Well! I'm sorry I've been gone so long but I had a temporary writer's block! My bad! 3 All the important stuff will be explained at the end of the fic! I have no notes for the beginning! Here we go!
Chapter 2: The Legend of the Snow Princess
Long ago, there was a beautiful young human girl who found herself lost in Kamui. This young girl wandered alone for many days and nights hoping to be found and not knowing her way home, out of the frozen waist. It was said that she was found on the seventh day of her wanderings, but by then had forgotten her name. The Onia had found her during a horrible blizzard and named her Yukihime. The young girl seemed to have gained something while she had been sleeping the the cave, powers of the gods as the Onia called it and she came to be called Princess by the Onia. And they named her Yukihime…And she came to be called Princess…
Kuraku groaned and rolled over, she wasn't sure where she was or what was going on, she only knew that she had been saved. "Where am I?" She groaned looking around, her eye sight was blurred and she couldn't see very well at all at the moment but she could make out distinct figures moving around in the hut.
"Ah! You're awake! It's about time!" Kai's voice said happily, "We were really worried about you, Kari! Samickle carried you all the way over here from Yoshpet and you kept muttering things about some demon. I guess you two ran into as much trouble as we did, though you got more hurt then we did…I mean…then Lika and I did…we hardly have a scratch on us…but Ichiro…he wasn't so lucky…"
Kai's words came as more of a jumbled bunch of sounds to Kuraku's ears then actual words. Kuraku blinked and looked around trying to see if anyone else was in the hut. She saw no one else but Lika who was in her wolf form sleeping. Ichiro was asleep in the room as well, or that's what it seemed.
Something was missing, "Where's Oki?" Kuraku asked finally realize what was missing. "He's alright…right? Tell me he's alright." Kuraku said slowly.
"Oki…well…" Kai started, "We aren't quite sure…he's woken up but we can't get the blood flow to stop…" Kai paused, "I'm terribly sorry, but we just can't get it to stop and we don't know if he's going to make it!" She said finished quickly, realizing Kuraku's temper was growing at an alarming rate. "You can go and see him if you want."
"Wait…I can? How long have I been out?" Kuraku asked quickly, eyeing Kai carefully. She sat up and began coughing before closing her eyes, thinking about the whole situation.
"You've been out for a day now. Oki was out for about half a day and Ichiro is still out…" Kai said slowly, "While we were in the forest…we were attacked by a demon that could change its shape into anything. It took on your mother's form and Yukihime's form and nearly killed Ichiro. He was trying to protect us. We've managed to get his bleeding to stop but we can't get him to wake up."
Kuraku glanced at her brother; he looked so peaceful laying there. She closed her eyes and when she opened them she was met by Samickle whose face was right in front of her own. "You alright?" He asked slowly.
"I'm fine." Kuraku replied softly, diverting her eyes to the ground next to Samickle, "Is Oki alright?" She asked slowly.
Samickle sighed, "You two just can't worry about yourselves can you?" He asked, "Oki's asked the same thing plenty of times…he's fine."
Kuraku sighed softly, "Good." She said slowly and closed her eyes, "Good, that's really good. Am I allowed to go and see him?" She asked.
"Yeah, he's with me for now…until we get the bleeding to stop that just happened to be where I put him and we didn't think it'd be wise to move him." Samickle said slowly, "So it won't be a very long walk, or in your case a very long ride." He picked Kuraku up and left the hut making his way for his own.
She was taken in by a family who had but a young boy by the name of Takumi and grew close to the siblings, Hayate and Emi. Then the princess, my princess, defended the village from the demons that were attacking it and her only protection was her beloved and he came to be called her Protector. And he was her Protector…
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And as time drug on, she took Emi and Takumi to the cave where the too gained special powers. Emi as a priestess and Takumi as a prophet. So they used their powers to aid the princess and Emi was called the Priestess and Takumi came to be named the Predictor. And the Priestess and Predictor aided her…
Kuraku leaped from Samickle's arms and scrambled to Oki's said in a large panic when she saw the blood stained bed. She glanced up at Samickle who rolled his eyes. "I'm guessing you two want time alone, don't worry! I get it! I get it!" Samickle sighed leaving, "Kicked out of my own house." He snarled as he left.
