Chapter two
"Majesty?" Lena asked softly from where she was bathing in the waterfall.
The Empress turned from laying out robes for Lena and smiled. "Call me Houki my dear, deep down I am just a simple village girl like you."
Lena nodded respectfully " Lady Houki, how did you know of my wounds?" She asked lathering her hair for a second time.
Houki shrugged, "It's a raw talent I guess, I've always been able to tell how people are feeling. When I was back at my village I always helped with the doctor. I can see it clearly when people try to hide pain."
Lena ducked under the waterfall then squeezed the extra water from her hair. "It's a helpful talent Lady. Did the Emperor know of it?"
Houki's smile turned sad. "Yes, he did. He always told me I should develop my gift. But I never had the time. He died rather suddenly."
Lena nodded sympathetically, "I'm sorry Lady Houki I didn't mean to bring up a painful subject."
Houki's smile brightened. "Don't apologize, my time with Hotohori was short but full of love." Her eyes became misty as she lost herself in the past.
Lena wrapped her arms around herself and made her way toward the ladies waiting with towels. After drying she donned the deep red robes lent to her by the Empress. Moving slowly she knelt next to the Empress timidly laying her hand on her shoulder.
Surprised, Houki looked over to where the sorceress knelt. "I'm sorry, I'm not usually like this." She explained but Lena just gifted her with a gentle smile.
"Don't worry about it. I understand loss." Lena stood slowly her aching body protested. Immediately, Houki stood to help the younger girl. The sorceress smiled her thanks as she straightened.
"Your wounds need to be tended to, I will send someone with a medicine for relieving the pain and swelling, but I must get back to business. My son is to practice swordsmanship and I wouldn't miss for the world. He is just as good as Hotohori was." She smiled happily.
Lena smiled back feeling thankful that this woman still had a part of the man she loved with her.
"Oh I understand Lady Houki, if I could get direction to somewhere to rest…" she started.
"How silly of me to forget. Of course", the Empress gestured to one of the women that had helped Lena dress. "Kia, help Lady Lena to the room she is to use." The woman bowed and took Lena's arm to aid her walking.
"Thank you Lady Houki." Lena smiled as the woman began leading her away.
"Anytime Lena, please come visit us again someday." The Empress smiled fondly at the girl.
Lena nodded "Of course."
The room Lena was lent was sparse yet elegant. Everything was in white including the wood of the bed, which was somewhat of an amazement to her. Stroking the pale wood she noticed the woman, Kia, readying another set of robes for her to sleep in. Turning Lena let the woman help her dress for bed, and her body was beyond exhausted as she lay gingerly on her stomach in the soft down of the bed. Distantly, she heard the woman leave just as the warm blackness of sleep washed over her.
It seemed only moments later that the door to her room was slammed open. Flinching, Lena pried her eyes open to target the disturbance, when her eyes rested on a tall flame haired man her eyes snapped open. Painfully, she tried to push herself up. At her first gasp of pain she was surprised to feel Tasuki's strong arm wrapped around her shoulders gently bracing her so she could sit without pain. By the time she could sit on her own she had forgotten the initial irritation and looked at Tasuki gratefully.
"I'm here to give you this." He thrust a small clay jar toward her. "Houki said it would help with your pain."
Taking the jar from his hand she looked up at him, "Um, could you help me with it… I mean all the wounds are on my back." She blushed prettily.
Tasuki matched her color but nodded slowly. "Sure."
Taking the jar from her he let it on the table next to her bed and helped her turn so her back was facing him. Clenching his fists he called himself all different types of stupid he watched her slide the snowy night robe down baring her wounded torso. Reminding himself that she was a girl and that he didn't like girls he reached for the jar and scooped a bit of the salve onto his fingers.
"Um, I hope this doesn't hurt. I'm not very good at all this." He apologized gruffly as he tenderly smoothed the thin ointment over her many bruises.
Lena was shocked at the tenderness of the rough warriors touch and blushed deeply at the soothing motions of his fingers across her sore flesh. Combined with the warmth of the medicine her body started to relax a bit more until he got to her wounded shoulder.
