"Heartache"
Tai stared at the bodies of his parents, even though he knew they couldn't stop. Ogremon and his goons were right behind them, but his feet wouldn't work and his legs were barely holding out. Matt kept glancing at Tai with a slightly irritated expression, then going back to his watch. Tai stepped further into the house, and walked up the stairs, despite the fact the house could give way at any moment. Once he reached the top of the stairs, he stood at his sister's door, too afraid to open it. He reached out for the handle slowly, his hand seemed to shake the closer he got to the handle. Closing his eyes and wiping the tears from his eyes, he opened the door to see his little sister, Hikari, lying on the floor a large blood stain on her pink shirt. Tai walked over to her and dropped to his knees, placing a hand on her pale face.
She was still warm...quickly he checked her pulse, she was still breathing, but barely. And then... it finally cought up with him, tears fell freely from his face and although he had lost his parents, Tai thanked whatever higher power had been watching over Hikari.
He picked her up, and rushed back outside, to see Matt glaring at an incoming army. He turned when he heard Tai, and Mimi rushed over to Tai.
"Oh my! Is she alive?" Mimi asked, Tai nodded.
"Yeah... but we can't stay any longer" Tai said, "Not unless we want to fight off an army."
Matt looked back at Tai and sighed some.
"He's right," Matt responeded, "We'll hide in the forest and head to the nearest town. We can can help the girl there."
Tai nodded, and the group ran into the nearby mass of trees.
Although Tai had wanted to stop within a few feet of entering the forest, Matt had insisted they head into the deepest part of the forest. Matt had also told them when to stop and set up a "bed" of leaves to lie Kari down on. The Princess; Mimi, knelt down next to Kari and placed a hand on her head, frowning.
"Oh the poor child," She whispered, "Who is she?"
"My sister," replied Tai softly, "We're not going to get to the town in time..."
Mimi closed her eyes and held her hand above Kari's wound, she began whispering something, an a soft light emitted from her hand, when the light faded, she checked the wound... it had healed,the only telling sign that Kari had been injured was a small scar and the fact she was still covered in blood.
"White magic," Explained Mimi, "I've healed her a little, she's stable now... but I still want to get her to a more experienced doctor."
Tai looked at Mimi and smiled softly, then turned his attention back to Kari. Mimi stood, and looked down at her beautiful dress, now covered in mud, she had been given a pair of boots that Tai had found in his house and although they didn't match her dress, and they weren't exactly something royalty should be seen wearing she did rather like them.
She walked over to Matt who was on gaurd duty, but was falling asleep on his feet.
"Sir Yamato," She said softly, "My mother and father... they're dead..."
Matt looked to her sadly and nodded.
"I fear that's the case, your Highness." He replied, trying to supress a yawn, "I'm sorry, Princess. I should be more alert."
"Don't be silly," replied Mimi, "You need rest too, we're safe here for now... we should all get some rest."
"But Princess Mimi, if someone should..." Matt began to say, and was cut off by Mimi's finger on his lips, as she ''shushed" him softly,
"We won't sleep long, we can get to the nearest town and find somewhere to stay there." Mimi then all of a sudden looked shy, "Though I must confess... I've never slept outside before."
Matt smiled a little, and they both walked over to Tai and Hikari. Hikari had woken and was fighting off the over-attention of her big brother. Hikari gasped a little when she saw Mimi and tried desperatly to stand up, only to fail.
"Taichi!" Hikari said in a hash whisper, "That's the Princess, show some respect!"
Mimi giggled a little and knelt down besides the young girl, who looked down at the ground embarresed.
"Hello, I'm Mimi," Mimi introduce herself, "What's your name?"
"Hikari Kamiya..." Hikari replied softly, "I'm sorry I'm so messy."
Mimi laughed a little.
"Don't be, I'm messy too," Mimi said smiling a little, "You're brother helped Sir Yamato resecue me."
"Tai rescued you?" Asked Hikari astonished then after a moments silence she asked, "Why do you have a Chocobo egg?"
Hikari looked at the ground as if punishing herself for not addressing royalty properly.
"Oh! Your brother brought it to the castle," Mimi said, "I forgot I had it... will you look after it for me?"
Hikari nodded eagerly,
Tai smiled then pushed Hikari back down gentally.
"Hey, get some sleep Kari..." He said in a soft but stern voice, "You need to get your strength up."
Kari was going to protest but she felt dizzy trying to sit up, so she layed back down again.
"Okay, G'night Tai, Goodnight Sir Yamato, Goodnight Your Highness," Kari said sleeply
"Goodnight Kari," replied Mimi "Goodnight Taichi, Goodnight Sir Yamato,"
It wasn't long before they were all asleep.
The next morning arrived and as usual Tai was the last to wake up, he rubbed his eyes struggling to open then and saw Matt cooking something, Kari and Mimi were sat near him talking, Tai sat up rubbing the back of his neck and yawning some.
"It's about time," Said Matt, "How much longer was you planning to sleep, anyway?"
"Oh shut up," replied Tai, "And I suppose you was up at the crack of dawn?"
"Yes I was, actually." Replied Matt smiling some Tai grunted and went over to the others.
"We won't be stopping long right? Breakfast and then on the move again?" He asked
Matt nodded. Tai sat down, leaning against a tree.