Kuraku closed her eyes tightly as she kneeled down next to Oki, flinching at the pain in her chest cause by her sudden movements. She blinked and glanced around, realizing Samickle and Kai had previously stripped her over her mask, what good was talking with Oki if he wasn't going to look at her. She leaned onto her toes in a nervous way as she hovered over Oki. She sighed softly; he too had been stripped of his mask, though it made her smile, without a mask or identity maybe it was all going well after all.
"You know, the people who get to see you smile are really lucky…"
Kuraku screamed at the sudden sound of Oki's voice and threw her arms backwards to catch herself before she fell and she sat up quickly before letting a few words escape her lips, "I thought you were asleep." She whispered.
Oki gave her a weak laugh, either a really good sign or a really bad sign, she wasn't quite sure. "Everyone else must have too. No…I'm awake…" Oki sighed, "Wow, I was all worked up for nothing. It looks like you're perfectly fine." He fell silent and the only sound was his sharp coughs. "You know, I was worried you weren't going to wake up."
Kuraku laughed, "I wouldn't just leave like that, promise. About your wounds…can they really not get the blood flow to stop? Oki that worries me more then anything else." She sighed, "What if…you die? And I…It'd be my fault…this is my fault."
"None of this is your fault, you just didn't believe something. Kuraku, you're the bravest of all the women in the tribe. You're braver then some of the men, if anything you proved a point out there. I'm proud of you, so don't worry about me…I was just doing…what my mind told me…too…" Oki trailed off. What his mind told him too? Did that mean he was doing exactly what he had sworn not to do? Oki closed his eyes, it wasn't fair.
Kuraku smiled again, "You're proud of me?" She asked slowly, "That means a lot to me."
Oki blinked, laughing nervously, "Of course I'm proud of you. We're all proud of you for what you did out there. Putting your life on the line like that…it was simply stunning." He said softly, coughing again.
"Thanks." Kuraku said quietly, leaning forward and resting her head on his arm.
And together they all defeated the demon, Kousetsu, but my princess was cursed. Kousetsu's second in command swore vengeance and disappeared forever, seven years latter he was seen on the outskirts of Yoshpet and with those seven years he brought a horrible blizzard in which Emi died. This day of death came to be known as the Day of Ice. It was known as the Day of Ice…
Oki closed his eyes in pain the moment Kuraku's skin touched his, but it wasn't a pain he had felt before, it was like someone was driving a cold spike down his back and trying to force his soul out. The frozen feeling turned quickly into a burning sensation and Oki jerked upward, gasping for breath.
"Oki?" Kuraku asked her voice worried, "Oki? What's wrong?" She demanded.
Oki bit his lip, fighting a losing battle with whatever was in his body as it began to take control. Kill her. The voice echoed through his head, and no matter how hard he fought it the demon within his body was winning control. He rose to his feet looking down at Kuraku, whose eyes were wide with fright.
So Princess…how would you feel if your beloved Protector destroyed you?
Kill the snow princess…
You're doomed to die…
Kill her now!
"OKI!" Kuraku shrieked as Oki reached subconsciously for the dagger that was at his side. He lifted it slowly, his hands shaking as he tried desperately to regain control of his body. "OKI!" Kuraku cried again as held the dagger above her.
"Kuraku…get…out…"
Kuraku closed her eyes and there was a great flash of light.
And so I, the great Predictor, was forced to watch alone as the Protector kept the Princess to himself. So I, the Predictor, was forced to watch as the Princess, my Princess, slowly withered away under the curse. And I, The Predictor, was killed before her very eyes…Takumi and Emi…dead…lost…forever…
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Princess, Snow Princess, what do you remember?
I was born in a land known as Nippon
And all I remember was hearing a soft song
Before finding myself in this cavern of ice
With no hope of returning to my previous life
Princess, Beautiful Princess, how did you find us?
