Story 1:

Chapter 7:

Possibilities

Following his instints, Kuroumaru, Aya's current bodyguards, stretched his wings apart and charged right on ahead to the Medicine Seller and wrapped his wings around his princess.

"Stay back, Kusuriuri!" exclaimed Kuroumaru, his jet black shoulder length hair drifted in a wind of their own, his deep dark eyes burning with the desire to kill the Medicine Seller, "-or I will take you down right here!"

Smiling mysteriously, the Medicine Seller said in a non-threatening tone, "You're mistaken-"

"I will never mistake Hime-sama's decision to draw out Nenekirimaru when confronting with a hunter holding the Demon Slaying Sword!" Kuroumaru intervened, his voice livid with anger. Right now, all that Kuroumaru thought of right now in his mind is that this Medicine Seller has threatened, or worse, trying to murder Aya Hime of the Nura clan and that she, in self-defense, draws out her Nenekirimaru, and before they could begin fighting, Aya's sickness resurfaced and she coughed violently, and that's what he heard when he's standing outside the door towards the princess's room. "Her highness will never draw out her Spirit Blade if

"Ku- *cough* rou- *cough* maru! *cough!* Stop! *Cough, cough!* Stop!" Aya said, trying to wring her words into Kuroumaru's ear. Whenever Kuroumaru's angry, he won't listen to others other than Aya herself. The only problem right now is that she cannot even speak out a proper phrase of words to stop him from attacking the Medicine Seller without coughing out violently. Hoping he could understand the urgency in her words, Aya gripped the front of his black yukata robes that is not covered with his armor, which successfully brought the attention of Kuroumaru.

"Hime-sama," said Kuroumaru righteously, gently pried the princess's hand that is gripping the front of his robes urgently, once again mistaking her intentions. "I will eliminate this hunter in the guise of a Medicine Seller for you. Please don't get agitated."

"No! Kuroumaru! Stop!" before Aya could finish a proper sentence, she is once again seized by another violent cough, this time it is accompanied with blood.

"What did you do to Aya Hime!?" the eldest son of Karasu Tengu cried out angrily to the Medicine Seller.

"I did nothing to her," said the Medicine Seller in the shortest and simplest reply he could. When it comes to dealing with an angry ayakashi, one has no time for speech and explanations. Any moment the ayakashi would snap and decides that killing an eyesore would be far more better than listening to its explanations and speech. "She is merely seized in a violent cough, that's all."

"A violent cough would make her draw out Nenekirimaru!?" Kuroumaru, if possible, raised his voice even louder at the Medicine Seller, unknowingly draws the attention of the many workers and maids in Aya's manor. "If not for Aya Hime, I would have slain you the moment I barge in here! Guards!"

Immediately, several of his underlings came pouring in Aya's room.

"What is it, Hime-sama?" asked Kuroumaru anxiously and worriedly as Aya clawed at the front of his robes restlessly, wanting him to understand the situation, but unable to voice out as she is still coughing. "Are you suffocating? The medicine brewed for you is almost ready; please bear with it for a while."

"No- Kuroumaru…he's not…*cough!*"

"No worries, Hime-sama. He will be judged in front of all the clans head. He will certainly be sentenced for the gallows for daring to even threaten your highness with his Demon Slaying Sword. By then, he will not harm Hime-sama anymore," said Kuroumaru reassuringly to his princess, wrapping his wings and arms around her frail form to his strong embrace as both he and Aya watch the Medicine Seller being dragged away by winged and armed Tengu guards.

"Kusuriuri…-san…" said Aya, her voice trailing off, one hand raised to reach out to the Medicine Seller, feeling her consciousness starting to drift away from her.

"Aya…" she had heard her called out to her name in a voice only she could hear, and she knew no more as she fell into the deep abyss of her dream.

The last thing she sees in her eyes is the Medicine Seller's smiling face.

Drifting in a world belonging only to her, Aya floated in the cool and yet warm water in her dream.

It was wonderful. Being in her is like taking a bath along with her clothes. They do not sink her, nor does she feel the need to sink deeper into the sea blue water. All she needs to do is breathe in and breathe out, all alone and free of pain.

Alone?

It surprises her that she does not feel pain when she breathes. There was not a time when her chest had not pained her whenever she takes a deep breath. Not that she bothered about the pain, but the thought of the pain and the feeling of loneliness as she drifted in this cool yet warm water brought another strange feeling in her, as if she is guilty for being here and enjoying all the fun all by herself and not inviting others.

That was when she heard someone called her name.

Aya…-sama…the soft voice called out to her.

Who is it? She had thought. Who dared to interrupt me when I am thinking?

Then it came again. Aya……sama…Aya Hime-sama…

Who?

Aya Hime-sama…wake up…

She felt someone shake her; gently at first, but gradually becomes aggressive as she continues to sleep on. Opening her dark midnight blue eyes, she is greeted by Kuroumaru's dark pool of deep black eyes.

"Wake up, Aya Hime-sama!" he said, shaking her in a slightly aggressive way, unintentionally angers her.

Slapping Kuroumaru's hands away from her brusquely, Aya glared at him. "You know full well it's practically a felony to force me to wake up from my slumber," said Aya sourly, obviously displeased that she is called to wake up.

"I'm deeply sorry, Hime-sama," apologized Kuroumaru, Aya's personal bodyguard. "But there is something urgent that we need you to personally direct it."

Sighing deeply and tiredly, Aya said in an annoyed tone, "Who or what is it that is more important than my slumber?"

"The hunter that is in the guise of the Medicine Seller, Hime-sama," Kuroumaru answered her truthfully.

Eyes opened wide in surprise, Aya immediately demanded for a repeat. "What did you say?"

"The hunter," Kuroumaru repeated. "He's being sentenced today."

Anger instantly bubbled within Aya. Which insolent maggot dared to go against her!? "Who allowed him to be sentenced!?" Aya exclaimed furiously. "How long has it been since I've been dead to the world?"

"Nearly 3 days, Hime-sama," answered Kuroumaru. Aya looked like she had wanted to throw something, but Kuroumaru beat her to it by pulling out a small white packet. "-and Gyuuki-sama claims that he found this in Dakora-dono's room…"

Kuroumaru handed her a packet filled with white tablets and pills, making her eyes grows wide with surprise.

Grasping the small white packet, Aya held it tightly in her hand, finding it hard to believe that this small white packet is in the hands of someone she trusted for decades. The possibilities of a traitor are extremely high. "It's Dakora-dono…" Aya whispered to herself. "He did this to me…"

"Hime-sama!?" called Kubinashi, his expression anxious. "Has Hime-sama awaken?!"

Still keeping a firm grip on the small white packet, Aya replied in a voice laced with authority. "What is it, Kubinashi? If it's nothing urgent please get out."

"Dakora-sama…he…" Kubinashi started, but is not sure whether telling this to his princess would be the right thing considering the fact that Aya has the tendency to throw things around when she had been sleeping only moments ago; she's cranky whenever she had been awakened.

Aya seemed to be able to guess what Dakora had done. "What did he do?"

"He…" again, Kubinashi seemed to have difficulties pronouncing what Dakora had done.

It is obvious that Kubinashi feared Dakora, to whom rumors have been circulating around the clan about what he is plotting when their princess, the Nurarihyon Aya is laid sick in bed. Frustrated, Aya exclaimed loudly, "He WHAT?"

Written On: 31st of December 2009


Index

Kuroumaru-The eldest son of Karasu Tengu. Very serious, good-looking and extremely loyal to Aya.

Kubinashi-A "No-neck" youkai and one of Aya's demon guardians.