Kingdom of Shadows
Kai
1/25/2008
Chapter One
Kyo, Rick, and Jesse all got onto their black Friesians. "We will not rest until that bastard is dead!" Kyo and Rick agreed with their leader Jesse. The war between China and Japan had gone on long enough. There were no humans in this time; they had all been wiped out over a hundreds of years. The beings that ruled over the world were demons; and it wasn't the foul smelling or disgusting looking demons. It was demons that looked like humans, the only difference was that there finger nails were longer and at a point and their ears were also pointed. Within moments all three men left and went their separate ways. Each commander was given twelve thousand men. Such as foot soldiers, archers, and riders. Kyo had been stationed at Cherry Blossom Grove while Rick was stationed at Waterfall Valley and Jesse had stationed himself in the Mountain Territory.
Josh, one of the other commanders, who backed out of the war because of a personal reason continued to walk through the forest.
"What's a lord like you doing out here all alone?" a voice from behind Josh asked in an ice cold tone that even made the strongest of men shudder.
"What do you want Jung-woo?" Josh asked a growl escaping his lips.
"I've got a deal for you josh . . . ," Jung-Woo persisted as he came out from within the shadow of the forest.
"A deal is it?" Josh questioned a little interested. "What kind of deal?"
"If you fight on my side in this war then I will give you all of Japan, and you must kill the other three lords."
"Is that so Jung-woo?" Josh questioned as he watched Jung-Woo's every move as the warlord approached him.
Jung-woo nodded. "That is if you want all of Japan to yourself. And you kill the other tree lords."
"Alright Jung-woo I'll go along with your plan but if I accomplish what it is you want me to do you must also deliver the prize."
"Good, I'll be checking in on you just to make sure you haven't betrayed me in any way."
1 week later
Kyo stretched as he and his men finally reached Cherry Blossom Grove. "Commander!" A man hollered as he pulled on the reigns of his white Friesian to a stop beside Kyo.
"What's wrong Joseph?"
"Jung-Woo's army is attacking a village two miles back!" Joseph panted heavily trying to catch his breath.
"Take forty men and go protect that village!" Kyo growled.
Joseph nodded and took off with the forty men following on their horses. Within an hour Joseph and his men reached the burning village. Jung-Woo's army noticed them and attacked. From within the village Joseph heard a scream and his white Friesian ran towards the cries for help. Once there he reached the alleyway Shadow Blade, Joseph's Friesian knocked the man away from the female he had pinned to the wall. The man cackled
"Jung-Woo's army will win while Jesse's forces will fall just as he will!" the man ran off before Joseph could kill him. The girl backed away from Joseph her eyes wide in horror.
"Come on!" Joseph picked her up and set her on Shadow Blade and got on behind her as Shadow Blade took off and barely making it out of the village before it had collapsed right behind them.
Joseph and his men reached the camp, the girl had fallen asleep leaned up against him, her breathing shallow and weak from the raping encounter she had to endure.
"Joseph! You know we can't have a female in an all male camp!" Kyo snapped riding over to the soldier.
The girl stirred and whimpered as she buried herself further into his kimono. "I know but she's the only one who survived. I can't just leave her out there with Jung-Woo's army rushing around. Don't worry I'll watch over her."
Kyo sighed and nodded. "Alright, just keep an eye on her Joseph I'm counting on you." he walked away.
Outside of Jung-Woo's camp his men trained as he worked in his tent. A woman about nineteen went over to him and leaned over his shoulder. "What now Rika?" Jung-woo asked a growl escaping his lips.
"Nothing, I was just going to give you a massage." she giggled.
"Go away," he snapped.
She blinked backing away, "I . . . thought. . . We were together. . ." she said as she lowered her head.
"Rika get your facts straight, we were never together." he said as he looked at her coldly.
Tears formed in Rika's eyes as she nodded. "I'm sorry I misunderstood you my Lord." With that said she silently left the tent and disappeared into the shadows of the forest.
"Lord Jung-woo, "A soldier whispered from the entrance of the tent.
"What?" Jung-woo asked as he flipped over onto his stomach and yawned.
"It's about Miss Rika, sir. . . "
"Okay. . ."
The soldier rolled his eyes and spoke, "She's dead my lord. . . ."
Jung-woo bolted up and looked at the soldier. "What?!"
"We found her near the camp, she was torn to shreds . . . , and it looked like the claw marks to an ogre demon."
Jung-woo quickly put his kimono shirt on and followed the soldier to the healer's tent. Once there he shooed everyone away from the tent and went over to her. "Idiot! Why didn't you protect yourself?!"
By the time the next morning came Kyo and Joseph were in the meeting tent and were discussing the next battle strategy.
"Jung-woo will probably strike at the Hidden Village." Joseph observed.
"We don't have enough commanders to go and set five hundred men over in that area." Kyo countered.
"Let me go Kyo, I can be back in less than two months. " Joseph said as he glanced at the girl he had rescued from yesterday. She sat next to him in silence and listened as an argument broke out between the two demon men.
"No, I need you here to lead the men that are here in the camp. " Kyo said as he looked at Joseph.
"Don't be stupid Kyo! Let me go and set five hundred men over in that area!"
"No . . . ,"
"Then send Keith!" Joseph snarled as his commanding officer was not getting it through his thick head that someone needed to go and place troops over in the Hidden Valley area. If they were to wait any longer Jung-woo within hours would have control over the entire village and the second best force would be under his control.
"Hmm," Kyo looks away thinking on what to do about the situation.
"I'm going to that village Kyo." Joseph said as he stood up the girl at his side. They both left and Kyo plopped down in a chair and rubbedhis temples as a headache began
"Do you want me to get the troops?" a soldier asked.