You found me in the cave of ages
And took me in, away from the cages
Of the ice that trapped me in the caves walls
With you at my side never shall I fall
Princess, Human Princess, do you belong here?
These people are neither human nor beast
And I am human and am surely weak
But they love me all the same
And so I live here without any shame…
Princess, Oh Princess, who do you trust?
Who do I trust you all may ask?
My Protector who is at my side
My Priestess who is always my friend
And my Predictor who is my loyal and beloved brother…
Kuraku opened her eyes slowly and looked around in panic. Several moments ago Oki had been standing over her with a knife. Was she dead? Had Oki really killed her? It was such a stupid question. Oki wouldn't kill her, right? He had lost control, something had to be done or she'd end up losing her life, or worse, Oki.
Kuraku blinked, listening to the song, she'd heard it somewhere before. It seemed to be sang by two different people, a male and a female, the female's voice made her relax and tense at the same time as she sat there in the middle of what felt like an entirely white page or something similar. There was nothing but white light all around her, and it wasn't snow. She groaned in confusion looking around once more, narrowing her eyes as she tried to make out her surrounding area before hearing the song once more.
Protector, Defender, why do you love me?
Though you are different we're on in the same
And while you are human your beauty remains
And though you pretend to be strong
I know deep inside the others are wrong…
Predictor, my brother, do you love me?
For you I died
For you I cried
I love you like I love the dawn
My sister, I live for your song
Kuraku sighed and groaned again, the song was the one that her father had taught her, though it was a little different then what her father had taught her. She sighed softly and leaned back closing her eyes and listening to the song before scrambling to her feet as a new part was sung.
Princess, My Princess, why do you help?
Before her death I promised my Priestess
That if ever she died I would not rest
Until her will to save the others was completed
And so I aid you when I am needed…
Princess, My Princess, why do you sing?
As I trained to protect those I loved
I believed my only protection came from above
But my protector was at my side to the end
And was there at the end, my only friend
Princess, My Princess, why do you weep?
Right in front of me my protector was taken
By the demon of silver my blood he had hated…
And before my eyes, my brother was killed
By the demon of gold, his blood was spilled…
Lost are my loved ones, taken by demons
Silver and Golden I have one chance to free them…
Kuraku froze, her face going pale as the area around her grew dark. "B-By the demon of silver…" She said slowly as the light returned, "And gold…" She glanced around slowly, "Where am I?"
She sat in a cave full of snow and ice and, much to her surprise, crystals. Bright and brilliant crystals that sparkled without light and glittered as her reflection danced upon them, pale and frightened. Kuraku's eyes were pulled towards a large crystalline mirror in the back of the cave; she blinked at her pale self, which was joined by two wolves in the mirror.
Kuraku looked to her right and then left, but found no wolves. She looked at the mirror and that sat there like guards, one brown and the other black. She looked up and then back at the mirror and the two wolves were joined by a man who stood over her. He looked just like Oki, so much so the similarities were frightening.
Again, Kuraku looked around and found no one standing near her. She looked at the mirror once again and instead of herself there was a beautiful young girl with long white hair and shining blue eyes that glimmered in the nonexistent sunlight. The wolves from before were now people, who bore resemblance to Ichiro and Kai, sending shivers down Kuraku's back. She looked up and back and the people were gone, but instead of her reflection, she saw the girl once more.
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Kuraku passed out and Oki regained control of his body moments before the dagger made contact. He shook himself mentally and threw the dagger to the side sending it flying across the floor. He dropped to his knees and lifted Kuraku up placing his hand on her forehead, not sure what else to do then this. He pulled his hand backwards in shock when it came in contact with her skin, feeling like it was being fried off.
"Come on…wake up…" Oki whispered, now trying to regain control of his emotions, which had been sent flying all over the place by the happenings of five seconds ago. He felt mad, upset and worried all at once and had no clue how to deal with so many emotions all at once; it was growing hard to keep them inside as he normally did.
