"How much does it cost for three hours here?" I asked him.
"Three hours?" His eyebrows shot up. "What an abnormal request."
I grimaced. Clearly, I was not going to get away without being thoroughly interrogated. "I need to leave my sister somewhere safe for a while I look for room aboard a ship for the two of us," I answered apologetically.
"But Misaki!" Suzuna protested, but I silenced her with a glare.
"Hmmm," The old man responded thoughtfully. I regarded him warily. What was he deciding?
"I'll make you a deal," He said. "If your sister here helps us maintain the inn for the duration of her stay, I'll supervise her for no cost. What do you say?"
I considered it. The little money mother managed to scrimmage up before our hasty departure was nowhere near enough to the cost of the ship fare and the price of one night at a regular Inn, which I was sure would be charged even for three measly hours. This could be very helpful for me.
"Fine, I'll take you up on that offer," I replied, and the old man smiled, exposing laugh lines on his face. "Please take good care of Suzuna in my absence!" I begged, knowing leaving her with complete strangers might have been the stupidest mistake in my life.
"Of course we will," His wife joined in softly. Looking at her tender emerald eyes, I knew somehow that I could trust these people. This realization surprised me, as trust was a factor that had grown thin in me since my father walked out on us.
"One last thing. Do you know where I would go to, in order to request boarding on a boat?" I questioned the couple.
"You would have to visit Shelly's tavern, where all the sailors go to after they dock. She robs us of much business, but I would rather not have to face that unpleasant lot." he old man chuckled. Then his gaze turned serious as he regarded her plain, pale blue knee length frock. "That attire however will not do. You look too docile in that. Come, I will provide you with my grandson's trousers and tunic. They will be too big, but they are all I have to offer."
I looked down at my dress and sighed. However much I hated to admit it, the man was correct. I was glad to say however, I had once intimidated the boys at the academy I attended for my fighting skills and fierce attitude. I was not so weak. A smile curled my lips as I followed him into the depths of the Inn.
I took a deep breath, then shoved open the wooden stall like doors to the tavern and entered. The sight inside took my breath away in uneasiness. The tavern itself emanated a shady look with dimmed lighting from the lanterns strung overhead, and the dustiness of the room. What made it worse was there were men everywhere. Men banging frothing mugs down on wooden tables and guffawing, men leering after the serving women in skin tight dresses, men fist fighting in the corner, and men passed out drunk. It was exactly the scene that a proper lady would be warned against entering.
"I must not be much of a lady then, right?" I mused. Aoi, my childhood friend would think me insane. But then again, Aoi would never suspect me to be favoured.
Though he boisterous atmosphere of the tavern caused the headache which had been there from the start of the day to become worse, I was determined to persevere. Listening to the conversations that drifted by, one in particular grabbed my attention.
"You don't think much of that lady over there, eh captain?"
At the mention of a captain, my head whipped around and I urgently searched for the location of the conversation.
"Well maybe if her bosoms were magically enlarged. But we all know that some miracles will never be granted, right my men?"
As the people at the table roared with laughter, I finally located them. They were sitting four tables right of where I was standing. The one who had been addressed as captain was a rather unpleasant looking fellow with a large potbelly and several missing teeth. He swayed back and forth as he drank: clearly he was well past the point of intoxication. I swallowed my disgust, stalked over to the table, and tapped him on the shoulder.
"How can I help you my dear?" The so called captain slurred, staring at my chest. I pushed down the instinctive feeling I had to grab him by the collar and throw him over my shoulder.
"A very good reason to define my distaste for men," I thought to myself. I didn't need a boy. They were selfish and cocky, and would probably leave me like my father did to my mother.
"I need a word in private," I responded shortly. Any sign of politeness with the likes of this man would only result in him thinking I was frail. I could not afford for him to think such things.
Cat calls exploded from the table as the captain followed me in a drunken stupor. I stopped a few paces away from the table in a private corner, and turned to face him.
Bad move. The man's breath reeked of alcohol. I winced then took a step back.
Double bad move. My back was now pressed against the wall, leaving me nowhere to escape without a fight. I took a deep breath and regained my composure.
"How much does it cost to board your boat?" I inquired coolly.
The man smirked, which caused him to look like a sneering walrus. "Well my dear, all the passenger boats have already gone. That season is done I'm afraid, with winter approaching. And I don't take passengers."
I winced. This situation was not good. "When will the next boat leave?"
He grinned. Apparently this man enjoyed my desperation. "The first boat is bound in three months."
"Well thank you for everything," I hastily declared. "I'll be making my leave now."
"Not so fast," The captain garbled, and then he pressed his hand to the wall close to my head. In his other flashed a silver blade. "You are quite a pretty thing aren't you? I think I can make a deal. Become my concubine and I think I will let you aboard my ship. My wife probably wouldn't mind you much. Only enough to toss you in the cooking fire."
I closed my eyes. Not in fear of what was to come, but because of the untameable fury which aroused within me. I felt it resonate within my soul, whispering in my mind of all the things I could accomplish if I simply give let go of my common sense and succumb to the anger. It was seducing, the power I held. I felt it licking at my control, urging me to put the man in his place. Who did he think he was to suggest such a thing to somebody who was above him?
