Standard disclaimer applies.
A/N: Here comes the new chappy. Sorry for the delay but I think this will be my output speed nowadays. Anyway thanks for reading, everyone! I don't have time to reply to reviews but I love you all, even the haters =) Enjoy!
Grow On You
Chapter 9
~ Confrontation ~
"Lady Kunieda!"
Aoi jerked back from the screen, a kid with her hand caught in the cookie jar. Oomori Nene stood with arms akimbo and expression dark as thunder. "What are you doing here?" The woman hissed as she strode towards Aoi. "You are supposed to be getting ready, not spying on our guests!"
Aoi tried to smile but all that came out was an apologetic grimace. "But they take so long, so I was restless – "
"No excuses!" If Nene could pinch her ear, Aoi had no doubt that she would. As it was the general firmly took Aoi by the shoulder and pulled her back towards her chambers. "Your Highness, this behavior is very unbecoming of your status as the princess of Reddo Teiru," Nene groused. "Foreign dignitaries expect you to be a woman of steel; fierce and intelligent."
"But I am fierce!" Aoi protested and Nene let go of her shoulder. "Only in battle," The general said icily. "At least Lady Ikaruga managed that much for you."
Aoi bit her lip and looked back longingly at the screen she had been hiding behind. Beyond that was the receiving hall packed with foreign representatives, here to pay their respects to her.
Her.
There was a twisting feeling in her gut at the thought. This event marked the first time she would be sitting on the throne as ruler of Reddo, Princess of Touhoushinki. Everything she had been preparing for was for this one role. This moment would define her for the rest of her life.
And she was terrified.
Nene came to with a splitting headache and bad neck pain. Softly cursing the unholy, she noticed Chiaki lying next to her. The memory of the fight rushed back in a painful burst and she gasped. "Princess!"
She wasn't there. Nene frantically checked the other figures – Kaoru and Yuka, but no Aoi. Panic welled up in her chest and she looked around, trying to assess the situation.
They were lying in a glade that Nene was sure they had never passed. The carriage and horses were nowhere to be seen. Stamping down the pain, she made a sweep of the area and discovered they were just a little south of the village they had stopped in before they were attacked.
"Just what on earth was that?" She winced. A man. A single man – she was positive of that. He was even unarmed, yet he defeated them with such ease.
Nene silently cursed herself for being so careless. She had known they were going to a thieves' den yet had failed to take extra precaution to protect Aoi. And now…
"Chiaki!" Nene checked the diminutive girl and found no apparent injury on her person. Even her revolvers were intact.
Chiaki groaned in pain as she came to. "What… "
"Her Highness has been taken!" Nene hissed. "Wake up Yuka and Kaoru!"
"Taken?" Chiaki was instantly alert. Nene scowled. "Whatever in that village is dangerous. We need reinforcements. Let's retreat to St. Ishiyama and inform the Rokkisei."
Night had fallen in the small village of Ishi. After the hectic events of the day it was understandable that everyone turned in completely exhausted. Even Lamia, who usually went back to her hut no matter how late it was actually opted to stay behind. The Touhoushinki princess had taken over Hidetora's bedroom and the man himself was outside, sleeping under a tree. To guard the princess in case she tried to escape Alaindelon was stationed outside her door. Unlike normal people, he did not need to sleep, nor could he sleep even if he wanted to.
But Hilda on the other hand, couldn't sleep.
She sat up in her bed and cast a glance at the sleeping infant next to her and then at Lamia, who slept on a futon on the floor. Through the window she could hear Hidetora's regular whale-like snores, strangely reassuring. Perhaps it was the effect of the sleeping draught Lamia administered to her two days ago, but she had been feeling insomniac as of late.
Usually she had something to do when she couldn't sleep; patrol the palace, practice in the fencing room or study in the library. But this bandit's hideout had nothing to distract her. And so she gathered a shawl about her person, cradled Prince Belze and slipped out into the night, intending to take a stroll.
Not quite wanting to head to the village proper, she took a new path, following the sound of running water. Pretty soon she came to a narrow river and carefully picked her way among the smooth river pebbles until she came to a large boulder that she intended to sit on.
Unfortunately her plan was spoiled. Sitting on the boulder was Oga Tatsumi, placidly fishing. Upon hearing her frustrated cluck he turned around and instantly frowned in annoyance. "…The heck?"
