Chapter five.
Dream Visions.
Please don't leave a comment saying that Lindo is overreacting in this situation because he's not.
A bamboo forest clearing in China.
How could he have let this happen?
He had promised Grandfather that he would protect what was left of his family... and now Ritsuka was gone. Kidnapped by Slavers he and his aunt could feel it in their very bones.
"Forgive me... Forgive me.
A red haired boy knowtowed before his Granfathers grave placed at the very center of the earth. His forehead touching the damp grass his fingers bringing small bits of grass were being drawn up form the ground as his fingers clenched together burning indents and offerings upon the smooth curved surface.
His grave, their Grandfather's grave lay in the very center of an open space of bamboo trees the very tops of which sending a small beam of light through the thick branches coloring the area a bright floral green. There was a river running though it and a small statue of a Hindu Buddha in quiet meditation. It was a serene place, hideaway of sorts that had been his grandmothers favorite spot and would have been her favorite resting place for her earthly body if they had found even a scrap of her left after those dogs had been finished with her during the cataclysm that was the Manchus invasion and rise to power over the last emperor.
Though the two of them were not told what had happened to her they knew, from dreams as well as looking at the portrait of her hanging on the wall of their home. Her eyes forever black sockets, body forever destroyed and ravaged by those dogs.
Why Grandfather had wanted to be buried here none of them knew. He had loved her, loved her enough to defy tradition and marry her, a foreigner for love. A disgrace as the oh so precious first son and had been banished from the family. No small feet. He had cared for her so dearly, loved the daughters she bore him when to the reality of others in the land he should have gotten concubines to give him precious sons instead of worthless daughters.
Why he wanted to be constantly reminded of the deeds done to her in the uprising none of them knew.
"Please guide me grandfather... in that distant unfamiliar land. You are the only ancestor that can or will help me... Please..."
The tracks were still fresh when he had come upon them, but he had discovered them too late to catch to run after them on foot, and too late to save her. But he knew where they had been heading and now he was praying here for his grandfathers guidance.
At the sound of approaching footsteps he turned around to see his aunt and adopted mother coming into the clearing. How many times had Ritsuka done the same walking so softly he might have mistaken that she had so called Lily-feet?
The memory of her alone nearly sent a knott in his stomach so deep he let out a strangled cry deep in his throat as his mother knelt by his side on the damp earth.
"My son."
If they had been anywhere else they would have rejoiced at this fact that a worthless mouth did not need any more feeding or money thrown at a seemingly worthless cause. But they were not and their hearts were aching with sorrow and minds alert with worry and fear for the safety of their precious cousin and daughter.
"Forgive me... mother. I had a feeling, a dream in the night. I should have gone with her."
"It is not your fault."
"I swear to you mother, I will go find her this day, this hour, this minute!" He promised, the rays raining through the thick bamboo from the sun making his eyes seem to glow with the smallest amount of crimson. "And I will save her. I don't care what happens to me! If anyone... is anything happens to her... I cannot go on living!" His voice was shaking and rough the soft smelling incense unhelpful at the moment but was soon blocked by her aunts sleeve as she wrapped her arms around him.
"I know you will Lindo, but listen... there is something you need to know."
"But..."
"Ritsuka is a strong girl that will not expect that of one from her even more so a daughter from China. I have no doubt she can protect herself until we can find her. They will not hurt her... He told me that..."
"He came to you?"
"In my dreams..."
Green eyes flecked with crimson gave into pools of brown for a moment before they looked away shoulders shaking ever so slightly.
"Then... that what does he want us to do mother?"
"...Wait," Maria finally said her voice heavy with a grief only a mother would know. "Wait and watch, that is all... He will not shield you Lindo..."
"Come here my son." Maria sighed through her tears pulling him ever closer in a hug. "Let us comfort each other."
A/N Get those images out of your head.
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A certain corridor in the Desert Palace.
"How many times do I have to tell you this..." The voice was barely above a growl, just above the hiss of a snake and yet it carried well through the still silent air.
"I. . .. I'm sorry, please forgive me, father!"
