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Chapter 10
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"I still can't believe Yao gave us a chance to wander on our own..." I stared at the bag of money in my hands. Well, it's not like Kaito and I could possibly return to our country. Not when the two of us are dressed in chains and shackles indicating we were slaves. "I wonder if he feels guilty...ugh...! It hurts..." I muttered feeling the sharp pain from my back.
"Satsuki, are you going to be okay...?" Kaito questioned silently.
"I'll be fine. Once it heals, I won't feel any pain." I answered gently holding his hand.
"I'll bite him...! I'll send my poison through his veins...!" Kaito hissed, his pupils becoming slits.
"Don't, we-ah!" I ran into someone and I fell to the ground. I landed on my back, pain hit me hard and I rolled onto my side, tears slowly forming. "It...hurts...! I cried as Kaito knelt down beside me.
"Woah, there! What happened?" I turned my gaze to the moron who ran into me, but this boy wasn't much older than Kaito. "Hey, you okay?"
"Satsuki, can you stand?"
"Y-Yes...AH!" I was shaking when Kaito touched my back with his hands, but quickly pulled them away when I released a small scream. "Damn it..."
"What happened to you?" The boy looked confused and worried. "Did you get hurt?"
"It's fine." The boy's eyes focused upon my chains and shackles. "It's not your concern about what happens to me."
"You're a slave."
"Indeed." I held onto Kaito's arm and I turned my gaze away. "My apologizes for running into you. I will be more careful next time."
"You don't speak like a commoner. How interesting!" The boy was grinning as he looked at me. "I'm Hakuren, Ren Hakuren. It's my fault that I ran into you so I'll pay for a meal for you two, what do you say?"
"There is no need to bother with me or with apologizes." I tucked my hair behind my ears and I began pulling Kaito along, but the boy...Hakuren, just wouldn't leave! "Why are you following us?"
"You're interesting, you speak properly, but you're a slave. He has scales and the looks of a snake, but he is human."
"We're merely slaves now." One day we will be free though. "Leave us be."
"Where is your owner? I'll talk to him about purchasing you."
"He will not sell me...not when his obsession with me runs so deep."
"You have hair like snow, an eye of gold and an eye like the ocean. It must have cost him quite a lot to obtain someone like you. Still, if he was obsessed, would he really hit you so badly you can barely walk?"
"What happens to me is none of your concern, Ren Hakuren." I gave the boy a cold stare , staggering as I as I kept a tight grip on Kaito's arm. "Ugh...Damn it..."
"Come with me, my family has skilled magicians who can heal any injuries."
"I do not need such a-"
"I did run into you and worsen whatever injury you might have. You don't want a meal, then I'll heal you instead." Hakuren grabbed my wrist and began pulling me along. "Come on, it won't do for a kid even smaller than me to put on a brave face."
"Don't...screw with me...!"
"Come on, let's go."
I did my best to get out of Hakuren's grasp, but he's bigger and stronger than myself. It didn't help that I was so injured. Still, I was stunned into silence when we got closer and closer to the palace...and when we entered it without the soldiers so much as batting an eye. Kaito was unaware of my inner turmoil and I was silently having a panic attack as Hakuren continued to drag me along. Servants and soldiers who saw us began to whisper and had a feeling...that this Ren Hakuren was not someone I should anger.
"Hakuren-sama." I saw an older woman, a servant most likely, speak up when she saw us. "If I may be so bold as to ask...who are these children...?"
"They're slaves I saw in the market. I accidently worsened this one's injuries so I'm going to have one of the magicians heal her up as an apology."
"She is a mere slave, is she not? Then-"
"Slave or not, it was my fault. As a prince, I must right the wrongs I have done. While this child is not a slave under our rules, I will not turn a blind eye to her mistreatment."
"P-Prince...?"
"What's wrong, Satsuki?"
"Kaito, stay silent. Keep your head down. And whatever you do...do not harm anyone."
"Yes."
"Come on then."
