I thank Brightfire17 for helping me.
In the bushes near by, two people were looking at a small little house.
"Boy, Tora's gonna to get the time of her life, huh Karasu?" Sato said toward Karasu.
"She sure is," Karasu told him.
The two stepped out into an area. There were tables of food, people gathered all over, a small band and a wedding arch with tons of decorations.
"I'd like to thank you all for coming to my wedding," said Karasu. "First I better get in there and propose to the girl."
The wedding guests laughed, thinking it was just a joke. Karasu laughed along with them but in truth, it was far from a joke. In his arrogance, Karasu had set up a wedding and reception but had yet to actually propose Tora.
"Now, Sato, when Tora and I come out that door—" began Karasu.
"I know! I strike up the band!" said Sato, eagerly.
Without thinking, Sato waved his conductor's baton and the musicians began playing a wedding march, but they stopped when Karasu boxed Sato's ears.
"Not yet!" hissed Karasu.
"Sorry," said Sato, wincing as he rubbed his ears.
Karasu scowled as he walked up to Tora's door and knocked.
In her house, Tora was sitting in a chair reading a book when she heard a knock on her door. She put her book down and went up to the door and looked through the little peep-hole to see who it was. When she looked through the hole she saw that it was Karasu. She gave an irritated sigh and opened the door to let him in, but before she could open it all the way he let himself in.
"Karasu, what a pleasant surprise to see you here."
"Isn't it though, I'm just full of surprises. You know Tora, there's not a girl in town who would want to be in your shoes. This is the day that your dreams come true." Karasu said getting near Tora but having her back away from him.
"What do you know about my dreams, Karasu?" Tora raised an eyebrow.
"Plenty!" Karasu plopped down into a chair and kicked his boots off. "Picture this: a rustic hunting lodge, my latest kill roasting on the fire, and my little wife massaging my feet while the little ones play on the floor with the dogs."
Tora willed herself not to become sick at the smell of Karasu's disgusting feet and then nearly squeaked from being startled as Karasu suddenly got into her face.
"We'll have six or seven," said Karasu.
"Dogs?" said Tora, in confusion.
"No, Tora, my dear!" laughed Karasu, as he pounded his chest like a gorilla. "Strong boys! Like me!"
Tora faked a smile as she began walking away. "Imagine that."
"And do you know who their mother will be?"
Tora knew but pretended that she didn't. If it was said aloud, that made it real and she didn't want it to be real.
"You, Tora!" declared Karasu.
Tora carefully walked to the front door and pretended she was excited about the attention. "Why, Karasu, I'm speechless! I really don't know what to say!"
Karasu grinned and advanced on Tora, pinning her to the front door. "All you have to do is say yes."
"I'm very sorry, Karasu," said Tora, resisting the urge to vomit as Karasu attempted to kiss her. She quickly found the doorknob. "But I don't deserve you."
Tora opened the door and dodged Karasu, causing him to go flying out the door and into a mud puddle. She heard wedding music, making her more angry over the creep. After tossing the shoes out, she yelled "I'd rather marry a beast than marry you!" then slammed the door and locked it behind her.
As instructed, Sato started up the music but then it ceased when he turned and saw Karasu emerging from the mud puddle, filthy and furious.
"So, I take it you'll choose someone more suitable than her now?" asked Sato.
Sato suddenly found it difficult to breath when Karasu grabbed him by the throat.
"I'll have Tora for my wife!" he spat. "Make no mistake you oaf!"
Sato could not reply as he himself was then tossed into the mud and then Karsu stormed away, fuming at his humiliation.
After an hour had passed, Tora cautiously stuck her head out the door and glanced around to make sure Karasu and his followers were gone.
"I can't believe this crap, he asked me to marry him! Me! The wife of that boorish, brainless creature? Can't you see it? Slaving to his every whim? Giving him children? He doesn't even care about anything but hunting!" Tora screamed. She threw the feed everywhere, not caring where it went.
Tora slammed the bucket on the ground and tore from the chicken coop. She ran towards the field of wheat. She ran through the field, scaring birds in the field. Tora ran and ran until she stopped and lay down.
