Title: The Chains That Bind
Author: Centauri2002
Rating: NC-17 (duh!)
Disclaimer: Kannazuki no Miko, its characters, locations and story are copyright to Kaishaku, etc. I am merely borrowing them. All other aspects, including original characters, are copyright to me.
Note: I have changed a few aspects of the story and also mixed a few concepts from both the manga and anime.
Chapter Note: Two chapters posted in one day. My writing hand would have cramped long ago if I hadn't been typing. Hehe. Although the aforementioned other chapter was in fact a new story I've begun writing. I decided to post it up afterall. As for this chapter, I loved writing the first scene, I'm not sure why but there's just something about it. It's perhaps not all that historically accurate, it's just the picture I had in my mind.
Chapter Ten
The sun shone down mildly upon Tanaka Rei, the golden orb high in the clear blue sky. She looked around herself, taking in the serene forest that seemed to stretch on forever, the warm summer breeze rustling the different shades of green. She stood on an dusty trail of some kind, deep tracks in it from some sort of vehicle. The sounds of nature assaulted her ears. She could hear birds singing their sickly sweet songs, the brush of air against leaf, rustling in bushes from small wildlife. And she could make out a rumbling, getting closer and closer.
She spun around, seeing a large carriage hurtling towards her, being pulled by two wide-eyed brown horses that appeared to be extremely spooked. She instinctively leapt out of the way as it ploughed past her, then cursed her own foolishness as she remembered she wasn't corporeal here. She stood and dusted herself off. It was strange how anything living could pass through her yet she could still stand on the ground and be covered in dirt. She shook her head, not pretending to understand the phenomena.
An almighty crash came from where the carriage had disappeared off to and she ran in that direction. She followed the curve of the trail and immediately spotted the wreckage of the carriage, watching as the two horses continued on their frantic journey, pulling only a support beam that had carried the front of the vehicle. Splintered wood lay scattered over the trail and the carriage itself had overturned so the left hand door was facing skyward.
Footsteps from behind her made her turn and she gasped when she recognised the figure. The woman was dressed in what appeared to be Victorian attire, except it wasn't anything like what she remembered the ladies of the era wearing from her textbooks. She wore form fitting trousers, the white material clinging to her thighs. Her knee high black boots were well polished and matched the black leather gloves she wore. She appeared to be wearing a corset, which had an intricate lace design sewn into it, covered by a dark red tailored coat, with gold stitching, that flowed down to her knees. A rather large belt held a scabbard with a guardless sword and a pistol. Her long brown hair was pulled back into a ponytail and she carried a rimmed hat with a large red feather in it under one arm. She swaggered towards the carriage with a confident stride, a smirk causing one side of her lips to curl upwards.
"Klava..." Rei uttered, her breath catching as she spoke. She looked so alike yet so very different from the woman she knew. She oozed charm and confidence but also seemed particularly dangerous. If she didn't bare the same face, she would have thought they were completely different people.
Klavdiya walked straight past her and she felt a little disappointment, as though the taller woman might sense her presence there even though no one else had previously. She followed behind her, watching as the other woman rested the palm of her hand on the hilt of her sword, her hips swaying. She found it hard to pull her eyes away from that rear.
She watched as the hat was placed meticulously atop brown hair and the hand then came down to pull out the pistol from the belt. What were they called? Flintlocks? That sounded vaguely correct. She wished she'd paid more attention in her history classes now. Klavdiya now stood in front of the carriage, pistol raised, as if waiting for something to emerge from it. Rei was pretty sure no one could have survived an accident like that though. But had it been an accident? Looking at the scene before her, she doubted it now.
Apparently she'd been wrong about the survivability chances too and she watched in shock as the door to the carriage was flung open and a dishevelled man threw himself out of it. He tumbled roughly to the ground and rolled. He was wearing what appeared to be a military uniform, with a bright red coat and black trousers. A sword lay next to him and he clutched something to his chest. She walked closer, trying to make out what the item was. Movement beside her drew her attention. She looked at Klavdiya, her gaze settled on the object aswell.
When she was only a few feet away, Klavdiya stopped, pointing her flintlock at the man's head. "I believe you have something of mine." She said in English and Rei was relieved it was a language she could understand at least something of. Her accent was strange though, and somewhat different to how she was used to hearing it.
The man lifted his head slowly, grimacing at her. His long dark hair was pulled back and held in place by a thin piece of cloth. He appeared to be in his mid twenties and his face showed signs of weariness. Dirt and blood speckled his handsome features. Rei noticed his dark eyes held fear though as he looked up at his pursuer. He spat something that she couldn't quite make out. She was moderately good at English, but not that good.