"Yes!" Joseph snapped.
The soldier nodded and quickly began to wake the men up. Joseph went back into his tent and over to the girl. He shook her gently.
"Hey, I'm leaving now. . ."
"Why so early?" she asked as she sat up and yawned. His tent had been made slightly bigger so the girl could have her own futon to sleep on.
"Because I have too, don't worry I'll be back in two months." he reassured her. He laid her back down and tucked her in before leaving.
4 months later
"Morgan," Kyo said as he stood beside her.
"Y-yes my lord?" she asked a little nervous around him.
"Since Joseph has been gone longer than what he had said I'm taking you to Hiroshima tomorrow and you will remain there until the war is over. . . Is that understood?"
"Yes my lord." she bowed as he walked away.
That night Morgan sat far from the camp up in a cherry blossom tree and gazed up at the stars, her waist length mid-night black colored hair blew in the soft breeze. Her green colored eyes trembled in sadness as she wished upon a star Joseph was not dead. She was worried though that her new found protector was dead and she would be in danger again. She sighed heavily for Joseph was her only friend and now hearing that he might be dead, she knew that there was a fifty percent chance she was again without a friend in this war. As she sat there the red and pink cherry blossom petals blew in the soft breeze.
"Lord Jesse!" a soldier called, Jesse turned and faced the soldier his eyes cold and emotionless.
"This wench was trying to steal our food." he said as he tossed a young girl about seventeen to his lord's feet.
She winced in pain and sat up rubbing her head. She was cute the soldier had to admit, she had waist length silver hair and blue eyes. She was dressed i\n what looked as if she was the daughter of one of the lord's in China. Surprisingly enough she spoke the Japanese language very well.
Jesse picked the girl up by the front of her kimono. "Do you know what the punishment is for stealing?!" he snarled.
The girl flincheed at his tone and shoke her head. "N-no my Lord. . ."
"Death or imprisonment!" he snarled again his eyes flaming in anger. He was not in the mood to toy around with a female who wanted to steal food from him, he wanted this war done and over with as soon as possible and nobody not even this girl would stand in his way.
The girl lowered her head in defeat her bangs shadowed her eyes. "Do what you must my lord. . . My life is in your hands."
Jesse looked at the soldier and handed the girl over to him. "Take her to the prisoner's tent."
The soldier nodded and took the girl to a tent in the middle of the camp and went inside and tied her with chains to a post in the middle of the tent. "Stupid bitch this will teach you never to steal our food." he said as he slapped her across the face
She flinched; tears in her eyes.
The soldier left and told two men who were passing by to guard the entrance. The two men agreed, taking there post they watched and made sure the female stayed locked up.
For hours all you could hear was Jesse barking orders to his men, once he finished he went into the tent.
"Be thankful I spared your life." Jesse snarled, his eyes livid with the hatred that dwelled deep within his soul.
"I-I'm sorry. . . "She whispered.
"Who gave you permission to steal my food?"
"Nobody my lord, I haven't eaten in two weeks and I just wanted a piece of bread." She replied trying not to anger Jesse anymore than he already was.
"That gave you permission?!" he snarled anger rising in him.
"I'm sorry!" she cried. "Jung-Woo's men killed my family two weeks ago, I've been able to get wild animals. . . But lately food has been scarce. . . "
His eyes soften, "Jung-Woo's men killed your family?"
"Yes my lord."
Jesse stared down at her. "Leave and never show your face to me or any of my men do you understand?" he asked as he untied her.
"Y-yes sir," she raced off into the forest disappearing into the shadows.
Jesse watched her leave and grabbed one of his soldiers. "Go set five hundred men to the south of here."
The soldier nodded and headed off with the five hundred men an hour later as Jesse had commanded.
The girl continued running until she is a good mile away before falling to her knees breathing hard.
"Well, hello again Alex. . ." a voice from behind her taunted her as she hesitantly turned and looked at the man her eyes wide in horror.
Morgan had returned to Kyo's camp; retiring to her and Joseph's tent when he came riding back into the campsite with less than half of his men.
"What happened?" Kyo asked as he rushed over to Joseph and helped his friend off his white Friesian.
"We were barely able to hold them off . . . ," he winced. "I didn't come back uninjured either. . ."
"Come on let's get you to the healer. . ." Kyo insisted.
"No," Joseph said as he staggered over to his tent and plopped down on the bed passing out.
By the time the next morning came round, Kyo and Joseph were outside looking at the map.
"Word has it that Jung-Woo's intentions are to strike the Defender's Realm." Joseph told Kyo.
"Why? That's too Far East . . .," Kyo said as he pointed to the map.
"We should get a hold of James."
"Why?" Kyo questioned looking at Joseph.
"Because the Elvin army can hold Jung-Woo's army at bay at the eastern pass."
"Joseph-kun!" Morgan cried as she tackled her protector, hugging him around his waist.
He chuckled. "Well hello to you too Morgan." he said as he hugged her back.
"Anyways!" snapped Kyo
Joseph cringed at his commanding officers tone.
Joseph stood up straight and bowed. "Anyways . . . , as you were saying lord Kyo."
". . . Problem is it will take you three weeks to get to Elvin territory."
"Then I'll take my men and we will ride as fast as possible."
"When can you be ready?"
Joseph thought for a moment and said, "In a couple hours my men will be ready to ride."
"Good," Kyo nodded and turned away. "Oh and I'm taking Morgan to Hiroshima tonight."
"What?! Why?!"
"Joseph this is a war she's getting in the way."
"I'm sorry . . . Lord Kyo. . ." Morgan whispered as she lowered her head her bangs shadowed her eyes. "I didn't mean to be so annoying Joseph-kun."