My little knight Natsuki
By: Asuka Tenjou
Summary: France and the England are at war. Natsuki is a famous knight and hero of Britain till and incident makes her wound up in the hands of her enemies, the French, more accurately: Shizuru, the French king's daughter.
Note: I like this way of doing titles… it looks fancier…
Why am I writing this fan fiction: First it will allow me to take off my mind from Midnight secretary a while, two I just saw King Arthur, three I always liked medieval knights, four… I don't know… five I should stop enumerating reasons when I don't have any left.
Chapter One: The battle of Versailles
In the battle of Versailles, France:
The French were falling back retreating into their fortress. The king had predicted this would happen and smiled. Now all they had to do is to wait till the enemy was out of supplies and died of hunger. He watched as a figure mounted on a horse headed towards him.
"Ah! Our little Jeanne d'arc." He said with irony, obviously mocking the French heroine.
The figure happened to be a woman with blue raven hair and forest green eyes, her cheeks turning slightly red at the king's comment "M'lord Jeanne d'arc was a formidable woman and despite her being French I don't think it proper to mock her."
"My apologies Lady Natsuki, oh you are so cute and fun to mock. I hope you find a good husband after this crusade is done."
"Again with the husband subject M'lord?"
"Well you are seventeen, a woman your age would have wed by now."
"I am indeed a woman but I will not wed for the sake of wedding"
"I bet there any many of my kin's men more than willing to marry you."
Natsuki looked at the king with her famous 'death glare' but Richard was the few people immune to this.
"Takeda is a nice man." He said abruptly "And he surely loves you."
"He might be nice and in love, but he's a wimp." Natsuki said flicking her blue hair back with her hand
"Ah, of course you're prefer a tough man to swoop you off your feet"
"M—M'LORD!" Natsuki felt her face go red.
"Sorry Lady Natsuki I could not resist. Shall we?" The king signaled to their tents obviously as a sign to rest from the battle. She nodded.
Natsuki entered her tent and threw her belt that held her weapons aside. She stretched before letting herself fall upon her sleeping bag. It had been an exhausting day. Her eyes closed slowly giving in to her exhaustion. Yes, in a few days she would be able to return home… Home… to England...To Nottingham...
"Natsuki?"
Her eyes snapped open.
"Mai?" Mai Tokiha of Yorkshire was Natsuki's comrade at arms, and best friend, both of them joined the crusade at young ages and had been together ever since.
"Sorry was I interrupting something?"
Yes, my sleep, which is very important to me, curse you Mai … "No, is there anything wrong?"
"I wanted to congratulate you on your victory"
"The battle isn't over just yet Mai."
"But it can be considered a done deal."
"Indeed." Silence fell upon the two. "Sorry to say Mai, but if your done can you please let me get some rest? I have been fighting the French all day."
"Of course, Sorry Natsuki"
Natsuki closed her eyes and smiled. Yes, after this battle she was going home. Nothing could ruin this for her.
The awaited day had arrived, the French were out of supplies, and desperate, Natsuki quickly prepared herself. "Duran!" she called as her magnificent black steed galloped towards her in joy and welcomed it by patting it's strong built neck. "Let's see how long those French will hold out eh? Then you and I are going back home." She mounted her faithful horse and rode to the king's side.
"Welcome to the Judgment day Natsuki"
"Indeed it is M'lord"
"Shall we end this?"
"The lead is yours." At these words the king rode his troops towards the fortress and Natsuki followed her sword in the air.
It took hours till the French gave up hope and resistance. The king spared those who didn't resist and did not touch the woman or children.
When night fell all the king's troops were celebrating, most of them were drunk and singing.
"I'll be glad once I can get home."Natsuki said staring at her cup of beer; she had never liked that bitter stuff.
The king raised an eyebrow "So eager are you to find a suitable husband?"
"Again with the husband!"
"Natsuki may seem tough in the exterior but inside all she seeks is for love like any woman…"
"Mai! Don't motivate the king further!"
Mai giggled and the king couldn't help but chuckle as Natsuki's face started to blush once more. "I believe Lady Natsuki makes teasing very easy"
"It's not like I do it on purpose M'lord."
"Of course not, that is what makes it fun."
"Why are you so eager to return home Lady Natsuki?"
"It's not because I have anyone waiting for me there, but I always enjoyed the peace and quiet and the company of my inhabitants of Nottingham."
"Then if you are in no rush to return to your home, would you give me some company at my palace?"
Natsuki stared at the king in disbelief but replied "Under one condition"
"Which will that be?" Asked the king curiously
"That you won't try to find me a husband"
The king laughed "Of course not, you have my word. Oh, lady Mai you may join me if you like."
Mai jumped in surprise when she had been addressed by the king but quickly replied "Oh Milord, I-it's an honor but I'm afraid that Mikoto is awaiting my return, and it would be unfair to keep her waiting any longer"
"Completely understandable." The king said waving Mai's worried aside with his hand. "So we ride at dawn?"
"To make it more dramatic for a victorious return home?" Natsuki asked grinning at her king
"Indeed" The king raised his mug of beer and drank all of it.