Klavdiya knelt down and pressed the barrel of the flintlock against his forehead. He squeezed his eyes shut but didn't move. "Give it back and you'll be free to go." Her tone was soothing but there was malice hidden deep within its lilt.
The soldier was visibly shaking now but he didn't release his hold on the object. Rei leant in and could make out brown leather. It was a book and by the looks of it, it was an old one. She could just see strange symbols peeking out at her from behind the man's arms. It appeared to contain many yellowing pages aswell.
Klavdiya sighed. "You know I can just take it from you anyway. You're not in any position to refuse me anything."
The logic seemed to bring the man to his senses and he released his grip on the tome. Klavdiya smirked at him and grabbed the item from him, standing quickly. She gazed down at him for a while, as if trying to decide something important. Finally, she decided on slipping her pistol back into its place on her belt and turned to leave. She walked away slowly, the book tucked under her arm just as her hat had been.
Rei looked back at the man and he was now kneeling on the ground, staring after her. His fearful expression slipped into a panicked one and soon into an angered snarl. He pushed himself to his feet and grabbed the sword beside him. He pulled it from its sheath and charged towards Klavdiya. The woman in question appeared to not notice what was transpiring behind her and she continued walking away at her slow pace, a calm expression on her face.
"Klava!" Rei called out, but she knew she wouldn't hear her. She could only watch in horror as the soldier charged nearer and nearer to his intended target, the sword's tip aimed flatly at a graceful back.
At the last moment, Klavdiya sidestepped the incoming attack and the soldier went flying past her, a look of shock on his face as he realised what was happening. In one motion she used her free hand to pull out the nearest available weapon, which was her sword. The blade emerged from its sheath with little noise and she swiped at the retreating back of her foe, leaving a nasty gash in his clothes and flesh. He cried out in pain as he tumbled to the ground.
She continued her idle walk and paused next to his shaking form. She shook her head as her gaze drifted down to the blood that was seeping into that red uniform. The whole purpose of those coats was to hide the blood on the battlefield but it was obvious to Rei, how could a soldier be fooled? "Stay down this time, I implore you." She warned, an edge to her voice. She continued on her journey.
This time the man listened and he lay there, breathing heavily and whimpering slightly. Klavdiya flicked the blade to the side and Rei could here the splattering of blood against the dirt trail. The brunette then slid her sword back into its scabbard. Rei followed her on the path, walking beside her step for step. She let her eyes wander over that smooth, flawless skin and rest upon the calmness of her face. Grey eyes looked straight ahead and she could see a hint of something within them. Relief? She noticed that Klavdiya was holding the book extremely tightly now. What was so important about it? She leaned in to get a closer look but it was covered in symbols she couldn't understand.
Klavdiya stopped abruptly and Rei looked around. She couldn't see anything that would have caused her to do so. She turned her eyes back on the other woman. She brought her free hand up to her mouth and slipped the tip of her fore finger and thumb past her lips. She let out a shrill whistle and waited. They didn't have taxis back then... Rei found herself thinking before a beating of hoofs drew her attention. She saw a large chocolate brown horse trot into view from between the trees. Klavdiya approached it and patted the side of its muscled neck fondly.
It was a beautiful animal and seemed different than the ones she'd seen before. It wasn't bred for looks or sport, Rei concluded, though it was a beautiful animal. From the way it allowed Klavdiya to attach her sword to the side of the saddle, and slip the book into a bag on the opposite side, and the fearless look in those deep black eyes; she knew it was raised for battle. Klavdiya pulled herself gracefully up into the saddle, swinging a leg over and settling onto the horse with practiced ease. She cast her grey gaze down one direction of the trail before looking towards the other. Satisfied with what she saw, she gripped the reins between her fingers and directed her steed into the forest, from where the strong animal had come.
Rei attempted to follow but as soon as they had passed between the first two trunks, Klavdiya dug her heels in and the horse surged forwards, launching into a gallop, slipping between the trees with ease. She cursed her luck. There was no way she'd be able to follow them now. Deciding that the vision had served its purpose, she settled down into a meditative position and took a deep breath. She could feel the world around her become like smoke, the existence of it likely to blow away and disperse if she lost her focus at all. She allowed it to, thinking instead of the shrine in which she knew her body to be resting. She felt the familiarity of the wooden floor beneath her and the scent of candles burning filled her nostrils.
