A looong time ago I wrote a fic (four years ago). So this is not my first fic but I haven't written anything else since then. Hence I consider this my second first fic U. Hope you like it.
My English is not perfect (far from it LOL), so if any of you could read and correct my future chapters I would be very, very, very grateful.
Something else: I think it's quite hard (if not impossible) to write a fic with characters who are not OOC. Here some of them are a little OOC and others are quite OOC. Just warning you.
Disclaimer: Rurouni Kenshin belongs to Nobuhiro Watsuki, Shueisha, Sony… I'm not trying to make money with this (as if anyone would pay me for this thing…)
Prologue.
Hiko looked at the four figures in front of him. It had been a long time since the last meeting of the Main Gods. Unfortunately, the affair which had made them gather there was not a light one. It could be their end.
Hiko sighed. Sitting on his golden throne, the King of Gods looked even more magnanimous than he was. The velvet drapes had been drawn to allow the sun to light the ample room, highlighting the three Gods and Goddess kneeling in its center. Those four Gods were the only ones able to save the High Kingdoms. The four Gods of Elements.
For the first time in centuries, the voice of their King was heard, and the message he gave them was not what they had expected.
The tall God stood up. "It has been found". He closed his eyes, waiting for their reaction, though he already knew what they would say.
"That's impossible." One of the Gods gave a step forward. He was almost as tall as his King, but not as bulky. Though his blue eyes reflected his Element, Water, those who knew him preferred to call him the God of Ice, for his impassiveness and lack of emotions was what distinguished him most.
"Yet it has been found, Aoshi." Hiko looked at the God next to Aoshi, waiting for him to say something. Instead, the God of Earth was the one to talk.
"Are you going to tell us who and how? Or are you waiting for us to find out?" Also tall and slim, the God of Earth was the only one who dared to talk to the King in such a way. Maybe that was the reason why Saitoh was feared for the Minor Gods (and many Main Gods).
Hiko nodded and pointed to a large mirror by his side. It was rectangular, with no frame or ornaments. The glass started to shiver as if it was water. Suddenly, an image appeared on it. A figure of a big man lay on the ground of a cave, lots of cuts and blood marred his body.
The Goddess was shocked. "It's the Guardian! How?" Wind was her Element, but if she was well known that was not the reason. Megumi had the honor of being the most beautiful among Goddesses. No Man, Nymph or God could ignore her… except for the four Gods who were currently in the Palace.
"We don't know. The only explanation is the obvious one: whoever got the Book used it to kill the Guardian." After saying that, Hiko made the image in the mirror disappear. "Well," he directed his words to the only God who had not talked yet "what do you think?"
Tilting his head up, the last God looked at his King with an angry face. "Whoever did this" his golden eyes shone briefly "will die."
The King nodded. "I didn't expect less from you." His Element was perfect for him: the God of Fire could be easily recognized not only for the cross shaped scar on his left cheek or his golden eyes. It was his hair what made him impossible to mistake for someone else. His long, red hair was a sign which told about his power. And if his hair told about his element, it did also speak about what made him the most feared God: blood. Battousai, God of Fire, had earned another title many Gods had wanted: the God of War. Lethal and incredibly strong, Hiko thought the God of Fire was the perfect one for this mission, but the help of the other Elemental Gods would be quite useful.
"As you know" started the King "whoever gets the book cannot be found by Gods. You will have to go down to the land ant search without your powers, for they are useless now. I've been informed that in a village close to the cave where the Book was kept someone has been telling the villagers that they could kill the Gods thanks to a very powerful weapon. You will start your search from said village: Saitoh, you will go to the South; Aoshi, to the West; Megumi, East; and Battousai, you will go to the North."
The four Gods nodded.
"You and Soujiro are the only Gods who know about this. If the rest of the Gods find out… I don't want to think what would happen." At a sign from Hiko appeared Soujiro. The Messenger of the Gods and right hand of the King smiled at his comrades. "If you find something Soujiro will inform me".
"Be careful" warned the King. "We don't know how powerful she is or how many spells she can use."
Battousai arched a brow "She?"
Hiko smirked "Oh, didn't I tell you? The Book has been stolen by a Human girl."
The girl was in the middle of the square trying to get the attention from the people of the village.
"Aren't you tired of this repression? Aren't you tired of serving those Gods who have done nothing for you? It's time for revenge! Let's show them what we can do!"
A rain of tomatoes, lettuces and other vegetables fell over her. "Shut up girl! Do you want the Gods to get mad at us? Are you crazy?"
The girl tried to clean her clothes with as much pride as she could, muttering about stupid villagers. Straightening herself she tried again. "But you have nothing to fear! I have found… tense silence… the Book!"
The villagers remained silent for a moment, as if thinking deeply about what she had just said. 'I did it!' thought the girl. 'Now, with the help of these… what the?'
The girl started to run followed by the villagers who, after seeing the little effect their vegetables caused, started throwing stones. "Go out of here and don't come back, you hear me? Don't come back!"