"How did this one happen?" Tasuki asked, his voice soft as he lightly smoothed the salve over the gash. "It looks like they tried to cut your throat."
Lena shuddered. "They did, but I turned away fast enough they only cut into my back and shoulder."
Tasuki nodded gravely. "How did you get away?"
"I fought them, how else?" She gasped as his touch slipped roughly against a bruise.
"You mean you fought them on your own?" his voice deepened as he set the salve down turned away. "That has to dry." He snapped when she went to cover herself again.
Sighing, she pulled her robe closer to her front and turned to face him.
"Of course I fought them. I can do that you know."
Tasuki turned back around. "No you can't your just a girl! You need to be protected! It's a good thing you came for Chichiri and me. We know how to protect a girl, we did it all the time with Miaka. She was always getting into some trouble or another."
Lena's eyes flashed as she glared into his haughty ginger ones. "Well I'm not just some girl! I've been taking care of myself for years!"
"Yeah well, not very well from the looks of it. How many times have you been hurt like this?"
Lena's eyes widened, "That's not the point!"
Tasuki leaned forward his nose an inch from hers. "Ha! Oh yes it is! You need a man to take care of you!"
"I do not!" She growled jumping up to glare at him, her shoulders squared.
"Do too!" Tasuki growled back stepping closer.
"I do not! And even if I did it wouldn't be you!" She threatened her skin flushing with anger.
"Yes it damn well would! I can protect you better than any man can!" he bellowed fire dancing in his eyes.
"But why would you want to!" she yelled back clutching her robe tightly.
"I don't know!" He roared, "This is why I hate girls!"
Lena froze for a moment as he turned and abruptly slammed his way out of the room. Sighing, she sunk down on the bed as she heard his boots stomp away on the wooden walkway out side. Her relief was short lived when she heard the same boots stomping back toward her room. Squaring her shoulders, she watched him slam the door open again.
"I'm supposed to ask if you need anything for the journey." He growled looking over her shoulder.
Lena gritted her teeth in attempt to keep from yelling no when she did indeed need supplies.
"I need a new set of robes and sandals. Also, we all will need sleeping supplies because it is more than a days trip." She bit off in a very unladylike tone. "And if it is possible I need a chain for my heart stone."
Tasuki looked at her when she made the last request. "What the hell is a heart stone?"
"Just ask Chichiri to get one for me he'll know what it is!" She snapped, losing her battle with calm once again as her fatigue and pain kicked in.
Tasuki growled. "Fine, whatever!" he stomped away again.
This time Lena waited until she didn't hear his angry steps return to relax.
"That man may drive me insane." She muttered turning to lay on her stomach with a groan once again.
Morning crept over the palace with a thick mist. Staring out the doorway of his room Chichiri heaved a deep sigh. It wasn't a good sign. Not at all, but he knew Lena well enough to know that she would not let them put off their trip a moment longer.
"Come on Chichiri, times a wasting and the sooner we defeat this demon the sooner we can get rid of this girl." Tasuki growled as he secured all the blankets into his pack before shaking out the robes he bought in the market first thing in the morning. Of course Houki had offered some of her garments but Tasuki had refused.
"Hey Tasuki maybe I should take her the robes, you know. After your fight last night I don't know if she'll be happy to see you." Chichiri offered.
Tasuki frowned. "Yeah your probably right. But make sure and put that stuff on her back for her while your there."
Chichiri nodded taking the robes and turning towards Lena's room.
"Oh and make sure it dries before she covers her back." Tasuki yelled over his shoulder as he secured his pack a second time.
"And!" He yelled louder, "make sure to help her up so she doesn't disturb her shoulder!"
Chichiri lifted a hand to signal that he understood as he kept walking.
Laughing he wondered if his friend had finally overcome his phobia of women. Then shook his head in wonder that he picked Lena of all people to fall for. They were far too much alike, both fiery and fiercely loyal. They would be perfect for each other if they didn't kill one another first.