Hakuren began to tug me along and I obediently followed. Now that I know he is the prince of the Kou Empire, I must...I have to behave myself. I cannot do something offensive to royalty after all...or it might be my head. Hakuren began chatting with me animatedly as he lead us somewhere. I simply kept my silence, nodding my head on occasion to show I was indeed listening.
"Hakuren, there you are, I was-Hakuren, who are these two?" I turned my gaze up to a teenager who looked so much like Hakuren, but had a more mature look and air about him. "These are not slaves from our country...Don't tell me you're stealing slaves from outsiders."
"No, nothing like that, Hakuyuu!" Hakuren was grinning as he pulled me forward and I hissed when he pulled to hard and I could feel the pain from my back. "I hurt this one by accident, I plan on getting her healed up."
"What kind of injury could have possibly occurred?" This Hakuyuu looked down at me and I quickly lowered my gaze. "She's limping and you pulling her along like that isn't helping her injuries."
"Oh, sorry. If I was pulling too hard, you could have said something."
"I doubt you would have listened." My wrist was released and I quickly stepped back and beside Kaito. "You don't have to bother with healing me."
"It's fine, it's fine! I'm a man of my words and I'll get you healed up."
"..."
I don't want anyone to see the scars that will be on my back though. Hakuren continued to lead us to wherever while Hakuyuu joined us. The two were talking in hushed tones and I paid it no mind. The four of us entered what looked to be an infirmary and I kept my silence as Hakuren began speaking with a masked woman.
"Of course, my prince. Child, come here. Show me your injury."
"..."
"Come on, don't be stubborn."
"Don't touch me."
I bit my lip and I walked towards the woman, unbuttoning the top of my shirt. I pulled it off, but let it hang at my waist. The woman was careful when she pulled off my bandages that were covered in blood in the back. I could hear her mutter something about cruelty, but that quickly turned to silence when the words upon my back was shown to her...and to the others.
"If you heal it, let it scar. I doubt he would be pleased to not see the words he carved into my back. He'll only do it again if it is not there." I said calmly.
"These characters...from the country of Kina...?" Hakuyuu questioned staring at me.
"To do this to a child even if they are a slave..." Hakuren muttered glaring at the words upon my skin.
"Leave it, I won't accept help from any one." I turned my gaze to the two princes, my gaze cold. "You said you would heal my injury as an apology, but if you attempt to touch Yao...Then I will never forgive you." I said to Hakuren.
"I'm a prince, if I so wish for it, I could have you freed. This man-"
"You are a prince are you not? Yao is a slave trader, he has no reason to follow your laws. You have no reason to punish him for a mere child. As a prince, you shouldn't do something so trivial for a mere child." The woman finished casting her spell and I no longer felt any pain in my back. I turned my gaze to my back and while I couldn't see it...I knew it was healed, but scarred. "Thank you for your assistance."
"Then I'll purchase you from him. Take me to your owner, I'll buy you and your friend whatever the price."
"It is not good to favor a mere slave you just met." I pulled my shirt on and I silently buttoned it up. "You think this is inhumane, then why not look upon your own country? This kind of slavery is normal, do not bother with one you cannot help as that man will not sell me and he does not fall under the rules of your country."
"That..." Hakuren stared at me in shock, but...he soon realized what I said is true. "Your name, what is it?"
"Satsuki." I gave Hakuren a deep bow, tugging on Kaito's arm to make him do the same. "Thank you for healing my injury, but I am not your slave so you have no reason to keep us here. You cannot obtain us either, for that man will never sell us."
"Satsuki...What a strange name."
"I am from Kina after all." I gently tugged on Kaito's arm. "Please excuse us then, we must go or we will be late. It was a pleasure meeting you, Hakuren...sama...Hakuyuu-sama."
"Why is it you hesitated with me?! I met you first!"
"Hakuren-sama, we can take our leave on our own. Thank you once more and...farewell."
