Here's the next chapter!
I know it took me a while because I just finished my last final last week. I was too worried about my grades to even finish this chapter. But in the end, I got another 4.0! Yay me! I thought I failed Physics 2 because it was difficult! I guess hard work pays off.
Anyway, hope you like this chapter!
He rode to the borderline of the warring lands in his midnight black horse. In his thoughts, he only needed to find one thing and that's in the Eastern, in the old Taniyama Manor. That's where he'll begin his search to end this war, to get Mai back into his protection. He might not admit it in front of others but he cared deeply for the princess. It was unnatural for him to show his true feelings in front of the people who knew him well. He stared at the empty field in front of him. It was almost Summer and that reminded him of Mai, the warmth that she brings to everyone around her, the bright smile, and her bubbly personality. He got off his horse and lead it to a destroyed fence to the other land. Carefully, he tied the horse down to a tree and examined the surrounding. It was calm, as if nothing's going on. When he stepped out of the clearing, five guns were initially pointed at him.
"Who are you?" a man asked. Naru turned behind him and saw an old man, a villager.
"I'm Oliver, son of Martin of the Western Land" he calmly answered.
"What's your business here?" the old man asked again.
Naru sighed, "To retrieve something in the Taniyama Manor not far from here. I assure you that I am not a threat to your people."
The old man lowered his gun, the others followed.
"If you are going there, take the road by the river, there are soldiers in the main road. His army will be in the road. It's not safe for you to travel down that road."
"Thank you" Naru bowed and got his horse. He mounted the black horse and rode off to the river.
He traveled three days and two nights non-stop. Barely avoiding the soldiers from his real father. If Luella ever find out about his stunt, he knew well enough that he'll be told off for at least ten minutes. He arrived at the old manor. It was dark and old. There was no sign of life for years in the manor. He dismounted his horse and examined the area. The twenty feet iron gate was the problem, so were the fifteen foot walls. He walked around the wall and found vines that he could use to get over the bricked wall. He took a gun with him, slinging it behind his back as he climb the vines. He got on the other side with ease and that was when he noticed a broken window not far from him. He got his gun ready and entered the broken window. It was fresh, someone was recently in the manor. He heard some footsteps coming from the other room. He hid in a corner, shadows covering his body. He saw a man with a dark hair and glasses, wearing a white button shirt and pair of black slacks. "I thought I heard someone…" the man said.
Noll took that cue to step out from his hiding spot, gun pointed at the man. "Who are you?" he asked. The said man turned and almost jumped out of the window. "Who are you?" Noll asked again. "Yasuhara" the man answered. "What's your business here?" Naru replied, pointing his gun at the man before him. "Hey, hey, hey… No need for a gun. I'm just hiding from the soldiers" Yasuhara told him, waving his hand in front of himself. Naru lowered the gun and cocked his eyebrow. "You do know that you're-"
"Yes, the infamous Taniyama Manor. I didn't steal anything if that's what you think."
"Good," Naru walked out of the room and began searching every drawer in the dark manor. "Hey! What are you doing…""Davis, Oliver. I'm searching for something. Have you seen anything suspicious in this place?" Naru asked the man while closing one of the cabinet in the study hall. "Now that you asked me… There's this room upstairs that wouldn't open" Yasu told him. Naru ignored the drawers and ran up the stairs, followed by Yasuhara. "Which way?" he asked.
"At the end of the hallway, last door on the left" Yasu pointed.
Naru arrived in front of a huge door. It was made of oak and it was dusty, except the door handle. Naru tried opening it, but it seemed jammed. "I told you it wouldn't open" Yasu reminded him. Naru stepped back and kicked the door, still it was closed. He did it three times before the door busted open. Inside was nothing but a study table and a diary. "I thought there'll be gold in here or something for it to be locked like that" Yasu whined.
Naru took the diary and read a random page.
Dear Diary,
My adopted brother, Toya, planned on taking over the country. I told my beloved husband about it but he refused to believe me. In my opinion, it's Urado's doing. Ever since he came into the palace, my husband made the wrong choices. I do not know much about politics and military but the way the our people responded to his laws says it all. Small villages were abandoned and people started moving out to the Western Lands. My family suggested that I do the same and bring my children with me but I cannot bear to leave my husband when he needs me the most.
