It's here! Chapter 10 is here!
I do not own Tenipuri!
She-Pirate -10-
"… Is this the stable…?" Miko wondered as Akaya had led her towards the Royal Stables, with Hiroko already waiting for them inside in her riding attire.
"What else could it be anyway? Hiroko-san!" Akaya called out, still pulling unto Miko's arm as the smaller girl tried not to trip herself silly, since it would definitely put a dent in her pirate pride.
"You certainly took your time, Akaya-kun. And why are you dragging Miko-kun like that?" Hiroko said disapprovingly. Hiroko had always been a lady with manners and etiquette, and being the Prince's teacher in mannerism certainly has its charms, since Hiroko seemed to almost always gave up when Akaya decided to go against what she had taught him. But perhaps her lover had been a bad influence on her, she had a feeling quite akin to proud when she had seen her student manage to get a prank to work on her lover. Or perhaps she just wanted to have a little fun while she could, since she certainly couldn't when she was younger because of her strict upbringing.
"Miko was just talking to Tezuka-san and Syuusuko-san, about wanting to give help on finding Tezuka-san's missing little sister. Can we go now?" Akaya said irritably. Hiroko then turned towards the young pirate for answer only to see Miko giving a rather longing look at the castle before she coughed to get the girl's attention.
"Is something the matter, Miko-kun? Were you doing something important?"
"… No. I was just… confused. I've always been taken care of by the older members my crew, like I'm their own daughter. My crew is my family… but… I'm just confused…" Miko said, letting both Hiroko and Akaya see one of her most vulnerable state. Akaya, who didn't know what to do, then turned towards Hiroko who gave him a stern look before pulling on the horse next to her to come forward.
"Miko-kun, this is Rikkai, one of the King's steed. As you can see he's named after our kingdom, and is His Majesty Sanada-sama's favorite. Rikkai, this is Miko, she saved His Majesty and Queen Yukimura-sama." When Miko came face to face with the black steed, she gave it a confused stare as she had never seen a horse before. The female pirate then took a step back when the horse neighed, unsure of what to do.
"Hiroko-san, are you sure? Rikkai's not that fond of strangers…" Akaya said before he felt a nerve pop up on his forehead when the horse turned its head away from him. Miko then took a step forward and stared wide-eyed to the horse before lifting a hand to touch its mane.
"You better be careful, Miko… Rikkai's not known for being friendly to people." And of course, Akaya's jaw then dropped when the said black horse moved its head closer to the pirate's hand, nuzzling it before nuzzling her face. Miko, who was stunned, then gently placed her hand on the horse's snout before closing her eyes in bliss, enjoying the close proximity with the land animal.
"He's so… gentle…" Miko said, her voice filled with awe and amazement which quickly brought a smile to Hiroko's face. Hiroko had always wanted to know what she could do to at least pull Miko's walls down, and for her, this is enough. To see that glint of child's excitement in Miko's eyes is enough for Hiroko, and she is sure the Queen would be delighted.
"Not fair! Rikkai is never that nice to me!" Akaya said as Miko kept on stroking the black horse's mane, still amazed.
"Maybe he's just trying to tease you, after all, horse's emotion is very sensitive at times. And Miko is new at this, I'm sure Rikkai knows that, don't you boy?" Hiroko said, at which the horse neighed its agreement before giving Miko a kiss with its snout. Hiroko then tightened the saddle on the black horse's back and beckoned for the girl to try and get on it.
"I-I can get on? Really? Are you sure Hiroko-san? Can I really get on?" Miko said, still patting Rikkai's snout as she horse then let out a happy neigh, pulling on Miko's robe. Akaya, who was at first scolded by Hiroko, then gave Miko a hand on getting on Rikkai before Miko then sat on Rikkai, stunned. Rikkai, who seemed to notice his rider's awe, quickly galloped light towards the green outside the stables, with Hiroko giggling while Akaya stared wide-eyed and jaw slacked.
"Rikkai seemed to like Miko, don't you think so?"
"Not fair!"
"Miko seemed to handle it well…" Hiroko said, nodding at the way the young pirate started to control the more than happy to rebel Rikkai while they run around. Hiroko then felt strangely proud and tried to wipe the tears that had started to gather at the corner of her eyes when Miko let out a laugh and started to tell the horse to run faster. Hiroko and Akaya then quickly ran towards Miko when the girl jumped off and fell from the horse before laying herself sprawled on the grass while Rikkai tried to nudge the girl to stand up, still wanting to play.