The sound of a body being thrown heavily against a wall could be heard as well as that of heavy blows. Passing servants quicken their pace in the nearby corridor leaving it all but deserted.
No one wanted to face the king when he was this angry. When the king raised his voice the common servants scattered like fish in the pond when a pebble was thrown into its glassy depths, countless number of sand thrown up in a harsh storm.
"You are a Prince of the Desert not one of the common people, to have children with whoever they so please. That is the law!" Glax's eyes were like cold fire as he glared down at his son on the ground before him under his foot blood and black and bruised.
"If you are not careful and the girl you were with turn out pregnant... A common child to have powers of as well as the blood of the ones descended from the Kings of the Heroes of Old..."
"I... I am... I didn't even..."
He was silenced by another blow that left his gasping for breath tasting blood clouding his vision in red.
"You had best hope for your own soul that girl doesn't find herself pregnant with your child until well after you are married to the Princess of Turkey." He turned his back leaving him on the ground, long white robes flying out behind him cold chains clinking together with his swift yet unhurried movements.
Urie lay there on the once polished floor his blood coloring the marble his body too stiff to move feeling himself flickering in and out of conciseness, he heard no other sound the people too afraid to touch him that was until he felt soft warm hands touching him.
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Why couldn't she get their images out of her head?
The images of gold and teal dressed in splendid clothing that she thought looked a bit too reveling, yet she figured she wasn't any better. Privately she wondered what Lindo would do if he ever saw her in such clothing, but it wasn't her fault no one could help the temperature here. It felt uncomfortable to be wearing so little clothing and yet... something about it felt... slightly familiar.
She shook her head trying to clear it and focus on the task at hand but it was not use not after that conversation she had her thoughts again flying back to that time a few days ago after she had come back into the kitchen.
"Why have you come... Goodness what is wrong with you girl!?" The cook demanded at her as she looked at the state of the girl short of breath before her.
"I'm sorry... I was gathering what you requested when I saw two figures staring at me across the pool and I saw..." Her voice trailed off a bit. The look of gold and teal filling her eyes making her unable to speak.
"Saw who?"
"She saw them, the princes..." An older girl smiled knowingly head turned looking right at Ritsuka.
All the elder world needed for a answer from Ritsuka was a glance at her face making her sigh.
"Back to your own work."
"Ah... Prince Rem and prince Urie together? Hmm what a sight that must have been... Rare as well... Were they arguing?"
"...No."
"Very rare..."
"What do you mean by that?" Ritsuka asked voice low making sure she wasn't heard by the head cook.
"Well... they used to be close when they were children but ever since the death of the queen..."
She was pushed out of her thoughts when a servant brushed quickly past her, before she could ask what was wrong she heard a loud shout and then a bang that sounded like a body being thrown heavily against the polished wall. She contemplated following the steps of the servant but... something within her told her to push forward and she had always been told to trust what she felt and so as she investigated forward when the footsteps were gone she looked around the corner quickly seeing the body on the ground lying in a small pool of blood on the polished floor.
Without hesitating she moved quickly towards him seeing that he was still breathing a sigh that his chi was still very strong. Satisfied with that she looked around and saw a half open door that upon further inspection she found it to be an unused room of sorts with a lever that when pulled produced clear cold water. She found a small rag filling it with a small bit of the water and began to carefully wipe the blood from his face. As she did something began shimmering at the tips of her fingers as she carefully wiped the blood off his body his wound healing up as she did. It did not surprise her, she had had this ability since she was a child and soon bright golden orbs were locked onto hers as prince Urie half regained conciseness and gazed up at her, no doubt recognizing him from that time a few days ago at the courtyard.
"Its you... from that time by the gardens," he breathed though he could feel the pain slowly leaving him he knew that he still should not move so soon.
"Shh... don't talk."
"Why are you...?" No one touched him after a situation like this, they wouldn't dare.
"You are hurt."
A small light seemed to come from her as she touched his wounded flesh. He blinked but the moment he did it was gone.
"Thank-you for your concern butterfly." He smiled.
"Your welcome... prince." she said with a small smile.