I decided to send Maiyu and Miroku in two days time to their Uncle in the Western Land just in case something bad happens. Although my husband is against it, it's for the safety of our children. I want them away from this place. I just hope that I am not too late.
Naru turned to the next page and continued reading.
Dear Diary,
Today is the day that I'm going to send my children away. It's early in the morning and the carriage will not be arriving until later afternoon. I should have planned on an earlier time for them since Urado sent a lot of soldiers in the palace. They are positioned in almost every corner. Maiyu's scared while Miroku pretended not to be. I tried talking to husband about the increase of soldiers but he didn't respond. He sat in the office with the map of the Eastern Land in front of him. I'm getting really scared.
Naru turned to the next page and he was shocked to see blood drops on the paper.
Dear Diary,
This may be my last entry. The soldiers that I mentioned before was against the family. They brought us back here in the manor. On the way, my daughter, Maiyu, was lost in the crowd. I do not know what happened to Urado after the rampage in the palace. When the rest of us got here, my adopted brother was waiting for us. My shocked husband was too surprised to even move or utter a word. Toya told me that I will meet my father soon. I knew what he meant, my father's dead. He will kill us, I don't know when or where but the look in his eyes says it all. I hope Maiyu's alright, I hope someone's taking care of her.
Naru raised his eyebrows when he saw the next page, the handwriting was messy. In his opinion, she was in a hurry in writing this entry.
Dear Diary,
It's been a week since we moved here. On the third day, he killed my husband right in front my son and myself. He's gone mad. The day after, he went after my son… He had him… he chased him around the garden with a gun while I watch from the rooftop. I saw him shot my son in the back more than twice…
This will be my last entry, I know that my time is about to come. Toya wants something, a paper that he thinks will prove that we are real brothers and sisters. He wants the right to rule the land without opposition. He wants his paper. The paper that says that he's adopted. But I cannot tell him where it's located. I hid the clue inside my daughter's locket. The rest is in this diary, in the very back of the book… A map to the garden… where the chest is hidden… Maiyu, if you're reading this… take that documentation and give it to your uncle… or to anyone with power… Toya wanted this land since we adopted him. He believed that he's of blood and can have this land… It's the reason why he wants the family dead… why your family is dead. If there's a Taniyama that's living, he will not be able to rule this land, to get the power and money that the family worked hard for. Maiyu, dear, you're the next ruler. Get the land back that you enjoyed and loved so much… If not for us, do it for yourself…
Naru closed the diary. He sat on a chair for a moment, thinking through all the info that he gained. It doesn't make sense at all. His father was an adopted child? But why would he look for some information concerning himself. He knew he was adopted, unless something happened. His thoughts were interrupted when Yasuhara came in.
"Is that the famous diary of Taniyama Kaname? I know so much about her. She's my hero in every aspect" Yasu gleefully informed him.
"You know of her?" Naru asked.
"Yes, I must say I know more about her than the information you can get in any textbook in any land" he said so with so much pride.
"Mind telling me everything?"
Yasuhara and Naru went down to the dusty living room and sat there. "Taniyama Kaname is the only child of the Kasikage Family. Now, if you count the adopted son, Akago Toya, then there will be two children" Yasu started.
Noll just nodded in reply.
"Kaname-san met Ryu at a ball here in the Eastern Lands and that's how they fell in love and all that jazz. Akago Toya, who suffered a head injury lost his memory around the time when the lovers were about to get married. So, he thought that he should be in line to rule the Eastern Land because of his Kasikage blood" he continued.
"Yasuhara-san, the Kasikage Family were not of noble blood" Naru corrected.
"Ah! That's where you are wrong, Davis-san. You see, the Kasikage Family were not well-known because they keep their business to themselves. The Kasikage Family were second in line if the Taniyama Family could not produce an heir but! Fortunately for both family, Kaname and Ryu-san fell in love and pop goes the twins" Yasu corrected the genius.