"If only I could have adventures out there…" Tora thought, staring into the scenery. "Get away from this place and experience so much more. And maybe for once it would be good to find someone interested in the same things I like and maybe…someone who understands the things that I understand." She said picking up a dandelion and blowing it into the wind. Out of nowhere she saw her horse come riding up.
"Arik? What're you doing here?"
Tora was surprised to see the horse back so early. Her surprise quickly turned to fear when she saw that Arik was riderless.
"Oh, no," she whispered. She rose up and grabbed Arik's reins and spoke soothingly to the horse until it settled down. "Arik, where's Leo? Where's my brother?"
Arik neighed and then jerked his head in the direction from whence he came. His eyes were wide with fear, which only confirmed Tora's fears that something terrible had happened to her brother.
"I know you're scared, but I need you to be brave now," said Tora. "We have to find Leo. You have to take me to him."
Arik still looked scared, but nevertheless he obeyed his mistress. Tora quickly mounted the horse and started riding off into the forest.
Arik slowed to a stop in front of the castle gates. Tora looked up at the gates and at the dark castle.
"Where are we?" Tora asked. Arik bucked and Tora jumped off.
"Steady, Arik." Arik calmed down. Tora looked through the gates; she saw a ragged hat among the leaves. She gasped, pushed through the gates, picked up the hat and examined it closer.
"Leo." Tora rushed to the doors and entered the castle.
As Tora searched, inside the castle Autor and Mytho were talking, "I can't believe you couldn't stay quiet, you just had to invite him in, serve him tea and sit in the master's chair."
"I was trying to be hospitable," the egret stated. Autor and Mytho ceased arguing at the sound of an unfamiliar voice.
"Hello? Is anyone here? Leo?"
Autor and Mytho exchanged looks before running to the doorway and peering out to see Tora walking by.
"Who on earth is that?" demanded Autor. "How'd she get in?"
"Through the front door, which isn't locked as you well know, and if I had to guess then I'd say she's that boy's relative," said Mytho.
Autor looked horrified. "This is terrible! If she's come here looking for him, it won't be long before there are others and then we'll be exposed! Oh, dear me, the master's going to have our heads when he finds out about this!"
"Must you always be such a pessimist?" said Mytho. He looked excited. "Don't you realize what this means? There's a beautiful young woman in the castle! She could be the one, the one we've been waiting for. She's come to break the spell!"
Autor's eyes widened as he considered this. "I can't believe I'm saying this, but you may be right. In which case, we must lend our assistance to her at once! Discreetly, of course."
Mytho nodded and then the two of them went to work.
Ahiru had been outside on the grounds, enjoying a little swim on the pond when she saw Tora arrive.
Excited for what the girl's arrival meant, Ahiru flew into the castle kitchen through an open window. Her mother, Rachel, was on the table, giving directions to the kitchen staff.
"Mother! Mother, there's a girl in the castle!"
Rachel sighed and shook her head. "Ahiru dear, I know it's been difficult lately, but I won't have you making up wild stories."
Ahiru looked offended that her mother didn't believe her. "But Mother, I actually saw her!"
Rachel was about to scold Ahiru again when Rue, Ahiru's best friend and one of the castle maids who was currently a shiny black crow, came into the kitchen.
"Rachel, she's not making it up!" said Rue. "I saw her too. There's a girl in the castle and she's headed for the dungeon as we speak!"
Rachel looked both stunned and apologetic while Ahiru just held her head up proudly.
"See? I told you," said Ahiru.
"Leo?" Tora said again down the hall. Mytho and Autor opened a door and went inside it causing Tora to turn her head toward the door. "Leo?" She went to the door and saw no one there on the other side.
"Hello, is someone there? Wait I'm looking for my brother." She said going up the stairs with Mytho hiding behind the door smiling slightly. Tora went up the stairs until she reached the top. "That's funny, I'm sure I heard someone. Is anyone there?" She called out.
"Tora?"
"Leo!" She said surprised as she grabbed a lit torch and went to where her brother was, who was locked in a dungeon.
"H-How did you find me?" Leo asked as he slipped his hand out from the bar for her to hold.
Tora touched him. "Your hands are like ice, I gotta get you out of here."
Leo held her, "Tora, get out of here."