Had Sora made it out okay? Was she even in the town at the time... if not, he'd have to tell her that everyone they knew... everyone they cared about was dead. He bit his lip and said a silent prayer for her saftey.
Soon the group were back on their feet, and even though Kari insisted on walking, Tai insisted on carrying her. They were heading towards Haven, though Tai too little comfort in the name, they would have to keep on the move, now and forever. At least until they figured out why they had been attacked.
Kari leant her head against her brother's chest and sighed, every so softly. Tai was trying so hard to be strong for her, they were all each other had now. She closed her eyes and tried not to think of the monsters that had killed their parents...
Mimi's heart was aching too, she had lost everyone. But it was expected of royalty to be strong in the face of danger or pain. So she had never been given the chance to grieve before, the chance to feel upset... all of a sudden she felt strangely empty, she didn't know what to do.
Matt's face gave nothing away, he wasn't a local boy, he hadn't lost any family in the attack. But to see that destruction... what was the point of it all? Determined to keep a straight face, Matt gritted his teeth. He had failed the King and Queen, but he would protect the Princess with his life.
Soon they were at the forests end and with it, the end of their cover. It didn't matter too much, but being out in the open unsettled Matt. Despite what the Princess called him, he wasn't a "Sir" yet, he hadn't been knighted. He had only recently become a fully trained Dragoon. Although he hated to admit it, even to himself... he doubted how reliable with a spear he really was.
When they arrived in Haven the small group obviously attracted a lot of attention, and Tai guided them to the local Inn, he didn't have alot of money but he hoped they could work something out. The bell chimed cheerfully as the Inn Door knocked it.
The Inn Keeper looked at the four young travellers with an unsure expression on his face, watching as they approached the desk. Tai reached the desk then lent against it, all strength leaving his body as he struggled to remain upright, even though they had slept in the forest, it hadn't been for long.
"Could we have a room please?" Asked Tai, "We don't have much money, but I'll gladly work off our debt."
"I'll help too," Said Mimi
"But Prin-" Matt started, until Tai kicked his leg,
"It's probably best, if they don't know Mimi's a Princess for now," Tai whispered, Matt glared at Tai, but didn't protest. Instead he voleentered to help too.
The Inn Keeper caved and allowed them to stay as long as they spent tomorrow working. In Exchange he'd give them two nights free board and abit of money. Tai asked if the town had a Doctor for Kari, and the Inn Keeper told them to take Kari to the room, he'd go get the Doctor for them. He had also provided them with some old clothes he was going to throw away, since Matt and Mimi weren't really dressed for the sort of work involved in running an Inn.
The next day Tai, Matt and Mimi began they're work. Matt was working in the Kitchen, Mimi was working as a waitress and Tai was out running errands, it had taken him awhile to agree to living the building, especially since Kari was still resting.
Mimi was nervous she had never done a days "work" in her life and she hadn't really had any contact with people who didn't know she was a Princess. Fortunatly there were only two other rooms besides the one they were staying in. So that only ment two tables to wait on.
"Hello!" Said Mimi to a group of adventurers, "May I take your order?"
"Yes you can," One of them said, "We'd like three breakfast meals... and maybe a little sweet something to go with it."
Mimi ignored the leering look the man was giving her.
"Anything else?" she asked politely,
"Nah, that's all for now," he replied grinning, Mimi went into the kitchen and shuddered, it was going to be a long day.
Tai had spent his morning running around town picking up packages and dropping off packages. He had just finished making a delievery and was on his way back to the Inn when he saw two people carrying someone into the Inn, though he couldn't tell if the person was a male or female, they were too far away. When he re-entered the Inn he saw Kari behind the desk, she looked worried but relief came across her face when she saw him.
"Tai! Tai!" She said quickly
"What are you doing out of bed...?" Tai began asking
"It doesn't matter, they found her!" Kari said, still seeming paniced, "They found Sora!"
"What! Where is she?" He replied quickly,
"They've taken her up to our room - Tai wait!" Kari called to him as he dashed up the stairs, but he was already on his way, he burst into the room to see the town's doctor examing Sora with a grave expression on his face. Sora's eyes were closed, her breathing shallow and her face pale.
"Is she okay?" Tai asked rushing to her side, the doctor frowned.
"She's been hit with a poisoned arrow... I've healed the arrow wound."
"What about the poison!" Snapped Tai,
"It can be cured... but I don't have the herb to cure it." The doctor replied,
"Well get it then!" Tai growled.
"It grows in a cave north of here... but at this time of year, the cave is full of monsters." The Doctor said frowning,
"Fine, I'll go!" Tai said impatiently and turned around, to see Mimi, Kari and Matt stood in the door way.
"I'm going too," Mimi said
"And me," Matt added
"I'll stay here with Sora..." replied Kari, "Just incase she wakes up while you're gone."
"You need to find a white herb that glows brightly, it grows in the deepest part of the cave."
Tai looked to Matt and Mimi.
"Why are you coming, this isn't your fight, you don't even know her." Tai said, it was Matt who answered.
"The same reason you helped me and the Princess escape: It's the right thing to do."
Tai smiled and nodded a little.
"We best hurry, let's go."
To be continued...