England, Royal palace:
"Welcome my brother! It has been... Three years?" The king's brother Joan greeted both Natsuki and Richard at the entrance of the palace apparently he had been forewarned of their arrival.
"Yes, it seemed as it were yesterday I parted to a crusade against the French" Said Richard dreamily. "Wouldn't you say the same Lady Natsuki?"
"Certainly M'lord"
"And you brought the prodigious Natsuki Kuga of the Loxley's of Nottingham, England's Jeanne d'arc…" Juan said obviously with a tone of sarcasm and mockery by mentioning all of Natsuki's titles.
"Yes, it's been a long time Joan of England son of Henry II, younger brother to King Richard of Lion heart" Natsuki replied with sarcasm as well, she had only seem Joan a few times when she was young and attended the court, and never had been able to like him. Apparently the feeling was mutual.
"Now, now play nice." Said the king. "Let's go inside and have a big feast! After all it is not every day a king returns from a crusade alive and well."
"Yes M'lord."
"Of course brother of mine."
Natsuki felt a chill on her spine, her gut was telling her something was out of place, though she couldn't put her finger on it.
"Anything wrong lady Natsuki?"
"No, let us proceed." Maybe it was my imagination?
The dining hall was indeed worthy of a king. A huge hall decorated in velvet materials with the symbol of a lion. The symbol of Richard. Plates were filled to the brim of exquisite foods on plates of silver and gold. Natsuki couldn't help herself to be amazed.
First because she had never in her life been able to eat off the good plates and second it had been three years since she actually ate with silverware and was afraid to have forgotten about eating 'in an educated way'.
Thankfully Miss Maria had bashed her so much with 'Lady training' during her childhood so she didn't embarrass herself in front of the king.
"So how was the crusade dear brother?"
"As usual, attack, defeat and conquer"
"Isn't defeating and conquering the same?"
"No, to defeat your enemies' means that you have imposed your will over theirs, but to conquer means that they will follow that will."
Joan seemed rather bored from his brother's explanation while Natsuki listened intently on the king's words.
"How is the wine brother?"
"Good indeed."
"Have you had any Lady Natsuki?"
"No."
"You should try a glass" Joan served a wine glassed and tried to hand it to Natsuki who made not movement to take the cup from him.
"No, I don't drink. Thank you for the offer"
"I insist" he said through gritted teeth.
"And I politely refuse" Natsuki replied glaring at the king's brother.
"Joan, if our lady doesn't drink you cannot force her." He said with his usual unpreoccupied tone. Natsuki watched the king finish his goblet of wine.
"I should go soon" Natsuki said getting up from the table
"Don't be silly, it is dark, besides I wanted to hand you something" He snapped his fingers and a maid came bringing a long paper wrapped package and offered it to Natsuki.
Natsuki took it and unwrapped the package. It was a beautiful sword that seemed made of glass or ice. She looked at it amazed. On the side there was an inscription.
Till love has died we shall rise.
"Is this for me?" she asked amazed
"Yes, Joan mind giving us some privacy for a moment?"
"Not at all" Joan left bitterly out of the hall while Natsuki looked puzzled wondering why the king had sent out his brother out of the room
"This sword is what in Orient they call a Katana. It was a present I received for saving a shaman in the area. And it has a special feature."
"You don't mean… Witchcraft?"
"Well I'm not sure… It is somehow related to the myth of the woman of snow, but here is the interesting part" The king placed himself behind her, positioning her arms as if she were to use the weapon.
"Now give it a swing"
She obeyed and saw how dust came off from the blade; the dust fell upon the floor freezing it.
"Nice isn't it?"
"But why give this to me?"
"Well I always thought it needed a suitable owner and if I had kept it, it would probably be collecting dust right now."
"And what does this inscription mean? Till love has died we shall rise? Does it mean…"
Suddenly she spun around and looked at the king who was coughing violently. "Someone call a doctor!" She yelled as she tried to find a way to assist the king. Richard removed his hand from his mouth and Natsuki saw blood. "SOMEONE HELP!" she yelled again as the doors banged open. "JOAN! The king he-"
Joan had entered with a bunch of soldiers who were circling her. "Joan?"
"You're under arrest for poisoning the king!"
"Poisoning? How do you know he is poi-" Her eyes darted to the goblet of wine and then to Joan.
"YOU DID THIS?"
"I don't know what you are talking about, Arrest her!"
"JOAN!"
OMAKE:
Natsuki: You killed someone!
Asuka: so?
Natsuki: Well I always thought you were too soft hearted to kill any of your characters…
Asuka: Oh really? *starts typing on computer* YOU'LL SEE
Shizuru: Ara, you are not planning to kill Natsuki by any chance?
Asuka: Ack! Shizuru! What are you doing here? You shouldn't be here until chapter two!
Shizuru: I am wherever Natsuki is… *leans to look at screen* you know… you will never publish that…
Asuka: *starts deleting like a mad woman* Pu-Publish what? *nervous laughter* I'm screwed right?
Natsuki & Shizuru: Very.