Tora was shocked. "Who did this?"
Leo was continuing to warn her "No time to explain, just get out of here. Now!"
Tora stubbornly refused. "I won't leave you!"
Suddenly, a terrible clawed hand grabbed Tora's shoulder. "What're you doing here?"
"Run, Tora!" yelled Leo.
Tora was turned aside and the torch she carried was tossed into a puddle of water, extinguishing it and dimming her light. She began to feel very much afraid. "Who's there? Who are you?"
"The knight of this castle," growled a voice.
The voice was far from human and it unsettled Tora. The owner of the voice stayed in the shadows, but she could just make out his green eyes. She faced him with no small amount of courage.
"My name is Tora. I've come for my brother," said Tora. "Please, let him go. He's sick and he could die if he doesn't get treatment."
"That isn't my problem. He shouldn't have trespassed! He broke the rules and now he must pay the price!" he snarled.
Tora couldn't believe he was being so heartless. "Please, he's all I have! I'll do anything you want, just let him return home!"
He scoffed. "What could you possibly have to offer me?"
Tora was quiet for a moment as she considered her next course of action. The thought terrified her but she knew it was the only way. "If it's a prisoner you want, then you'll have one. Take me."
"You?" He said, in disbelief. Suddenly his voice became softer, almost gentle. "You'll take his place?"
"Tora, no! Please! You don't know what you're doing!" cried Leo.
Leo was ignored.
"I said so and I meant it," said Tora. "Release Leo, give me five minutes to say good-bye to him and then I'm your willing prisoner for as long as you desire."
"Then you must stay here forever," he declared. "Do you agree?"
Tora's breath caught in her throat. Forever? Could she really do such a thing? She didn't want to be parted from Leo forever, but what choice did she have? Leo's life was at stake and it was better that he live rather than have him die when she could've saved him.
"Can I see you first before I give you my answer?"
The creature then stepped out, he was black formed and had razor sword like claws, he had a humanoid face but with massive scars. He looked about two years older then her.
Tora gasped and leaned back into the door. She turned and looked at her brother, "Tora, no. I won't let you do this!"
The girl stood up and approached the knight. "You have my word."
"Done!" he replied. He pushed past her and opened the door.
Leo rushed to her. "No, Tora! I'm strong, I can make it through!" he tried to tell her.
Tora silenced her brother by putting a finger to his lips.
"We don't have time for this," she said, as tears came to her eyes. "Everything's going to be okay, I promise. Be brave."
Tears glistened in Leo's eyes as he held his sister tight against him. "My courage will never be as great as yours. You're the greatest sister in the whole world. I love you so much."
"I love you too," said Tora, as she tightened her grip on him. "I'll never forget you."
"Nor I you," said Leo, as his voice lowered to a whisper. "I will see you again, sis. I'll come back and I'll get you out of here, I promise."
Tora kissed her brother's head. She didn't think he could keep such a promise but she didn't say so. "Be strong and remember that I'm always with you no matter what."
"The same to you," said Leo.
The Beast growled, signaling their time was up.
Leo embraced Tora one last time and he was led out of the dungeon.
As Leo was dragged to the carriage outside, he attempted to reason with the Beast.
"Please, I beg you. Spare my sister!"
"She's no longer your concern!" snapped the Beast. He tossed Leo into the carriage and slammed the door, locking it. "Take him to the village!"
The carriage rose by itself and did as commanded.
When the Beast was close enough, Mytho softly called out, "Fakir."
"What!" yelled the Beast, snapping his sharp teeth.
Mytho took a cautious step back and stared at him. "I was thinking that since the young lady will be here for the foreseeable future, it might be a good idea to provide her with better living quarters."
The Beast gave the egret a death glare and growled before storming off.
"Or perhaps not," said Mytho.
When the Beast returned to the tower, he stopped in his tracks when he saw Tora on her knees, crying into her hands.
"Oh, Leo. What am I going to do without you?" she sobbed. "I want you back."
The Beast felt a rare pang of pity and sympathy for Tora. He knew the pain of losing one's family all too well. The deal was in place and nothing could change that, not yet, but that didn't mean Tora couldn't be made comfortable.