"I… I can't stand…" Miko said, the glimmer in her eyes still visible. Hiroko then watch as Miko closed her eyes, enjoying the wind and trying to push Rikkai's snout away before a bird's squawk got her attention. Before the lady-in-waiting and the prince knew it, Miko quickly dashed away from the stables and towards the castle's entrance. Still in shock, Akaya also took off behind the pirate while Hiroko tried to steer the now worried Rikkai back into the stables before running towards the castle, wanting to inform the King and the Queen of the young pirate's sudden strange behavior.
"Hey, what's the matter? You were lying on the grass for one time and now you're running towards the deck!"
"There's something wrong! My crew is in danger! I have to go!" Miko said, stopped at the edge of the deck, whistling as Akaya then stopped beside the pirate, trying to regain his breath. Akaya then watch as Miko took out a rope and turned towards the water when he heard something clicking to see a pair of dolphins, seemingly calling out to Kumiko in panic.
"I'm counting on you two. Prince, you should get the guards ready, the sea is at war, you have to protect the deck!" Miko said, jumping into the waters before gently tying the rope she had unto one of the dolphins before she gave a pat on the other one.
"Miko! What's going on! What war?" Akaya yelled.
"Just… Just tell Yanagi-san it's dangerous on sea! You must stay on guard!" Miko yelled, and Akaya swore he had never heard such desperation in Miko's voice. And before Akaya could say anything more, the pirate then went further and further, waterskiing using the dolphin. Akaya was terribly confused, and was about to go back to the castle before a loud 'BOOM' was heard throughout the sea, the sound of a firing cannon.
'The sea is at war!' Now finally understanding what Miko had meant, Akaya quickly ran back towards the castle, yelling for the guards near the deck to watch out for attacks. Miko, the pirate he had just finally gotten to know, is in danger, and Akaya need to report this to his parents, as well as the still present King and Queen of Seishun. As another firing cannon was heard, Akaya prayed in his mind that the just departing pirate is safe before rushing into the main hall, where Hiroko is in the middle of telling the Kings and Queens about what had happened.
"Akaya!"
"There's cannons firing in the sea, I can hear the sound from the deck!" Akaya said, rushing towards his parents before Yanagi pulled him back trying to calm the prince down before telling him to take deep breaths and tell everything that had just happened and about the young female pirate's whereabouts.
"Miko just left! She was riding on Rikkai and was on the grass before she shot up and run towards the deck! She told me to have the guards on lookout, and you can hear cannons firing out there!" Akaya said.
"Renji, prepare the ship and the soldiers! Akaya, Tezuka and I are going out there!" Sanada said, trying to coax his protesting wife into staying in the castle, where it is safer.
"But Miko is out there! I can't just leave her there!" Yukimura protested, just like how the Queen of Seishun is protesting to her husband.
"But Kunimitsu! You can't just leave me here!"
"I'm sorry, Syuusuko, but I have to. This is the only way, a war on the sea will resulted in absolute chaos for the land. You have to go back to Seishun with Shuuko, where it's safer."
"But Kumiko is…!" Syuusuko said before the intense look on her husband's eyes silenced her. Tezuka then gripped her shoulders tightly before giving her a hug.
"I'll bring her back, I promise. But now, you must stay safe, I can't lose you either."
"… You better be back soon." Syuusuko whispered when Tezuka let go of her, nodding, swearing on his position as king to return as soon as possible.
"The Kingdom needs you, Seiko. And Syuusuko needs you as well, Akaya and I will return as soon as everything is settled."
"But I need you! And Akaya…!"
"We promised Miko there would be no more wars, and this is a war. I have to be responsible and respond to help. I promise I will return to you soon, and so will our son… as well as Miko."
"You two better be." Yukimura said, giving her husband and son both a kiss on the forehead before waving them goodbye with Syuusuko and their lady-in-waiting by their side. Both Yukimura and Syuusuko then held each other's hand, giving support to one another.
"I hope it is going to be over soon."
"Yes, I hope so too."
I made this is such a hurry because I was too excited to think anything coherent!
I was so excited! And this story is approaching it's end soon! After such a long time in making this, I'm actually going to finish this!
Oh dear oh dear oh dear! I'm so excited!
What do you guys think the ending will be? Are you expecting Akaya to tell Miko that he's starting to like her?