Finally! I was able to make chapter 3! Sorry it took so long but I've been really busy. Hopefully I'll be able to get more chapters up over the summer, but I definitely haven't forgotten about the story!
General POV
Takumi had decided that the two would run away the next day, and he spent the night in Misaki's room to soothe her whenever she would cry. Honestly, this was the first time he had ever seen Misaki cry, or show her weakness. Misaki would always put on a strong face to make everyone else happy, and a part of Takumi's mind rang with victory over the fact that he was the only one to know this side of , given the circumstances, Takumi wasn't particularly happy, but it definitely made him love her more, if it was possible.
The morning sun shone through the large window in Misaki's room. Misaki slowly got out of bed and walked to the bathroom only to see Takumi ravaging through the drawers and packing things into two small bags.
"What are you doing?", Misaki inquired, her voice still groggy from sleep.
"I'm packing," Takumi answered as he looked up from his rifling to gaze at Misaki, "that is if you still want to do this.", he said with an intense gaze.
Misaki squirmed under his stare," Of course I want to do this! Everyone will be safer once I'm gone! But Usui you don't have to throw everything away for me. You can still live your life normally. You'll probably be better off without me too, since all I do is cause you troub-"
Takumi had walked over and engulfed Misaki into a hug. Tears once again welled up in Misaki's eyes but she forced them not to fall.
"Don't ever say that I would be better off without you. I already told you that you are my family, my whole world. I'll follow you anywhere because when I'm with you is when I'm at my happiest point."
The two stayed there for a few more minutes until Misaki pulled away with a determined expression plastered across her face and her amber eyes gleaming with seriousness.
"So, are we gonna do this thing or not, Usui? Or are you gonna keep getting all sentimental with me before we even take a step outside the castle?", a warm joking smile melted across her face as she crossed her arms.
A smirk grew onto Takumi's,"Well it's not my fault that a pampered princess can be such a handful. Now, I have two packs that are almost ready. We both need to get changed and we can carry two changes of clothes in each bag while I carry the money in mine."
Money? Of course they would need money. Misaki hadn't even thought that far ahead. They would need money for food, medicine, supplies, travel, and any other possible situation. How could Misaki be so careless as to almost forget something so important. But Usui also had a good point with the clothes too. They would have to change into something easier to travel and move around in. Dresses and suits wouldn't cut it out there in the real world. Good thing Misaki prefered pants and boys clothes as compared to the frilly stuff that some of the maids would try and prod her into wearing. Misaki nodded her head and walked into to her closet to change. She pulled on a pair of loose, brown pants that cinch around a little above her ankles with a matching long sleeve red tunic with a hood that she adorned with a white sash around the waist. She wore brown flats, but made sure to pack boots for future weather in areas other than the Fire Kingdom. She packed two more outfits similar to her current one and made sure that they all had long sleeved shirts as means of hiding the circlet on her upper arm.
Misaki stared down at her bag and then looked up at herself in the mirror. She slowly reached for the circlet on her arm and held it there. She took a moment to keep watching herself and took deep breaths. The recent events flooded into her mind and Misaki closed her eyes. Images of her parents and life before all of these disasters took place also wormed their way into her mind. A memory of her father showing Misaki how to handle a sword for the first time centered her attention.
Flashback
Sakuya was walking in front of Misaki on his way to the training rooms. His broad shoulders and tall stature made it almost impossible for Misaki to see anything in front of her, so she ran up to his side and grabbed his hand.
"Daddy! Are you going to practice with the swords!? Can I practice too!?"
"Haha! You seem very eager. But why do you want to learn swords, shouldn't you be playing with the other girls your age?"
" All they want to do is sip tea and try on dresses! I like playing with boys much better… even though none them can beat me in a fight.", Misaki said, ending her sentence with a grumpy voice.
Sakuya smiled and swung Misaki to his shoulders. "That's my girl! You'll be the best warrior in all of Nyla!"
The two had arrived at the training rooms and Sakuya sat Misaki down only for her to run ahead of him to the swords. She tried to lift one off the rack, but it was too heavy for her and it clattered to the floor. Luckily, she jumped out the way before the weapon could land on her foot.
"Be careful Misaki! Can't have you cutting off a toe now can we.", Sakuya said while ruffling Misaki's hair.
"I'll be careful, Daddy, I promise! Can you please teach me how to fight with a sword?"