Smiling, he turned into Lena's room gently slidthe door open. Lena was still asleep on her stomach with her left hand tangled in her russet waves. Suddenly, Chichiri smirked as a brilliant idea dawned on him. Stepping outside the door the quickly transformed into Tasuki and stepped back in.
"Hey wench wake up." He growled in his best Tasuki voice.
Groggily, Lena leaned up on her forearms and glared at him. "What do you want?" she yawned.
"You need to get up if we're going to leave today unless you don't care about your people and you want to stay in bed." Chichiri growled again with Tasuki's voice.
Lena's eyes snapped open as she pushed herself up slowly, slapping his hands away when he attempted to help her.
"Of course I want to help my people you jerk! Now leave the clothes and get out of here so I can get dressed!"
Chichiri restrained his laugher as he noticed that even though she seemed outwardly angry, deep down she was glad to see Tasuki. "Maybe they have a shot" he thought smiling.
"What are you smiling about?" she snapped.
"Oh right. I need to put more medicine on your back." Chichiri let Tasuki's voice become less gruff.
Lena rolled her eyes. "Ugh, alright." Slowly she bared her back toward him and waited for him to proceed. Eyebrows raising Chichiri was shocked to see the comfortable behavior that Lena showed Tasuki. As a rule Lena was very closed toward men. In fact besides himself and their master he didn't know a man that Lena actually let her guard down around.
Striving for gentleness he smoothed the paste across her bruises.
Lena frowned at the rough touch of Tasuki's hands. He was so very gentle last night and this morning if felt as if she were being attacked. Suddenly a breeze blew in through the open door and she caught a whiff of his sent. Eyes narrowing she bit her lip as the rest of the ointment was spread over her remaining wounds.
Once finished Lena turned back toward him as he sat on the edge of her bed scowling at her as usual.
When he caught the sight of her furious expression his eyes widened. "What's wrong Lena? Did I hurt you?" he asked.
Reaching out she smacked him upside the head. "What in the world are you doing?"
"W-what do you mean?" he stuttered. Chichiri was in complete shock; if she was always like this to Tasuki no wonder the man was frustrated with her.
"I know it's you Chichiri!" she shrieked pushing him off the bed.
Chichiri landed on the floor laughing. "Lena your abilities have grown you know. Your very good at detecting a fake!" He praised.
"Yeah well thanks, what were you doing though?" She blushed and pulled her robe tight leaving her back to the air.
"Well I just wanted to see if I could figure out what you guys were fighting about last night you know. The whole palace heard you guys yelling." He rubbed his cheek for sympathy.
"Oh so you thought to stage a reenactment?" Lena lifted a brow.
"Well no, I just wanted to see what you would of done. Ok yes, I wanted to see if you guys would still fight this morning."
Lena smiled slightly. "Well now you have your answer your strange man. Did you bring the clothes I asked for?"
Chichiri nodded retrieving the robes and sandals from the chair where he laid them.
"Oh wow, they're beautiful." Lena gasped looking over the deep blue robes inlaid with sliver swirls around the sleeves and bottom. "Where did you get them?"
Chichiri grinned. "Tasuki bought them this morning."
The sorceress' head jerked up. "He bought them… for me?"
Chichiri nodded. "Yup, bright and early. And he was the one who told me to put the medicine on your back."
"He did?" She squeaked turning red.
"Yup, just go easy on him Lena, he's not used to being around girls. He's the boss of a bunch of thieves up in the mountains you know. He's new to being around people."
Lena nodded. "I'll try Chichiri I really will, but he just gets me so frustrated sometimes."
Chichiri nodded. "He's a good guy under it all, in time I think you'll see that. Just don't be too hard on him you know?"
Lena smile. "Yes, ok, I'll try." She ran her fingers down the magnificent indigo garment.
Chichiri couldn't keep the grin off his face as he turned to leave the room. "Be ready within the hour we need to get on the road."
When silence met his words he looked back to see Lena holding the robed carefully, grin widening he repeated himself. This time she nodded before going into the smaller room off of hers to change.
I have more and I promise I'll get it up here soon!! I just need to do some edititing, but it should be up in the next couple of days.. actually I have a lot more.