"That is my line, fool," She snapped and sighed. "Move aside. I wish to sit."
He twitched and his line trembled. "Lady, get your own rock."
She fumed at his indifference. Ever since they first laid eyes on each other he had been as stubborn as a donkey and for the life of her she didn't know why! The boar! "You are the most exasperating, infuriating, insensitive, idiot I ever had the misfortune to meet!"
"You're no saint yourself!" He roared, forgetting his fishing in light of her accusations. "I saved your life but did you even thank me? I let you sleep in my bed, follow me eventhough I don't like it, beat me up, and now you want me to give up my fishing spot? That's taking things too far, bitch."
She gasped in outrage but bit her tongue, partly in guilt. It was true she had not been very gracious… BUT!
"I tell you, this is just too easy."
The two combatants froze at the sound of a smug voice. Hilda felt a quiver of unease as the nearby bushes rustled. Tatsumi straightened up, his fishing rod forgotten.
Hecatos and Graphel strolled out of the bushes, the former wearing a shit-eating grin on his face. Hilda instantly cursed internally. To think she had left Alaindelon inside the house!
"Who are you?" Tatsumi asked blankly. He gave them a once over, noting their military uniforms and strange tattoos.
"None of your business, shit." Hecatos raised a hand and Tatsumi was instantly blasted into the river with a roar. Hilda tensed, gripping Prince Belze. "Did Prince En order you to take me back?"
"In a nutshell, yeah," Hecatos shrugged and Graphel cleared his throat. "Hildegarde, you are hereby ordered to return to Makai to be tried for the kidnapping of Prince Kaiser de Emperana Beelzebub IV and the murder of Dr. Folcass Rachmaninoff. Should you desist – "
"The murder of what?" Hilda gasped. "I did not kill Dr. Folcass! He was alive when I left him!"
"Should you desist, we shall be forced to subdue you with whatever means necessary," He finished simply. Hilda clenched her jaws. She could run. It was dark and they did not know the terrain. She could hide in a tree until they give up –
The river suddenly exploded, sending a shower of water over her head. A second later Tatsumi landed on the rock again looking extremely pissed. "Dude," He snarled; "If I wanted a frickin' bath I'd say so!" With that he lunged forward with a roar.
Hilda immediately screamed; "ALAINDELON!" at the same time Tatsumi's punch connected with Hecatos' face. Graphel had drawn his saber and Hilda sidestepped his strike. "You're pushing your luck, Graphel," She snarled. "I taught you the sword arts."
"And I will use them the way you taught me to," He answered; "In serving the kingdom."
An unexpected energy ball caught him in the stomach and threw him against a tree. Holding her left hand up and shaking the excess energy off it, Hilda tsk-ed. "You brats never learn."
"Miss Hildaaaa!" Alaindelon appeared and made a dive for Hilda, simultaneously shifting into his sword form. Hilda gratefully caught him and backed up against Tatsumi, who had sent Hecatos flying a good ten feet away. "Nice punch," She said tightly.
"That isn't an apology," He muttered and suddenly Hilda spun to face him. "Hold the Prince." She hissed, literally shoving the bundle into his arms. Tatsumi gave an indignant squawk. "The HELL?"
"Shut up! I need to concentrate!" She snapped. "Don't you dare die!"
"Well that's exactly what's going to happen if I can't use my fists!" He shot back as he modified Prince Belze's swaddling so that he could tie it on his back. "Great. I'm fighting with a baby on my back. Nobody will take me seriously from now on. Shit."
"You piece of trash!" Hecatos appeared with a roar, sword drawn. Tatsumi quickly drew him away while Hilda stood on guard, alert for Graphel's presence.
"I'd have to say… that was unexpected," Graphel rose, clutching his abdomen. "I've forgotten that you're competent in the magic arts as well as swordsmanship."
"These are desperate times," Her emerald eyes held no pity. "Retreat now or never go back. Those are your options."
Preview
Tatsumi stared at the woman lying on his bed. Something akin to anger and yet bitter, like sadness and guilt rose in his chest and forced him to clench his fists to keep himself from trembling. Turning heel, he strode out and met Hidetora leaning against the wall in the hallway. "So?"
The two brawlers stared at each other impassively and Tatsumi looked over his shoulder at his room.
"I'll kill that fuckin' Sally if it's the last thing I do," He growled.
