Hi y'all!
I'm sort of having a writer's block on Watch you smile, Watch you cry [again!?] so I've decided to start a new story…and yes…it's Henrika…MUHAHAHA! If you do like any other couples, please send them to me…or whatever, kay? My email is whitelotus24@hotmail.com, or simply use the request form in my website. Arigato ^___^
Disclaimer= you know the rest, right?
[Setting is in Ancient China, kay?]
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With Broken Wings
Prologue= Unpredictable Emotions
"Stupid! Stupid. Stupid!!!" The princess screeched at her maids, the Empress and her mother, ten in all, with a furious look at her face, which was full of defiance. Her hands curved at her hips; her eyebrows arched, furrowed. She was angry, and the maids knew so well that she was throwing a tantrum. "I'm not going. I'm not going. It's stupid. I'm not going anywhere, but here!!" The princess continued to yell at the highest volume; her hands were wrung in the air. She was disgusted, and definitely highly annoyed. She was only seventeen, and the Empress sent her out to marry…her worst enemy?!! How idiotic could her mother be?
"Ruki," Her mother was a softie at her daughters rampaging emotions, "Do this for the country…please…I want to call truce with the Chinese Empire. Japan is mutually weak alone…we need to find a definite ally." The Empress soft eyebrows rose, to reinforce her pleading expression. She wanted her daughter to have a bright future, one with a rich life, and happy future. As all princesses go, they were meant to marry a prince to create allies and such. Ruki defied this tradition; it was stupid, distasteful, and why not just marry someone by love? Ruki's temper raged higher and higher. She had met this…despicable man before, seven years ago…what was his name? Ryo. She hated everything he did…perfect cerulean eyes, perfect teeth, perfect brown hair, and perfect clothing. Ruki hated the word perfect, and she found this…this creature….impossible to love…as if she wanted to love anyone now anyways.
Love. Ruki hated that too. The Empress constantly had affairs from businessmen to servants and often broke the tradition. Ruki wanted her mother's heart only dedicated to her father, who had left her many years ago, but now she managed to hate him for leaving her when she was so vulnerable. Love makes you weak, she thought, disgusted. It would be worse with that Ryo creature. She turned to face her mom; her expression revealing her dangerous mood, "I don't want to be like you," she hissed, "who doesn't know what true love truly is. I will never learn to love this creature you consent me to marry." She ended her sentence, focusing her fiery eyes at her mother.
"You will marry him," Ruki eyes went wide from the tone her mother never used before on her. Her mother may be soft, but she never cared. Ruki's temper flared up again. "Or otherwise, you will be sent to your room until you are sent to China." Her daughter's words had angered her completely this time. Her mother's voice was sharp and raspy at the same time, but nonetheless, her mother's beauty still caught the eyes of others even if her eyes were red from trying hard not to cry. She had silky, wavy, blond hair that fell into a bun, and violet eyes. Like me, Ruki thought, again trying to force that impossible fact out of her mind. Ruki tried to grip herself, and not throw another tantrum, but she could hardly believe in her ears. She was consent to marry this…this moron in three days. Three, fast-going days. All those years in her beloved room, with her only friend…her maid, Miyune, would be gone…like an erased memory. Tears poured steadily down her face, ruining her eye make up. Ruki so wanted to yank out her hair, and turn herself into a monk: one who never needs to love but dedicate their life to Buddha. She would never ever have to forced to anything anymore. All she wanted to do was run from the spot.
The Empress, still young for her age, looked sideways to the aging grandmother, whose power was more superior than the Empress. She merely gave a nod. The Empress looked down wearily on the soldiers lined by her the Great Hall, and breathed a loud, heavy sigh of dismay, "Escort this princess to her room." He called down to a meager soldier.
"Yes ma'am." He bowed, saluted and walked towards the Princess, who nearly gave a disgruntled look, tears still pouring steadily. Ruki wanted to scream. Her life was always solitary, alone, and definitely faulty. And now it's been made worse. She was alone. Alone with Fate, who had put her in this…this stupid life in the first place. All she could do was cry. And she did.
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"What was she thinking?" Ruki cried, throwing herself on her silk bed with gauzy hangings. She cried, her tears soaking up her pillow completely. I'm supposed to be strong; I'm a princess. Suddenly, she didn't want to become a princess. She wanted to throw away the navy silk gown she was wearing that bore a gold color, matching her deep strawberry hair with gold and brown streaks that were coiled into to a rope so that it bent into two loops behind her head. They were like handles, but Ruki had to wear them since it was a tradition. I don't want to be a princess. I want to run away and be free, Ruki thought. Ruki pulled out several silver pins stuck in her hair, letting her perfect hair tumble down her shoulders. Her bangs framed her face, revealing her nice complexion and pretty spring violet eyes, and arched eyebrows. This isn't me, Ruki contemplated, looking disgusted at the perfect maiden in front of her. She washed off all her makeup.
