Well hello there everyone I'm still not sure if I did a good enough job on the previous chapter, however, I do think I got the point across. Who knows I might like it when I look back at it later. Anyway let's move onto the story.
Chapter Dedications to:
nekolover18
and anyone else still reading!
Emptiness Burning Bright
Chunky thick sticky mud; sometimes I hate my job. I've been trying to follow this trail for over an hour. "It seems too easy," I mutter rather loudly.
"Are you sure about that? You did say that he was extremely worried," the silver haired girl with bright eyes the color of an orange maple leaf responded.
I really wish Nagihiko didn't assign her to be my partner.
"No, but I sense that this is too easy. Ikuto would know that Rima and Nagihiko will send people after him. I just don't understand why they chose me to do it," I sigh frustrated at her pestering.
"I'm sure they sent you because you do know him pretty well. If you feel like this is too easy then we should end our pursuit on this route and check another," she smiled bumping my shoulder lightly.
"Right we probably won't find him either way. Honestly I can't begin to understand how he feels, but Amu is my important friend. I honestly want for him to get away and save her, I can't go against orders though," I pout.
"Then maybe instead of trying to find him we can try and spy on King Nikaidou then, see what he knows about Amu's whereabouts. It's a lot better than moping, don't you think Hiro?"
"Alright then, let us break some rules for once," I say aloud trying to convince myself I wouldn't be in trouble for such a crime.
Just then I felt my foot get caught up in something on the ground and slipped into the river.
"Hiro!"
I splutter and cough, but easily right myself.
"I'm okay, but that was rather scary," I say to ease her worry.
"Good, you scared me," she nearly sobbed.
"What did I trip on," I ask uncomfortable with her almost tears.
"From what I can tell Ikuto's clothes most likely," she answered with a sniffle holding them up for me to see.
"Yup," I agree when I noticed he wore that outfit the day he stormed out of the throne room to search for Amu.
"Still think he's not taking this route?"
"Yup," I sigh.
Good God, I pity the man or woman who has to search for this man. He is so darn good at slipping past people.
"Let's get going," I nod toward her.
"Yes lets!"
Amu's POV
"…I…I don't understand," the woman finally managed to say.
"How did you get here? Why did King Roth want to capture you and sentence you to death? Things that lead up to those things, you know stuff like that. I won't burden you with my story unless you want to hear it. I can only promise you one thing. I won't forget you, your story or let the world forget you."
"Mommy," her son questioned as he looked up into her uncertain eyes.
The woman looked down at her son, "Hotaka," she whispered and hugged him tightly to her.
I turn my back to the woman and slide the sleeve of my shabby dress down to reveal my left shoulder, still blotchy red and terribly painful.
She gasps.
"The people in this kingdom brand their own people?"
"No, I'm not from this kingdom. My parents were captured when I was young. For years I didn't even know if they were still alive. I gave my sister to my friend's family and didn't see her again for years. I was orphaned and was trained to be a killer. Roth was the first person to buy me. I've been given very little choices and the choices are only eating at my mind. I've been a slave for so long I can't really remember what freedom feels like," I state truthfully.
"Oh…well I've been protecting my son. Hotaka didn't mean to, but he overheard an important conversation two of Roth's knights were having and he ran to me shouting 'Mommy what's pillage the village mean?' The town overheard and people gathered to fight the knights' out of the town. We lost of course; ten men were killed along with four women and a child. My son and I were then taken here."
"What's your name," I asked her.
"Sumiko Tanaka," she answered.
"Sumiko, I'm going to tell you what options I have. You can decide what you want best and if you don't want the responsibility that comes with deciding I will do it," I quietly say in the surrounding emptiness.
"I'm afraid to know," Sumiko mumbles.
"I can give Hotaka a chance to live; however, I can honestly say very few of the kids that have been given the opportunity to live make it beyond three more years. The work they are given is bad for their health, it's tiring and abuses the mind as well as the body. They become slaves. I'll spare you the messy stories. Then there is the option were I chose to save the two of you over 30 or more people probably decent people like yourself so that Roth can get a kick out of my pain. Then again I can kill your son with you and he can avoid the hard path to surviving," my face winces at the mention of killing the boy.
"WHAT KIND OF CHOICE IS THAT," Sumiko screamed frightening her son.
"A choice I spent making countless times for nearly 2 years," I answer flatly.
"God no matter what I choose how can I live with any of the decisions," Sumiko moaned tears springing at the corners of her eyes.
"Well it should be taken into consideration that Roth is starting a war with the Kingdom Changing Enchantments. If he ends up losing the war your son has better hope of escaping an impoverished life as a slave. If however, he wins the war he will probably have obtained more people to place into the system and the process will become messier," I add.
"What to do…," Sumiko mumbled agitated.
"That is the question, either way I will be killing someone," I growl plopping my body on the ground in frustration. Looking up at the ceiling wasn't really helping any bit at all, but it was better than to continue looking at people I would probably kill.
"I really can't handle this," I choke out. Small footsteps padded over to me and a small hand rested on my cheek.
"It'll be alright," was all Hotaka managed to say.
That's when the walls I put up in front of me break down and I pull him and his mom into hug.
"…Maybe, my son will grow to hate me for this, but I really hope he continues to live. His life has just begun and for him to die before he has a chance to understand all that life can provide," Sumiko whispered sadly looking down at her son.
