Chapter Four: The Scroll

A week had gone by since Hirune last saw her father. She's been helping around the palace, since they've helped her. She still wonders about the scroll her father had given her. For now, it lies on a small table near her bed mats.

Mary: Thank you for helping with the cleaning Hirune

Hirune: Don't worry about it, I'm happy to help

Mary: But me and the other maids have been talking

Hirune: About what?

Mary: Well, you've been here for just a week and you seem close to Lord Koumei

Hirune: What do you mean?

Mary: I mean that whenever one of us have a lot of things to do you take the tasks that involve Lord Koumei

Hirune: It's just that your all so busy and those tasks seem like the easiest

Mary: Sure, it is, you just like to hear when he says "thank you Hirune"

Hirune: (blushing) Whatever...

Miranda: Are you in love with Lord Koumei?

Hirune: (red face) It doesn't matter, (picks up bed mats) I have sheets to change, oh and Mary don't even get me started with you and Jeffrey (walks off)

Mary: (blushing) Why'd you have to bring him into this!?

With Hirune

Hirune: (blushing) I-I'm not in love with Koumei... Am I? At least I don't think I am. That doesn't matter I must change his mats.

Hirune knocks on the door.

Hirune: Koumei?

The sound of light snoring is heard from his room.

Hirune: He must be taking a nap, speaking of naps I must take my first in a few minutes. (yawns) Since he's sleeping I'll just leave them in his room

Hirune opens the door and closes them behind as she sets down the clean bed mats in a visible corner of his room.

Hirune: His pillow is over here? (picks it up) I'll put it under his head (walks over and sits beside him) Here you go (puts it under his head and yawns)

Koumei sighs and turns over to see Hirune, sitting next to him.

Koumei: (lightly blushing) H-hirune?

Hirune: (yawns then gets flustered) K-Koumei, I'm glad y-your awake. I just came to drop off your bed mats (stands up) Bye, (opens the door and leaves)

Koumei: W-wait?

In Hirune's Room

Hirune: What was I doing? I almost fell asleep in his room!? This is not the time to be thinking about that I have important things I need to do. I now have the time I can look at the scroll father left me...

Someone knocks at the door.

Kouha: Hey, Miss Hirune? Brother-En wants to see you

Hirune: Coming (grabs scroll as she opens the door) Sure

Kouha: Lets go

In Kouen's Room

Hirune: You needed me?

Kouen: It's about the scroll

Hirune: You mean the one my father gave me?

Kouen: Yes

Hirune: I was just about look at it

Kouen: Do you have it?

Hirune: Yes (pulls it out)

Kouen: It looks rather familiar

Hirune: It does?

Kouen: I think I've seen it in a book

Hirune: I can't quite remember, but I think I've seen this scroll when I was a kid

Kouen: Hm... Can you take it out of its casing?

Hirune: I can try (tries to take it out) no, I can't... (yawns)

Kouen: I'll check for the book I've seen it in, for now try to keep opening it

Hirune: Got it (walks out)

Kouen: That scroll must have a vast amount of knowledge inside of it. I need to know what's inside the scroll

A Few Hours Later: In the Dining Hall

Hakuei: Hakuryuu?

Hakuryuu: Yes?

Hakuei: What's better, apples or oranges?

Hakuryuu: Well, I guess-

Judar: Peaches! Peaches are better than they both are

Hakuei: (jumps back) J-Judar!? Where did you come from?

Judar: I was out and about eating peaches

Hakuryuu: Oh, that's where you were

Hakuei: It's almost time for dinner anyway, I should wait

Kougyoku: (walks in) Has anyone seen Hiru-Chan?

Hakuryuu: You mean Miss Hirune?

Kougyoku: Yes, Hiru-Chan

Hakuei: No, I haven't

Hakuryuu: Me neither

Kouha: (walks in and sits down) She was with Brother-En the last time I saw her

Kougyoku: I'll go get her and Brother-Mei

Hakuei: Alright

Kougyoku leaves.

Judar: Who's Hirune?

Hakuryuu: I forgot, you weren't here. While we were out on patrol, Kouha saw something roll down the mountain. Brother-Mei and Kougyoku found her bleeding out in the snow.

Judar: So, you found a hiker?

Hakuei: No, we found who might've been the only survivor of the Chishiki Empire massacre

Judar: Oh, you mean that burned village full of bandits?

Hakuryuu: If you want to put it that way, yes...

Kougyoku: Hiru-Chan, come on!

Hirune: (yawning) I'm going as fast as I want

Kougyoku: Your slower than brother-Mei!

Koumei: Don't pull me...