When the girl reached the forest and saw nobody was following her she decided it was time to rest. Sitting against a tree she got something out of her bag. 'I thought when I found it that everything would end. We would eliminate those useless Gods forever. But I can't do it alone! Why doesn't anybody listen to me?'
A noise behind her got her out of her thoughts, and hastily she put the Book in her bag. Suddenly a man and a boy stood in front of her pointing at her with a pair of sharp sticks.
"Hey little miss! Give us everything you have if you don't want to die!"
The girl looked at them astonished. She didn't know if she should laugh or cry. "You are going to kill me with a pair of sticks?"
The boy snarled and pointed at her threateningly. "Don't underestimate us hag! We are very strong!"
She stood up. "What did you call me little brat?" Snatching the stick the boy held she started to hit him with it. "Don't run! Apologize right now or suffer my rage!"
The tall man sweat dropped. "Eh… missy. I think you didn't understand." The girl stopped. "Give me the stick." He gave it to the boy, who was still dizzy from her attack. "Now, we are the thieves, right?" She nodded. "You are the victim, right?" Again she nodded. "Then give us everything you have!"
The girl grinned. "Kind gentleman, do you think that if I had something valuable I would be in the middle of the forest talking to two stupid thieves?"
The man and the boy looked at the girl. Her long black hair, which was held with a blue ribbon, hadn't been cleaned in a long time. Her dress was tainted and shattered.
"What's that?" said the boy, pointing at her back.
The girl gave a step backwards. "N-nothing."
The man smirked. "Yes, it's something. Get it, Yahiko-chan!"
Instead of that the boy started to hit the man with his stick. "Who are you calling Chan? Rooster head!"
The girl didn't miss the chance and set off running.
The man started to run after her. "We don't have time for this! The girl has something and I want it! Run Yahiko-chan!"
Suppressing the urge to strangle the man, the boy ran following the girl.
She ran as fast as she could until something made her stop. Something green. Something which crawled. Something disgusting.
A snake.
"Aaaaaaaah!" Turning around the girl started to run in the opposite direction, so fast that she didn't see someone running to her until it was too late.
THUMP
The girl, the boy and the man lay in the floor.
"Stupid hag! What were you trying to do? Kill us?"
The girl rubbed her head. "It wouldn't be such a bad idea."
The man caught something and stood up quickly. "I got it!"
The girl tried to stop him. "Wait! Don't!"
He looked at what he had in his hands, frowning. "What the… a book!"
The boy stood up. "That's all she has in the bag? A book?"
"Yes, it's a book and it's mine". Grabbing it from the man's hands she put it back in her bag. "Now if you may excuse me I have to go."
She started to walk away but the man followed her. "Wait, wait! You mean… you can read?"
The girl nodded.
"Mmm" The man rubbed his chin. "You could be useful after all."
The boy looked at him. "What are you thinking Sano?"
"Well" he started "if the missy can read it means she comes from a rich family. We could kidnap her and ask for a rescue!"
The girl closed her fists, angry. "I'm an orphan; I don't have a rich family, so you can forget about your little plan."
The man frowned. "Then how come you can read? Only rich people and Scholars can read. And you don't look like a Scholar to me."
"No, I'm not a Scholar. I'm not rich either. Can I go?"
"Where do you want to go?" asked the boy.
"What do you care?"
"Maybe we can help you."
"Yeah, sure. Just so that you leave me alone, I'm going to Necis."
The man was taken aback. "Necis? But the road to Necis is very dangerous! You can't go alone!"
The girl crossed her arms. "I know but I can defend myself."
"No way! We'll be your bodyguards!"
The boy stared at the man. "What?"
The girl looked at the man, then the boy, back to the man, and bust out in laughs. "You are going to be my bodyguards? You couldn't even defeat me!"
"That's just cos we didn't want to hurt you! Came on missy!"
The boy was still not moving. "What?"
Separating them from the girl, the man whispered "Don't you see Yahiko? The girl is obviously lying! If we follow her I'm sure she will pay us for being her bodyguards! Probably her family is in Necis and they will give us a lot of money for taking their daughter to them! It's a great plan!"
The boy nodded "You're right! We're going to be rich!"
Meanwhile the girl was thinking. 'Maybe it's not such a bad idea. After all, I was looking for someone to come with me. I can't do this alone.'
"Okay."
"What?" The man and the boy turned around.
"I said I allow you to be my bodyguards. Do you have names or should I call you little brat and rooster head?"
Both grinned before the boy said "I'm the great Yahiko Myoujin and this rooster over here is my assistant Sanosuke Sagara."
Sanosuke whacked the boy. "And you missy are…?"
She smiled. "I'm Kaoru Kamiya."
Yahiko frowned. "Kamiya? Where have I heard that name?"
Ignoring him Kaoru started to walk. "I want to be in the next village before the night. Are you coming?"
They walked after her. "Yeah, yeah. What road will we take?"
"Obviously, the one to the North. It's the shortest one." She smiled. It would be funny.
Please let me know what you think. The next chapter should be out in a few days.
Review! ;)