"Stupid. Stupid." Ruki hated anyone who was better than her in fighting skills and academics. And Ryo defeated her in both. She utterly hated him for his utterly good looks, and intellect. Okay, they were friends at first seven years ago, but then she started to despise his plain snootiness and perfection. She realized that ever since he started showing off his martial arts skills before he defeated her at the Martial Arts Tournament held between Japan and China. She hated him ever since. And now, she hated him more. Bloody Ryo, Ruki cursed, combing her hair with a elaborate comb with a simple of the phoenix on it. She switched her apparel into a simple, plain kimono, and ushered the puzzled Miyune to her side. I'm going to run away, Ruki grinned to herself. No more court meetings. No more arguments and pleadings with Mother. No more being trapped in a stupid, stuffy bedchamber. No more Ryo.
"Where are you going, Majesty?" Miyune tossed her chestnut curls, lowering her head in respect of her Princess. Ruki raised an eyebrow, and lifted her chin up herself. "Stop with the lower the head so that you show respect to the royals. I'm not going to be a Princess anymore. I'm going to run away," she added, tying her hair with a piece of long fabric. Princesses were supposed to stay ladylike, but Ruki rather go around and practice martial arts. Well no more etiquette classes with Asuna, Ruki mused.
"But, Prin-I mean, Ruki, we can't…even if I always wanted to see the country side, we just can't…" Miyune whispered, "What if the Majesty finds out? She'll send us to death sentence." Ruki was busy attempting to open the door, when she realized she was trapped in. No more freedom, she thought, tearfully, yet angrily, "You're right, we can't. She…I can't believe that Empress…she locked us in…Every windows locked…She sent me to my room and now this?" Ruki fell to her knees, crying hysterically. Why can't I be normal for once? Ruki wanted to scream. Everything was wrong. Everything is still wrong. It always was. It always is. She tried to break the padlock wit her own bare hands, but it was all in vain. Her dream to be free was in her ever since she was young. And now…the dream broke like a piece of glass…Ruki felt like she was stuck in a cage like a trapped sparrow. Miyune too, was sobbing silently, as she walked over to help Ruki break padlock. They both fell back in pain, blood dripping down their sore fingers. Ruki was weeping harder than Miyune, and Miyune started to pity her fore she too wanted to be free.
Miyune walked over to hug her as the two girls embraced each other, crying at their loss. They held each other, as best friends, hoping that Fate and Hope would reunite and help them both.
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"Majesty, your carriage is here." A servant bowed before his princess. The princess was not in the mood to talk to anyone. Her eyes were as cold as glaciers. She was shooting everyone a menacing look, even the Empress, who did not notice. Ruki's face was neutral of any expressions, and as blank as a piece of parchment. She slowly approached the scarlet man carrying carriage, and said icily to the servant, "Thank you." Miyune started to walk behind her.
"No." Ruki was startled by the Empress replied as she froze right before she was fully on the carriage, "Miyune. You will not go." Miyune was crying. Ruki stepped off the carriage and rushed to hug her best friend, looking angrily, yet pleadingly at her mother. "Mother. Please, let someone I know come with me. Please, Mother." Ruki hugged her friend tighter. "We'll always be together," Ruki whispered into her friends ear, "We'll be friends forever, eternally." Miyune merely gave a slight nod, wiping her tears away rashly. "Goodbye," Miyune said softly. "Write letters, please…" They embraced for what seemed like eternity until two soldiers pulled them apart. Both friends had tears falling gently on their cheeks. Die, you hateful woman, Ruki so wanted to say to her Mother, but she was afraid of death penalty or being locked up again. I hate my Mother, Ruki thought, clutching her fists tightly, wanting to thrust it in her Mother's face, but the Empress was heavily guarded by Japan's most dedicated shoguns and samurais. Ruki simply cried quietly, but the Empress seemed not to notice.
"Now board the carriage," The Empress said majestically, from the altar. Am I doing the right thing for my daughter, marrying off her like that? The Empress lowered her eyes, oh stop it, she snapped at herself, she's a disgrace to you…insulting you like that reminding you of the gruesome past! But the Empress couldn't help but have tears well up slightly in her eyes too. Ruki bowed and obeyed for the first time in seventeen years, and slowly retreated into her new found jail. She was going away from her home. Her life. From her best friend. From her jail. And into an unpredictable future. She wasn't sure what the chances will be, and she wasn't sure if her mother made the right choice for her.
Goodbye.
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Emperor Ryo Akiyama [okay, his last name isn't Chinese, but bear with me, kay?] looked slowly at the Princess before him, unaware of the tears welled up in her eyes. He gave a small nod of approval, knowing that the girl he had waited for so long is in his arms again. He had desired this lethal nymph ever since he had first met her 7 years ago. They were friends back then, but she started ignoring him. He still liked her, even though she didn't know it. She wasn't any typical girl, and that was something he liked. Now, she was truly his. He smiled at his success…he was hers. She was his. Forever.
Forever.
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PLEASE REVIEW! Arigato! I'm not so great about knowing what Ancient China is like so please, don't make a big deal out of it. Jenrya won't be in the scene yet…but soon he will. ^_^ Oh yah, no flames…and so on. SO PLEASE REVIEW! And Thank you ^_^ I'm hoping for at least 5 reviews ^_^
Ja ne,
Lotus-chan