She opened her eyes, blinking the clouds of her mind away. "Impressive." Came a voice from behind her and she jumped, forgetting that her sensei had been with her for the entire process.
She turned her head to the side, seeing him looking down at her with a neutral expression, his hands resting on her shoulders. "You saw it all?"
He nodded and rose to his feet, swaying slightly as he did so. At Rei's concerned look, he smiled. "Do not worry, Tanaka-san, it is a draining procedure but I am fine." He walked around so he stood in front of her. "Your control was truly amazing though, how is it you are able to do so?"
His question surprised her. She hadn't felt like she'd been controlling anything. When they'd set up this ritual she had felt as though Kazuki had done all the work, drawing their spirits together so they could travel the visions together. And the vision itself had just... happened. Though she felt at the end of it as if she knew what to do, without being told. "I'm not sure, sensei." Was all she could say. When he didn't press further she looked up at him. "What do you think of what happened? Could it possibly be Klava... I mean Zhukov-san?" She inwardly winced at her informal use of her name.
Kazuki regarded her a moment but seemed to dismiss the slip, yet again. "It appeared to be her, yes." He answered and she looked at him with shock. He continued before she could question him on it. "I met with her briefly recently." He vaguely explained.
Rei's brow knitted into a furrow. "Why?"
Kazuki smiled at her softly. "I am your guardian, Tanaka-san, it is my duty."
Rei looked away, her gaze falling to the flickering candle to her left. "I'd rather you didn't..." She muttered quietly.
"I had to find out what her intentions were... I'm sorry if you feel I was interfering."
Her gaze shot back to his. "Her intentions..?" She asked hesitantly.
Kazuki seemed to pick up on the hopefulness in her voice. "Tanaka-san..." He started but a noise from outside caught his attention.
Rei also heard it and stood, following Kazuki to the door. When he opened it she saw Souma helping a largely built man carry a slumping form. It was hard to make out in the darkness who the other two people were. She and her sensei hurriedly approached the trio and Rei gasped at the hanging brown hair that partially covered a bruised face.
"Klava..?" She breathed.
Himeko hurried up the driveway, her legs protesting at the sudden exercise. She heard the taxi pull away behind her, screeching away into the cold night. She shivered slightly, even though she was running. She hadn't thought to wear a coat, she had been in too much of a hurry. Only half an hour previously, Makoto had hurried into their room and woken her. She had a strange expression on her face, a mixture of concern and mistrust. She had then told her that someone from the Himemiya household had phoned and urged Himeko to come at once, as Chikane needed her.
She frowned as she remembered Makoto's words of warnings whilst she rushed around the room, getting dressed and collecting her purse. Why couldn't she just trust Chikane? She would never hurt her, if she could see that why couldn't her room mate? Why is it so urgent I come at this time anyway? She pondered. It was in the early hours of the morning by now, and she was becoming increasingly worried as time went on. What if Chikane had been hurt? Had something happened to her?
The gravel of the driveway crunched underneath her shoes and the wind whipped her hair against her face but she ignored it, her mind focused on one thing only. She rushed up the stone steps that led to those large double doors. She noticed several cars outside the house and they had been hurriedly parked it seemed. She could also see several tyre marks leading across the grass and around the estate. Before she reached the main entrance, the door slid open and out stepped a familiar looking maid.
"Kurusugawa-san." The maid greeted her. What was her name? Otoha? "I'm glad you came." She didn't look glad though.
Himeko was beckoned inside and she noticed police officers standing around. There were also men in suits. She turned to Otoha, a look on panic on her face. "Is Chikane-chan alright?" She asked.
Otoha flinched at the use of her first name and that honorific but Himeko didn't really notice. "Ohou-sama is unharmed but I summoned you here for support. She is in need of a friend right now and I can't offer that kind of warmth to her." There was something sad about the way she said that.
Himeko glanced around, curiosity and worry gnawing at her. "What happened? Where's Chikane-chan?" She continued questioning.
Otoha said nothing further but instead led the blonde up the stairs. The police officers gave her curious looks but the maid didn't pause once to explain who the girl was. After they had passed down several corridors, that all looked the same to Himeko, the maid paused outside one door in particular. Himeko didn't recognise it as the bedroom door she'd been led through before. Otoha turned to her and looked her over, regarding her for a moment.
She leaned in slightly and her tone was hushed. "Ojou-sama has been through a rough time tonight so please try not to ask any questions. I think you being here will be enough." She then moved to knock on the door.
Himeko laid a hand on her forearm, causing her to turn back to her. "Please, tell me what's happened."