"OKI!" Samickle's raging voice pulled Oki into reality when he realized the dagger must have made contact at least twice, as Kuraku had two fresh gashes on her arms. He's eyes grew wide and his face became pale as he quickly snatched his mask from next to his bed and put it on, feeling safe as he lifted Kuraku from the floor set her on the matt that he had been sleeping on. He looked up at Samickle, feeling stronger emotionally with his mask to hide his frightened face.
"WHAT DID YOU DO!?" Samickle roared turning to Oki who flinched, normally he'd have Kuraku to protect him from Samickle's rages, but not this time. He was the best fighter, but the worse when it came to emotions.
"I don't know." Oki said bitterly.
"YOU DON'T KNOW!?" Samickle shouted glancing at Kuraku before advancing on Oki. "What do you mean you don't know!?"
"I DON'T KNOW!" Oki yelled, "IT JUST HAPPENED!"
"I'm sure." Samickle spat, towering over Oki.
"I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING!" Oki yelled, shaking with anger.
"WHY IS SHE OUT COLD!?" Samickle cried, seizing Oki's collar and shoving him against the wall, ignoring the damage he was doing. "WHAT DID YOU DO!?" He demanded again.
"I don't know." Oki repeated his voice failing him as pain took over his body. He could feel hot, red blood seeping through his bandages and running down his sides. He closed his eyes, determined not to let Samickle see the fear that was written on his face. Oki thanked his mask once again for protecting him.
Samickle dropped Oki, shaking with rage, "You could have killed her!" He growled, taking a kick at Oki but missing and hitting the wall hard.
"I didn't mean to! She just touched me and something took over my body! I couldn't stop it! I lost control!" Oki said trying hard to keep a level head.
"What are you saying?!" Samickle demanded, "That's stupid!"
"WHAT REASON WOULD I HAVE TO HURT HER? I WOULDN'T HURT HER!" Oki roared trying to stand before feeling a wave of dizziness wash over him. He fell back to his knees, coughing hard, "I couldn't hurt her." He finally managed to choke out in his defense.
Samickle glanced down at Oki before glancing at Kuraku hopelessly. He returned his eyes back to Oki. "You don't?" Oki asked.
Samickle sighed, "I do." He said slowly, "I swear if you hurt her…" Samickle stepped forward, towering over Oki once again, "I'll kill you."
Oki felt a wave of fear wash over him before shaking it away, "You wouldn't. She'd hate you! She'd never speak to you again if you so much as touched me!" Oki looked at Kuraku weakly before standing up, "She'd kill you, she'd never let you touch me."
"Keep telling yourself that." Samickle snarled.
"You don't know anything about Kuraku." Oki said flatly, leaning against the wall and holding his side, "I was about to kill her and she didn't move to even defend herself! She knew that I couldn't stop my-"
"AND SHE NEEDS SOMEONE TO PROTECT HER!" Samickle yelled, "She needs someone to keep her from destroying herself because of her emotions that she can't control!"
"She can control her emotions just fine!" Oki snapped before feeling dizzy and sinking back to his knees. "Face it, I'm just more important." He said bitterly moving back to Kuraku, turning his back on Samickle fully.
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Kuraku gasped. "You're her!" She finally realized, "You're Yukihime!"
"Yes, Princess, I must warn you swiftly that if you are not careful you will lose them all." The girl, Yukihime said.
"Wait! The song! The demons! Silver and gold! You know what's wrong with Oki?" Kuraku asked frantically.
"Yes." Yukihime said.
"Then…Then…Then…" Kuraku said, "You can tell me how to help him!" She cried.
"No."
"Why not!"
"Because…I do not know how to stop it…as the same thing happened to me…" Yukihime's face grew sad and lonely, "I lost them all, and I do not want it to happen again."
"I…I don't want to lose him!" Kuraku cried.
"I know, Princess, though if it gets out of hand you have to…you're going to wake up soon." Yukihime said.
"What?" Kuraku asked.
"Listen, Princess, look for the two who live where no one has been." Yukihime said quickly, "OH! And your brother is sleeping as well, he will awaken shortly and he will know where you must go. You have to aid them at all costs; do not fear death or you will be forced to loneliness."