"Come with me," said the Beast.
Startled, Tora looked up at the Beast with confusion on her face. "Where're we going?"
"To your room," said the Beast. "Unless of course, you want to stay in the tower."
Tora shook her head and followed the Beast out of the dungeon. The knight picked a candelabra up off the shelf they passed.
Tora tried to focus on the route they took through the castle; she would have to figure out how to find her way around here. But she was distracted by the castle's dark décor. There were all kinds of pictures, statues and things that scared her. The redhead shivered and followed close behind the Beast.
Mytho, who was sitting on the Beast's shoulder, nudged the Beast with his wing and beckoned to Tora.
The Beast took the hint. "I hope you like it here," he said, quietly. "The castle is your home now so you can go anywhere you like except for the West Wing."
"What's in the West..."
"It's forbidden! Understand?" He snapped at her then turned back around continuing down the halls. They got to her new room and Fakir opened the door for her. Inside the room was a beautiful bed with a massive dresser, it looked like a room fit for a princess.
"If you need anything, ring the bell and my servants will attend to you," He said as she entered the room.
"Dinner, invite her to dinner." Mytho said behind him.
"You will…join me for dinner, THAT'S NOT A REQUEST!" He said then slammed the door shut. Tora turned around to say something but the door closed.
Tora had always thought of herself as a strong, capable woman; but now she was simply a terrified young girl. Sure she didn't regret sacrificing herself for Leo's sake but knowing she'd lost her home, her only family and her dreams hurt more than she could've imagined. She threw herself onto the luxurious bed and cried herself to sleep.
XXXXXXXXXXXXX
Meanwhile, back in the village, winter had made an early visit. There was snow blowing rather fiercely and the wind felt icy to the touch. It certainly reflected the mood of Karasu.
After Tora's public rejection of his marriage proposal, Karasu had become the laughingstock of the entire town and it had left him in a rather sour mood. Sato had been trying hard to cheer Karasu up. He'd tried hunting, fighting, and everything else he could think of but nothing worked. If anything, it just made it worse.
At that moment, Karasu was at the tavern, slouching in his favorite armchair in front of the fire while ranting about the incident with Tora.
"Who does she think she is?" ranted Karasu. "NO ONE says 'no' to Karasu!"
"Damn right!" said Sato. He handed Karasu a large mug of beer. "That stupid girl doesn't know how lucky she is! She's a fool!"
"And she made one out of me!" fumed Karasu, as he tossed the beer into the fire. "Because of Tora, I've been dismissed, rejected and publicly humiliated! Why, it's more than I can bear!"
Sato held out his own untouched mug of beer. "Want another drink?"
Karasu scowled and turned away. "What for? Nothing helps! I'm ruined for life!"
Sato refused to believe that. He placed his hands on Karasu's shoulders. "Who? You? Never! Karasu, my old friend, you've got to pull yourself together!"
In a last-ditch attempt to cheer up his friend, Sato burst out into song.
Gosh it disturbs me to see you, Karasu
Looking so down in the dumps
Every guy here'd love to be you, Karasu
Even when taking your lumps
There's no man in town as admired as you
You're everyone's favorite guy
Everyone's awed and inspired by you
And it's not very hard to see why
Karasu turned his chair around, watching through his bad mood.
No one's slick as Karasu
Or as quick as Karasu
No one's neck's incredibly slim like Karasu
For there's no one in town whose as manly
Perfect, a pure paragon
You can ask any Tom, Dick or Stanley
And they'll tell you whose team they prefer to be on.
A bunch of vilagers decided to pick up Sato and swing him around.
No one's been like Karasu
A king pin like Karasu
No one's got a swell cleft in his chin like Karasu
Karasu felt his bad mood start to fade away from all the compliments and he couldn't stop himself from bragging. "As a specimen, yes, I'm intimidating!" he declared, as he flexed his muscles.
My what a guy, that Karasu!
Give five "hurrahs!"
Give twelve "hip-hips!"
The other men in the tavern all hoisted up their tankards of beer and clinked them together.
"Karasu is the best and the rest is all drips!" declared Sato.
As he thrust his tankard into the air, Sato's beer was accidentally tossed out of it and it landed on Karasu.