From Himeko's pleading look, she finally gave in, glancing somewhat nervously down the corridor. "There... there was a murder in the forest. Ojou-sama discovered it. The scene was quite... grizzly." Himeko saw her shudder at the last hesitant word. Her mind whirled. A murder? And Chikane had come across it? She couldn't even imagine what that must have been like.
Before she could stop her further, Otoha wrapped lightly on the door, paused, and then opened it. She poked her head in and then opened it fully. "You have a guest Ojou-sama."
Himeko stepped into the room. It appeared to be a study of sorts, with large towering bookcases lining one wall and a grand oak desk against another. Chikane sat in a black leather chair, facing the large windows, her eyes closed. She didn't appear to respond to the presence of Otoha or her words. The maid glanced at Himeko before retreating from the room, closing the door behind her. Himeko wasn't sure what to do. She stood there for a while, waiting for Chikane to look up at her but she didn't.
Worry pushing her onwards, she hurried across the room and stopped beside the chair, kneeling down beside it. She placed a tentative hand on Chikane's forearm and looked up at her closed eyes. They flickered open and wide blue orbs stared at her in shock. Her back stiffened and she sat forwards in the chair, grasping Himeko by the shoulders as if she couldn't believe she was there.
"Himeko!" She gasped, her hands shaking on the blonde's shoulders.
Himeko nodded. "I came as quickly as I could." She said, her brow furrowed with concern. "Are you okay?"
Chikane paused, deliberating her words. "How did you know?" She asked eventually.
Himeko looked at her in confusion. "Mako-chan said there was a phone call for me asking me to come to the Himemiya Estate at once."
Chikane's lips thinned to a tight line. She then relaxed and released her grip on Himeko, shaking her head with a small smile. "Otoha..." Was all she said. She closed her eyes again, squeezing them shut. When she opened them, Himeko could see the pain in them. "I can't get it out of my head, Himeko." She sounded almost desperate.
Himeko did the only thing she could think of that would soothe the girl. She threw her arms around her and drew her into a tight embrace. Chikane relaxed into the hug, her arms coming around the blonde's waist, her head resting on one shoulder. Himeko couldn't even begin to imagine the horrible things she'd seen. She concluded it would have had to have been really bad for Chikane to act in such a way though. "It's okay now, Chikane-chan." She murmured into black hair.
Chikane's shoulders began to shake in her arms and she thought she might be crying but she didn't hear any sobs or feel any wetness on her shoulder. "What monster could do such a thing." Came her unusually shaky voice. Seeing this change in Chikane was beginning to make Himeko panic. She wasn't used to seeing her lose her cool.
Himeko pulled her head back and gently pushed on Chikane's shoulders so she could see her face. Water had collected at the corner of crystal blue eyes, and they had clouded over slightly, as if she were day dreaming. Himeko laid the palm of her hand against her cheek and those eyes fluttered closed for a moment. "It doesn't matter now, it's just us two here Chikane-chan." She said, trying to calm the other girl, though she didn't really have any idea how to, she was used to being the one comforted.
The raven haired beauty blinked at her a few times. Then a small smile pulled at her lips. "You're right." She took a deep breath. "I can't let anything spoil my time with you." Her features softened with the words but Himeko knew she was just putting on a brave face.
Deciding there was nothing else she could do, she let her eyelids close shut and leaned in towards Chikane slowly, giving her time to stop her if it wasn't what she wanted. After what seemed like an eternity of darkness, she felt soft warm lips cover hers and she wrapped her arms tightly around Chikane's shoulders, feeling the grip on her waist tighten aswell. She pushed forwards, off of her knees and the other girl leaned back in the chair, carrying the blonde backwards with her. Himeko heard a low groan come from the other girl's throat when she settled into her lap, their bodies so close.
She pulled back, breathless, before the kiss could deepen. She looked into those beautiful eyes once more and smiled when she saw the cloudiness had gone and was replaced by a darkened blue. She brushed black strands from her face with one hand, the other brushed up into the raven mass from the back of her head, trailing her fingernails against Chikane's scalp. Chikane's eyes fluttered closed at the touch and she murmured happily.
Then the eyes opened and she was looking at Himeko with concern. "Hey, are you okay?"
Himeko, realising she was referring to earlier in the day, merely nodded in response. She wanted to leave it at that but Chikane's gaze never left hers. "Mako-chan is just going to take a while to come around." She smiled a little, but it didn't reach her eyes.