Sakuya sighed,"Alright, but all these swords are too heavy for you right now. You'll have have to wait until you're older to actually use a sword, but for now i can just show you how to hold one."
Misaki's eyes lit up and she hugged her father, "YAY! Thank you Daddy!"
Sakuya lifted up the smallest and lightest sword he could find on the rack and bent down to Misaki's height. He gently cradled the sword into her hands as his rough hands enveloped hers. Misaki stared wide-eyed at the sword as her father moved her hands to the correct position. She loved the feel of the course leather of the handle on her skin, and the way the light glinted of the sword's blade had her mesmerized. The two walked over to a log meant for swinging. Sakuya helped Misaki raise the sword, and she swung.
'Chop'
End of Flashback
Misaki opened her eyes and took one last look at herself before exiting the closet. Takumi had changed into clothes somewhat similar to hers. He wore a dark green long-sleeve shirt that had a small "V" cut into the neck but had string connecting it. He wore dark brown pants and boots as well as his bag on his both also packed cloaks just in case.
"Ready to leave?", he questioned.
"Let's do this.", Misaki said smiling and rolling her arm.
The two had decided to wait until later to sneak out to make their escape easier, and they had climbed out of Misaki's window and into the royal garden. Kisa had gone back into Misaki's circlet to prevent them from getting caught. They traveled to the far end of the garden by the large gate, stopping every now and then for the servants that passed through. The plan was to sneak out unnoticed, but there were guards stationed at the gate, a lot more than usual.
"Looks like we need a different escape plan.", Takumi said.
Misaki pondered for a moment,"There is an area near the training rooms where we could sneak into the forest if you can manage to tunnel under the gate a little."
Takumi smirked, "No problem, Princess."
Misaki punched him in the arm, "Focus, could you?"
"Not with the most beautiful flower in the garden standing in front of me.", he flashed Misaki a cheesy grin.
"SHUT UP USUI!"
"Quiet, remember we're trying to escape."
"Whatever, jerk."
Once they cautiously reached the training rooms, they snuck around back, and Misaki took one last glance at the building before running over to Takumi. Takumi stood a few feet from the gate in a widened stance, and he took a deep breath while closing his eyes. He suddenly opened his eyes and made a quick punching motion at the ground. A small section of earth under the gate moved with his punch and there was now a perfect hole about 4 feet wide and 4 feet deep under the gate.
"Ladies first.", Takumi motioned to the hole.
Misaki made an annoyed sound and jumped in, she then proceeded to crawl out on the other side. Takumi quickly followed her, and before they left, he replaced the hole that he made so that no one would be able to know how they escaped. Once outside the gate, they ran like their lives depended on it. They followed a path in the forest, and once they felt they were a safe distance from the castle they slowly wandered out of it. Misaki and Takumi stood at the bottom of a hill in a meadow. Misaki looked up at the hill from the direction they just came and she started to clamber to the top.
"Misaki, no, the guards might see you."
"We are far enough away that nobody will recognize me even if they do see me."
"But-"
"Please Usui, I just want to see the castle one last time.", Misaki pleaded with sorrowful eyes.
Usui sighed with defeat, "Fine,", he looked the other way and whispered so Misaki couldn't hear,"but you know this won't be the last time."
It was later in the day so the sun was illuminating the castle and producing an incandescent view. The colors of the sunset mixed into a beautiful palette of reds, oranges, yellows,purples and pinks. What was only a few minutes felt like years as Misaki achingly gazed upon her preceding home. She turned around to Takumi and began to walk in the opposite direction of the castle.
"It's getting late, we better make some distance between us and the castle before we set up camp."
Takumi matched Misaki's pace as he walked beside her. "You don't have to force yourself to be strong whenever you want to cry," he grabbed Misaki's shoulders, halting their walk,"I told you that I'm here for you, didn't I?"
Misaki looked Takumi in the eye with a stoic face," I know, but I can't break down into tears whenever I feel like crying. There are times for weakness and times for strength, right now we must be strong enough to leave and that's exactly what I'm doing." Misaki brushed off Takumi's hands and continued to walk.
Takumi just watched her walk away as he registered everything she said before smiling and catching up to her," You know, for such an immature little princess you sure know how to choose your words."
Misaki looked up and smiled at Takumi," I learned from the best."