No….oneeeee…..
POW! Karasu punched Sato.
Fights like Karasu
Douses lights like Karasu
In a wrestling match, nobody bites like Karasu
For there's no one as burly or brawny!
Karasu lifted a bench with three girls on it. "As you see I've got biceps to spare."
Not a bit of him's scraggly or scrawny
The hunter dropped the bench on Sato.
"That's right! And every last inch of me's covered with hair!" declared Karasu, as he ripped open his shirt, revealing his toned and hairy chest.
No one hits like Karasu
Matches wits like Karasu
In a spitting match nobody spits like Karasu
Karasu bit off a bit of leather with his teeth and gave it a good chew. "I'm espcially good at expectorating! Ptoooie!"
The bit of leather flew past a candle on a table, bounced off a bottle of whiskey and off the chandelier before hitting Sato square in the chest.
The other men held up scoreboards with large numbers drawn on them. "Ten points for Karasu!"
When I was a lad I ate four dozen eggs
Every morning to help me get large!
And now that I'm grown, I eat five dozen eggs
So I'm roughly the size of a barge!
After downing a number of eggs and flexing his muscles, Karasu twirled his gun around in his hand and then shot into a barrel full of beer, making perfect holes. The drink began pouring out and the men in the tavern eagerly held their tankards under it and downed it rather quickly.
No one shoots like Karasu
Makes those beauts like Karasu
Then goes tromping around wearing boots like Karasu
Karasu plopped down into his arm chair and beckoned to all his hunting trophies on the wall. There were a rather large number of deer and moose on the walls and up on the mantle. It wasn't very attractive but Karasu loved it and was exceedingly proud of it.
"I use antlers in all of my decorating!" he said.
My what a guy,
Karasu!
The townsmen picked up Karasu's chair and carried it around the room before it was dropped down. Sato tried to evade the chair but within moments, he was pinned underneath Karasu's armchair.
Just then, the doors to the tavern opened up revealing Leo.
"Help! Someone help me!" Leo said, making all eyes turn on him.
"Leo?" The bartender asked.
"Please, please I need your help! He's got her, he's got her locked in the dungeons!" Leo said.
"Who?" A guy asked.
"Tora! We must go now, not a minute to lose!" He said, shaking some random guy.
"Whoa, slow down Leo! Who's got Tora locked in a dungeon?" Karasu asked him.
"A beast clocked in black, he imprisoned me, but then Tora became his prisoner instead!"
Despite the fact that Leo was telling the truth, his tale sounded ludicrous so naturally, nobody believed him and instead they chose to mock him.
"Is the beast big?" asked the bartender.
"Huge!" said Leo.
"With a long ugly snout?" said a man, patronizingly.
Leo shook his head. "Actually, no. He looked rather human with the most inhuman scars on his face. But it doesn't matter! The point is, Tora's locked up and in danger and I need help to rescue her!"
Leo then tripped over the bearskin rug and fell flat on his face as everyone laughed.
"Don't worry, Leo. We'll help you out," said Karasu.
He waved his hand and two of the villagers lifted Leo up and onto his feet.
Leo looked relieved. "Thank you so much. I—oof!"
Leo was tossed out of the tavern and into a snowbank outside. That was what Karasu and the others had meant by "helping him out." They meant out of the tavern. Leo spat out the snow that got in his mouth and dusted himself off before storming back to his house. If no one would help Leo, he'd go rescue Tora himself.
"Crazy Leo, always good for a laugh!"
"Crazy Leo huh…crazy Leo…hmmm." Karasu said, pondering the thought. "Sato, I'm afraid I've been thinking."
"A dangerous past time?"
"I know. You see that crazy boy is Tora's brother, and his sanity is only so-so. Now the wheels in my head of been turning since I looked at him, I promised myself I would be married to Tora and right now I have a plan." Karasu said, then whispered to Sato the plan in his ear. Once he was done, Sato smiled at Karasu in understanding.
"So what do you think? Do you get it?" Karasu asked.
"Now I get it!" Sato said.
"Good, and once my plan works we'll be celebrating my marriage to Tora really soon." Karasu said, smiling a bit wickedly.