Chikane frowned but didn't probe further. Himeko thought their day had been like a rollercoaster. From the ups of kissing Chikane and realising they shared the same feelings to the downs of Makoto's opinions and a murder in Mahoroba. It was so strange. She thought she might be in one of her favourite mangas if it wasn't for the very real issues. She nuzzled into Chikane's neck, kissing the skin there and she had done with her earlier. Being here, feeling the closeness of the other girl made all the bad things disappear. Chikane was all she needed at the end of the day to be able to keep going. To be able to stay positive. She smiled into her neck as Chikane let out an approving whimper.
With a sudden surge of strength, Chikane lifted Himeko and pushed her towards the desk. She landed bottom first on top of some paperwork, some of which scattered across the table and onto the floor. With a slight growl, Chikane pushed her hips in between Himeko's legs and captured her lips once more. Himeko gasped into her hot mouth, the pressure against her groin sending all new sensations coursing throughout her body. The other girl's hands roamed her body, fluttering against the fabric of her clothes. One hand found what it was seeking and ducked under the hem of Himeko's blouse, finally finding heated flesh there. Himeko shivered at the touch and Chikane moaned once more.
The kiss deepened more and more, their tongues clashing against one another, lips sliding together. Her own hands ran up and down Chikane's back, against the smooth silk of her robe. Chikane's other hand joined its partner under Himeko's blouse and brushed against her skin, her lips dropping down to her neck leaving a trail of hot kisses. She nipped and sucked the skin at her throat causing Himeko's body to shudder and her hands came across the cotton of her bra. Roughly pushing up the blouse that was impeding her view, Chikane gazed hungrily down at her bra clad breasts. She then ducked her head down and pressed her lips to the valley between the rise of her breasts and Himeko arched into the fevered kisses. Wrapping one arm around Himeko's waist, Chikane cupped one breast, her thumb tracing around the nipple that strained against the cotton.
Himeko couldn't hold back the gasped cry that escaped her lips as a pleasurable shock shot through her body right down to her groin. She buried her hands in the thick black tresses before her and held Chikane's mouth against her skin. Licking and nipping her way to one pert breast, Chikane pulled down the material that was blocking her access to the other girl's nipple, and then clamped her lips around it, flicking her tongue over the pink bud. Himeko continued to tremble at the sensations, all conscious thought leaving her as she was consumed. Chikane's right hand dropped, falling to Himeko's thigh and drawing torturous circles over the skin there. Himeko thought she was going to pass out from the overload of feelings.
"Mm." Chikane murmured into her skin and slid the palm of her hand up her thigh and under the short blue skirt she'd flung on earlier. She gasped out as she kneaded the flesh just below her hip.
Himeko let out a ragged breath, her vision blurring slightly. She shut her eyes, focusing completely on Chikane's ministrations. The other girl puffed heavily against her breast, her hot breath soon cooling against the moistened flesh. Her teeth grazed the sensitive nipple and she arched further into her. "Chi... kane... chan..." Came her own broken breaths.
Her name seemed to break the desire fuelled haze around her and Chikane lifted her head, heavily hooded blue pools gazing into violet. She merely stared at Himeko for a while, stopping the motion of her hand but not removing it. Himeko could never grow tired of that look, of those eyes burning for her.
"W-what?" She managed to force out, her voice hoarse.
Chikane smiled slightly. "I... I think we should calm down a little... before we go too far." Her voice was deepened by want but the words were rational.
"Y-you don't want to?" Himeko almost squeaked out the question.
Chikane removed her hand from Himeko's thigh and cupped the other girl's cheek gently. "Of course I do... I just don't want it to be like this. I want it to be perfect." She explained.
"But any time would be perfect... if it was with you." She smiled shyly.
The rosy tint to Chikane's cheeks darkened and her smile turned into a grin. "You're so sweet, Himeko." She murmured, placing a chaste kiss on her lips. "But I don't want our night together marred by what happened earlier." Her tone became serious as she went on.
Still, Himeko could only concentrate on the beginning of the sentence. Our night together? Her cheeks flushed at the thought.
Chikane pulled away from Himeko slightly, straightening out her robe and running her hands through her thick black mane. She stilled herself and gazed back at the flustered beauty perched on her desk. Himeko could still see that desire burning there. "Thank you, Himeko. You coming here really helped me. I don't know what I'd do without you."
Himeko slid off the table and wrapped her arms around Chikane, resting her head on the other girl's chest. "You'll always have me." She whispered, just loud enough for Chikane to hear.
END OF CHAPTER
Author's Note: I've left the next scene at the shrine for the next chapter, just so Rei and Klava don't take over too much time in one chapter really. This is a KnM fanfic afterall. ;)