The cavern began fading out to black and Kuraku's eyes grew wide as she helplessly searched for Yukihime once again.
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A silence had fallen between Oki and Samickle as the waited for Kuraku to awake once again. Samickle was sitting in the corner, his eyelids heavy with sleep. Oki sat next to Kuraku, fighting of the pain that was still in his side and was now ringing in his ears. "Wake up." He said under his breath.
Samickle rose to his feet and began pacing; Oki ignored him and continued looking down at Kuraku, worried beyond extent for her safety. What was worse is that it was his fault. He knew that the moment he tried to apologize she'd go and battle him, yelling and insisting that it wasn't, but he knew it was.
"…Oki…" Kuraku groaned, biting back the pain that rose to her throat in the form of a scream. She could tell by the way he moved that he was worried and doing more damage would be horribly foolish. She shook her head; the pain was flaming hot and burned in her body as though she'd been poisoned.
"Are you alright?" Oki asked slowly.
"I'm fine." Kuraku lied before squeaking in pain.
"What did you-?"
"Nothing!" Oki hissed and looked down at Kuraku uneasily, "I'm sorry." He whispered finding no other words. He had wanted to say something else but the words had lost themselves somewhere in his throat.
There was a long moment of silence in which Samickle had stalked over to the two, a protective gleam in his eyes. Kuraku looked up at him, he was worried as well, worried for her. She looked away coldly and nearly in a bitter fashion as if she was holding something against Samickle. Oki glanced up at Samickle and back down at Kuraku and frowned inwardly.
"What did you do too him?" Kuraku cried sitting up swiftly when she spotted Oki's side. "AHH! You're bleeding all over the place, Oki!"
Oki jabbed a figure up at Samickle, feeling dizzy once again.
"YOU!" Kuraku screamed standing up swiftly before collapsing on top of Oki who coughed when she landed on him. Kuraku staggered upward, jabbing her finger to Samickle's chest, "You hurt Oki!" She screamed.
"I did not!" Samickle lied.
"YOU LIEEEEE!" Kuraku screamed once again, "Why's the wall all bloody then!?"
"Er…I don't know…" Samickle glanced to the wall she had pointed too before looking down at Oki who, under his mask, smirked happily. Samickle deserved it.
"Tell me the truth!" Kuraku kneeled down in front of Oki protectively, "I'll kill you!" She snarled looking up at Samickle.
"Yes." Samickle sighed.
"HAHA! I KNEW IT!" Kuraku yelled, "Wait…I had to do something important…but I can't remember what it is now…"
"What are you saying?" Oki asked slowly reaching forward to tap her shoulder.
Kuraku screamed and jumped away, out of Oki's reach. "Don't touch me!" She cried.
"K-Kuraku?" Oki stammered.
"You must not touch me…" Kuraku said obviously frightened. "I'm sorry." She breathed.
"I understand." Oki rose to his feet and left.
"I have to save him…" Kuraku whispered glancing up at Samickle who nodded and watched her follow after Oki.
Note: Samickle and Oki are the only two who still call Kuraku by Kuraku instead of Kari.
Alright! There's Chapter 2! I've figured several important things that are important but might be a comprehension spoiler of some sort of strange sort. So if you don't want to read this you don't have to!
Anyway, I've finally figured out a big part of Kuraku and Oki's relationship. Oki loves his mask, because to him it acts as a security blanket of sort that he can hide behind and keep his fear hidden from others as he's managed to keep all emotion out of his voice other then anger. Kuraku hates her mask, it's a cage to her and nothing more, it hides her more favorite features such as her smile, though her emotion shows through her eyes she sees it as a cage and nothing more or less then that. So in short, Oki fears emotion, and Kuraku fears being caged behind a lie. In short it's about a girl who has good control of her emotions but doesn't like to control them, and a boy who has no control over his emotions but wants to control them.
Moving on! Oki and Samickle do fight a lot about Kuraku, yes, when it comes to these parts, such as Oki "harming" Kuraku. They both care for her so it makes them bang heads. Then at other times, just wait, they're really close because of it. So to speak…hehe…until next time! 3