"Continue"
"Anyway, a few years later, Kaname's father, the head of the Kasikage Family, died. The reason was unknown but many suggested that he was assassinated. Also, that time was when Urado came into picture. Not many people know this but Urado was working for Akago Toya. With his memory still unclear, he feels and thinks that he should be sitting at Ryu-san's throne, ruling the Eastern Land. Why? Well, if one of the two families produce an heir, the first family to do that shall rule the land, no questions asked. That also goes for the rest of the land, except the Western Land. Akago, being older than Ryu and Kaname, felt betrayed after learning that. He pushed to overthrow the Taniyama Family but failed, so he worked in secrecy with Urado. During the years that they worked together, Akago found out that he was adopted. He thought that it was a lie until he asked Kaname's mother. She revealed everything, even the copy of the document that says he was adopted. In rage, many believed that he burned the Kasikage Family Manor down with the rest of the family. He wanted to get rid of the proof that he was adopted"
"You're telling me that all Akago wanted was to get rid of some stupid documentation of his adoption?"
"Yes, Davis-san. He went to court with a fake birth certificate to prove that he should be the one ruling, but the judge told him that as long as there's a living member of the Taniyama Family living, he cannot rule this land. Well, that's how it started with the killing of the Royal Family" he finished.
"Akago somehow learned that the real document was hidden somewhere" Naru stated.
"Yes, he learned that from Kaname-san but she refused to tell him where and that's how she and her daughter died" Yasu added.
"Her daughter's alive" Naru corrected.
Yasu's eyes widened in disbelief.
"So it's true then! I knew it! I've heard of stories about Princess Maiyu rescued by one of the family servants and living in an orphanage, but for her to be actually alive! This is something new! Do you know her?" he asked excitedly."That is none of your business, now, if you don't mind, help me dig something in the garden" Naru said, leaving with the diary in tow.
Naru followed the directions in the diary,
By the garden is a gnome
Three steps to the left is our home
By the rose bush is a tree
If it's high a bird can see
Take five steps North for the best
Under an apple tree is a chest
He saw the gnome, it was old and the top half was missing. Taking three steps to the left, he saw a small replica of the Taniyama Palace. He was confused about the rose bush since there was no direction, but when he looked behind the replica, there he saw a dead bush. A small tree was next to it, a bonsai. He took five steps North of the tree and under an apple tree was-
"Where's the chest?" Naru asked no one in particular.
"It says Under an apple tree," Yasu reminded him.
Naru started digging with his hands while Yasu went to the garden shed to get some shovel. "Here" he said, handing him the shovel. Together, both men continued digging for the chest, when Yasu hit something hard, Naru knew he found it.
After pulling the chest out of the six feet deep hole, Naru carefully opened it. It was heavy, so he thought that there'll be jewelries or something of that value hidden inside, but all there was were small paintings and portraits of the Taniyama Family. Toys and clothes for babies. "What's this?" Yasu asked.
"It's a chest full of memories, not gold or anything. This is the treasure that Akago was looking for? He's a waste of time," that was what Naru thought at first, until he saw an envelope at the bottom of the file.
He carefully opened it and the documents inside were about his father. "Davis-san, is that the-"
"The adoption paper that will prove that Akago is adopted and has no right to rule this land" Naru finished.
A sound interrupted both men, when Naru turned, his face turned white. Just a few feet across from him was the evil man himself, "Akago Toya."
"Hello, son. I knew that following you would be worth while. You've found yourself a friend as well. Yasuhara? The Yasuhara Family that worked with the documentation of the Taniyama Family?"
"Y-yes sir"
"Great, you might be a use to me. Now, dear son, why don't you hand me that documentation" he said, holding his hand out to Naru.
"There is no need for it, Akago" Naru stated.
"Don't make this hard" he said, anger seeping through his fake smile.
Naru didn't make a move, so instead, Akago used force on him. He had two of his soldiers attacked him from behind, hitting his head with the back of a gun. He lost consciousness in a matter of seconds and all his hard work was gone.
Mai woke up screaming after a nightmare. She saw Naru getting whipped inside a cell, he was all bloody and skinny. She pulled her knees up to her chest and started weeping. A few minutes late, Luella came in, worried about her. Gene was a few steps behind.
"Mai, dear, what's the matter?" she asked softly, hugging the girl.
"N-Naru… he was bloody and- and- he was hurt…" Mai sobbed.
"Shhh… everything's going to be alright" Luella comforted.
Ten minutes inside Mai's room was all it took for the girl to fall asleep again. Gene was just waiting outside. When Luella exited the room the only word she muttered were, "Contact your father as soon as possible."
Confused? Don't hesitate to contact me. I'll gladly explain this whole chapter.
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