Hakuei: I guess she woke him from his afternoon nap

Kouha: Same with Miss Hirune

Kougyoku: (drags them in) Hiru-Chan your supposed to help with the food

Hirune: Oh, I forgot about the food

Mary: (pops up behind Kougyoku) Lets go Hirune! We have food to make (drags her away)

Kougyoku: Wait, where did you-

Miranda: Slow down Mary

Judar: This is new (sits down)

Two Hours Later

Amanda: (setting down the food) Hope you enjoy

Kougyoku: Smells good

Amanda: Miss Hirune found an old recipe

Miranda: It was kinda dusty though, seemed like it had been there for a while

Hakuryuu: Thank you for the meal

Hirune: No problem

Judar: So, she's a maid now?

Hakuryuu: No-

Hirune: (smiles) You should eat before the food goes cold (sets down a peach for him)

Mary: Lets go (grabs Hirune and walks out)

Miranda: If you'll excuse us we'll be going out for lunch

Amanda: (runs out) Lets go visit your boyfriend Mary!

Mary: (flustered) He isn't my boyfriend...

Judar: So, she's like a maid? (bites into the peach)

Koumei: (eating) This good... I'll take a nap after this. Now that I think about it she does look like a maid, she looks nice. (smiles)

Over with the Girls

Jeffrey: Here you go ladies, made with our freshest ingredients (sets down the bowls)

Mr. Spice: Hope you enjoy, Jeffrey made it himself

Jeffrey: (lightly blushing) I hope it's good

Mary: (eats some) Don't worry Jeffrey its really good!

Hirune: (looking at the scroll while eating) I-I remember this scroll!? F-father had it in his room

Flashback to Fourteen Years Ago

Young Hirune: (runs into his room) Papa! Look what I got, me and mommy got flowers! (holds out flowers)

King Chishiki: Such pretty flowers (puts them in a vase)

Young Hirune: Papa, what that pretty thing? (points to scroll)

King Chishiki: This? It's special to the family

Young Hirune: Can I have it papa? Please!?

King Chishiki: Sorry, but you cannot have it now. But you can have it when your older

Young Hirune: Really!? Thank you, papa! (hugs him)

King Chishiki: After you train with the priests and monks so you can defend yourself

Young Hirune: Why do I have to defwend- I mean defend myself

King Chishiki: You must so you can protect anyone with the scroll. How about this, after you come back from your training I'll tell you more about the scroll

Young Hirune: Yay! I'm promise to work hard!

Back to Present Time

Miranda: Hey, Hirune? (waves hand in front of face)

Hirune: Huh? Oh, sorry I blacked out...

Amanda: You were daydreaming about Lord Komei weren't you?

Hirune: (finishes soup) Th-that's absurd (blushing)

Mrs. Spice: (runs in from the back) I sensed love!

Mr. Spice: J-Jennifer? When did you come back?

Mrs. Spice: Just now- Mary it's a pleasure to have you back. So, when are you and Jeffrey getting married? I want grandkids as soon as possible!

Mary: (face goes red) Kids!? M-Mrs. Spice you j-joke to much!

Jeffrey:(blushing) M-mom... (mumbles) I haven't even asked her out yet...

Miranda: What was that?

Jeffrey: (red face) N-nothing! S-see you later Mary, I-I'm gonna go. C-come back soon! (runs in the back)

Mary: (red face) B-bye Jeffrey

Amanda: Alright (puts money on the counter) Lets go our break is almost over

The women leave heading back to castle when a spear shoots down in front of Mary, and cuts some of her clothing.

Mary: A spear!? A spear cut my clothes?!

As the girls step back a small group of men in commoner clothing jump down from the tree.

Amanda: (angry voice) Tch, I forgot the poison darts too...

Miranda: Mary, Hirune stay back-

Hirune walks in front of the group stopping Miranda in mid-sentence.

Hirune: It'll be alright! Trust me (looks back with a smile then turns to the enemy) What is it you want from us?

Man 1: Princess Hirune, come with us and we shall do you no harm! Our master commands it!

Man 2: Refuse and we'll have to (takes out sword) put you in your place

Hirune's eyes begin to resonate like jewels of jade.

Hirune: I will not be going with you so leave know!

Man 3: H-hey what's up with her eyes?

Man 2: It doesn't matter she refused so, we just have to take down her cocky attitude down with our blades, along with all the rest!

The group of men charge at the four women. The scroll in Hirune's hand glows as it changes its shape to a sword.

Mary: What is going on!?

Miranda: We should get back!

Amanda: Yeah!

Mary, Miranda and Amanda get back as they watch Hirune cut down the group of men only getting few scratches. Which was surprisingly different from her enemies' bruises as Hirune knocks her last enemy to the ground, she bends down to him.

Hirune: Who sent you?

Man 18: I won't say! (pulls out a pill and swallows)

Hirune: Wait!

The last attackers heart rate slowly dies down.

Hirune: (stands up) He killed himself-

A/N: CLIFFHANGER! I know this chapter was a bit long, sorry I kinda got lost in the story myself. Hope you enjoyed this chapter!