I gave one last bow before leaving with Kaito. We managed to leave the palace easy enough...but what is this strange sensation? I glanced towards the palace, sensing something odd...also, what is with this strange number of black Rukh? Something strange is going on in this country, something incredibly strange. It's best to leave as quickly as possible.
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"So you got healed up?" Yao was running his fingers against my back and I kept my silence. Even if it did bother me, I can't do anything about it. "Hm...So this country is good for something other than producing black Rukh." Yao muttered pulling up my shirt.
"Where are we going now?" I questioned glancing at him.
"Saa...Kina is definably out...I don't want to deal with Kou. The black Rukh is starting to grate on my nerves...I guess we'll be heading west a little longer." Yao said standing up.
"...It's bad to bully a six year old."
"It's not like you ever acted like a normal kid."
"Still, I thought I was going to die."
"That's not good."
"..."
"Well, even if you did die. I could always keep your eyes in a jar and mummify your body."
"Gyahh! What is with those creepy words?!"
"Joke." Yao poked my nose and I continued to glare at him. "You and the snake. It won't be fun if you two can't try to kill me so let's train you up a bit."
"...Hah?"
"I bought this for you for a reason." I caught the tessen Yao purchased on our first day of being in Kou. "I want you to kill me one day. I want to see the hate burn brightly in those eyes of yours."
"...So annoying!" I opened it and I threw it at Yao. It scratched his cheek and embedded itself in the door. "I swear! How old are you to be going after a six year old?!"
"I'm not that old."
"Eh?"
"I only recently became 19."
"Uso!"
"Why would I lie about that?"
"What kind of 19 year old can actually manage a crew, let alone a trading company?! Also, what kind of insult is this?! How did you manage to take down my family?! They're practically samurai!"
"It's not that hard. Also, your family was weak." Yao tugged the tessen out of the door and he tossed it back at me. I quickly lifted up a pillow, letting it rip into that instead. Too close, it almost hit me. "It was easy to take down your brothers without your father around. Your father willingly put down his weapon so I don't hurt his family...Well, I didn't hurt them, but I did take you."
"I can't believe it..." I stared at Yao blankly. "Someone so lazy...sadistic...and so...bored couldn't possibly be so successful..."
"Hm...Then do you really want to find out how I'm so successful?"
"Humu!"
"It's simple. My family is rich."
"Eh? That's it?"
"Well, everyone immediately knew something was wrong with me so my father and I had a deal. He'll provide me with whatever I wanted as soon as I had turned 16. I asked for a crew, a ship full of tradable cargo, and enough gold to fill six chests. While it was a bit pricy for my father, he agreed as soon as I told him I wouldn't dare use the family name and deny any association with them."
"So you basically became a trader."
"It wasn't hard. No one could ever read what is on my face and it's easy to scare people into submission. I also know what kind of item is valuable and I know not to waste my money on useless things. Slaves are easy to obtain, but difficult to deal with for long term care. That's why I tend to stay ashore for a month or two to do slave trading."
"...Then when you saw us..."
"It was by chance that I had found you. Kina is too out of my way, but I'm glad I managed to find you. With slaves, unique traits or colorings are very rare so they're worth quite a bit."
"I won't let you sell Kaito."
"You and the snake come as a pair. Can't have one without the other, as much as it pains me to say such a thing." Yao sighed opening the door. "We're depart at sunrise."
I silently watched Yao leave and I wondered if he was just...weird. One moment he's carving words into my back, another he is somewhat nice. What is up with these sudden and weird changes? He's so weird and I don't like it very much. This mentally unstable man...it's dangerous. I can't predict what he might do or even think of what he might do if I were to anger him again.
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Chapter 10 Ends
Yup, Satsuki was born way before Hakuryuu is, by 7 years (got to include the time he wasn't yet born) meaning it's 17 years before the start of the original story. 17 years is a long time and I will have a lot of fun using this time for various funny and many plot twists! Yes, I'm beginning to adore Yao...for all his crazy yandereness...I had no idea writing about a yandere is so much fun~! I don't have much to say at this point of time so that's it for today! Until next time my dears, bye-bye~!