"Don't let go of your humanity," a tiny voice of reason whispered in my mind, causing me to break my murderous thoughts. "Handle him with a good beating and no more. Don't risk getting exposed."
"By the looks of yeh, you're probably still a virgin aren't you?" The man continued to taunt. "You know, if you have any siblings, I'll hunt them too. A boy hopefully to satisfy my wife. Or if it's another girl, she can serve me when you're done."
The tiny sliver of logic was gone. The rage rose up within me, consuming my being. Nothing mattered to me but destroying this man. Protecting Suzuna. She was all I had left.
I felt the air grow colder and colder as the moisture increased. "Yes," I thought, my lips curling upwards. The man, sensing something wrong, tried to step back in fear, but could not summon the energy to do so.
I opened my eyes, the exhilaration of the moment making me feel more alive than I'd ever felt. A popping sound resounded in my ears as I froze the water droplets I had condensed, and sent them flying at the man. I waited for them to slam into him and render him unconscious, but before they even made contact he was jerked aside by a tall figure,who then proceeded to nail him with a right hook.
The effect of the man being punched was instantaneous. Outraged cries filled the tavern as men scrambled to their feet and began to all pick up on the fight themselves. Men turned on men. Friends turned on friends. The men no longer possessed a rational instinct in them. It was if they had all transformed into animals.
"You aren't going to keep standing there, are you?" The strange man said to me, oblivious to my feelings of confusion. He was dressed in a black hood which concealed his face, and a long leather coat which clung to him outlining his slender, yet muscular frame. Black pants completed his mysterious appearance. He was probably the type of guy that had regular girls fanning themselves, and giggling with their bosom companions. I was not so lucky as to ever experience that kind of attitude. I was always more on the masculine side than feminine, so I could not help but wonder what I would be doing if I was more girly.
I shook my head to clear such ridiculous thoughts.
"I guess not," I said to the mysterious man, then followed him as he led me outside the bar amidst the fighting inhabitants.
As soon as we had exited, he turned and glared at me. I stared defiantly at him. I had no idea what I did wrong that could offend him so. It was night now, and the cold ocean air chilled me to the bone.
"Are you insane?" he hissed. First you choose the sketchiest man in the tavern, lead him to a corner for a conversation, then nearly show off to a pub of greedy men that you're gifted, and that they could cash you in for a ransom. Were you not educated by any chance? Or are you just plain stupid?"
I felt my face grow hot as I took a step back in anger. Who does this guy think he is?
"First of all," I seethed. "Why is what I do your business? Second of all, I need to leave the country with my sister because of the news that I'm gifted. I was trying to secure passage, thank you. Thirdly, that guy was trying to molest me! The powers surfaced by themselves. I couldn't do anything!
Somewhere in her, a voice wondered how she could trust a strange man with life threatening information, but she pushed that thought aside.
"Well," he said sardonically. "You are wearing my clothes. It was kind of hard not to notice a strange girl trapped in a corner wearing my clothes and about to slam a man with ice chunks."
So this was the innkeeper's grandson. I wondered briefly how the kindness exhibited by the elderly couple managed to skip his gene pool.
"Why did you stop me?" I asked curiously.
"You see, there's an execution order for the gifted people. Slamming a man with your magical talent might alert him to the fact that money can be made off of you. No big deal or anything."
I rolled my eyes. So he was sarcastic too? Even better.
"I can see why the man would target you. You're quite the catch," he commented appraisingly looking me once over. I didn't feel the repulsion that had settled in my stomach when the captain made the same comment earlier. I still felt my cheeks heating up, but all I felt was….pleasure?
"No. Men are dangerous. To hell with instinctive tendencies!" I thought fiercely to myself. This man was definitely perverted. Maybe I would give him a nickname someday.
"Come," the man said to me. "I'll take you back to my grandparent's inn."
As we stepped into the sunshine walls of the inn, Suzuna walked gracefully over to me and gave me a gentle hug. I smiled as the instinctive urge to protect her rose within me again. No matter what I did to insure it, I would not let Suzuna even see of any danger.
"Your sister is very helpful indeed," The innkeeper said to me. "Ah, I see you've met Takumi. Though he prefers to go by 'Usui' these days I hear. That grandchild of mine," he muttered shaking his head. I laughed, and looked at Usui (as I decided to call him to avoid the feel of familiarity)-
-and felt my breath catch in my throat.
Usui had taken his hood of revealing sandy coloured blond locks, and the emerald eyes inherited from his grandmother. He was devastatingly handsome, and I bet he knew this too. His looks added with his height and body build would probably have most women groveling on the floor. But I am not most women. I refused to be. I also felt a pang of familiarity, the same one that I felt with his grandparents. Where do I know these people from?
"We don't have that long," Usui was saying, pacing while I had been spaced out. "When that gutter slime wakes up, he's going to know who you are. He'll search everywhere for you."
My breath caught in my throat. Usui was right. This man would probably be fuming as well. Not exactly a good sign.
"What do you propose?" Usui's grandfather asked grimly. Usui shrugged, and then turned to look at me.
"Well there is one way," He said, almost reluctantly. "Misaki, you may not know this but I am the captain of- rogue ship you might say. Or pirate ship. That being said, I have a proposition for you."
My confusion must have been visible on my face, because he smiled reassuringly at me and continued. He got down on one knee and looked up at me.
"Marry me."