"Alright, now we have to decide if you live too—" I started only to stop as a severe headache ravaged my head.
"Amu can you hear me," Rima's voice asked.
"Took you long enough to break through all the magic barriers I groan. Could you not rush in my head hurts," I mutter.
"Humph well sorry, but it wasn't exactly a stroll through the park," scoffed Rima.
"Yeah well since you finally managed to break through I have a favor to ask," I wince at the sound of my own voice.
"I can't promise anything," she mutters voice ringing like an echo in my head.
I grit my teeth, "You will fulfill this one," I growl.
"I have done so much for you by coming back," I argued.
"Okay let's hear what you have to say first," Rima gave in a little.
"In the room with me is a little boy, his mother wants him to live. I don't want him to live in the environment King Roth would place him in. Summon him to your Kingdom," I plead.
"And just how is King Roth not going to know he is missing?"
"And just who do you think you're asking that question too," I question.
"You do know how draining that sort of magic is on me when there is a barrier," Rima muttered.
"Your Highness Rima, I deserve a favor for all of my hard work even if I'm a slave," I argue.
"…Alright, but don't expect another. I don't want you risking this mission by him finding out the boy is gone," Rima forced out a sigh.
"Right," I answer.
"Ma'am," a hand was waved in front of my face, "are you alright?"
"Yeah thanks Sumiko, you can call me Amu," I mutter rubbing my forehead.
A magical circle surrounded her son.
"What in the world is going on," Sumiko shouts running to her son.
I grab her arm and stop her short from stepping foot into the magical circle.
"I found a way to let your son live and have a more sheltered life, however now that you have seen magic I'm not allowed to let you live," I state with an empty mind.
I cannot find a way or enough will to break away from this empty state.
"You have four minutes to say goodbye, he will be well taken care of in the Kingdom of Changing Enchantments.
"Thank you for giving my son a chance at life," Sumiko sobbed then ran over to spend her last four minutes with her son.
None of this makes me feel any less like a monster.
Unknown POV
"Hiro looks like we've made it far enough for to—," an arm tightly around my neck with a knife glittering softly in front of my face cuts me off.
"Oh look what I found trespassing on the Kingdom of Landslides path," a girl's voice raises in a content tone.
I shiver in fear. Damn it I stink at fighting, but I know I can escape her grasp. If I don't there is no way I can be an awesome tracker like Ikuto.
"Let her go," Hiro runs out from behind a tree. He had been looking for firewood.
"Oh why if it isn't Hiro," the girl's grip on my arm tugs tighter to my neck. That's when she makes her mistake.
My hand moves to cut off a small bag attached to my pants and I watch silently as it falls.
Smoke explodes from the pouch and I elbow the girl run toward where I last saw Hiro.
A hand grabbed mine before I could find him, but it wasn't the girl's hand so I let it pull me away from the smoke.
"Yuuna don't do something so dangerous like that," Hiro complained. Finally after all this time he said my name aloud.
"It's my job Hiro as a tracker I'm making sure no one can follow us while helping you look for Ikuto," I argue.
"Yeah, but I don't think I could bare it if you died," he mumbled lightly.
"Where do you two think you are going?"
"Ri," Hiro said pushing me behind him.
"Looks like I'll have to kill you. I can't imagine what Amu will do to me when she finds out, but it's my job to obey orders just as it is hers."
"Are you trying to make us feel sorry for you," I shout with a smirk, "You chose to be here where you are today!"
"Yuuna don't agitate her," Hiro growled at me and shoved me further behind him.
"I'll kill you both," Ri growled and ran at us with her sword raised.
Hiro blocked it with his own sword.
"Go and find out some information," Hiro grunted as he managed to keep the sword away from him.
"Fine, but you better be alive when I get back," I growl and give him a quick kiss on the cheek before I run off further down the path.
The only reason I am leaving him behind is because I have faith in him, I hope he understands that.
(Yuuna is the uknown POV just in case you didn't catch that)
Sumiko's POV
I stare at my son as he worriedly looks around and then stops to stare back at me.
"Hotaka, mommy loves you alright. Mommy loves you so much that she wants you to keep on living without her, even longer than mommy will get the chance to live to. Now that doesn't mean we won't ever see each other again because I will always be watching over you. I'll be there every step of the way. One day after you live a long fulfilling life we shall see each other again. Mommy will personally come down to collect you. Just know that no matter what mommy will always love Hotaka very very much."
"Mommy," Hotaka cried as tears spilled down his face.
"Yes Hotaka, mommy is here always in your heart I will live on and always be by your side. When things get rough you can always call on me," I smile.
"Mommy I love you forever," Hotaka said. I know he wants to tell me not to leave him, yet he is so considerate he doesn't voice it knowing that it would make it harder on me to let him go.
I knew I was doing the right thing. I have no regrets.
I keep my feet planted just outside of the circle and lean in to give my son a final hug.
"Hotaka take this necklace. I won't need it where I am going, but I hope it will bring you some courage and protect you. Your daddy gave this to your mommy before he asked to marry her. Maybe when you find the right girl to settle down with you will give it to her as well," I smile as tears pour down my face.
Hotaka takes the silver necklace. It is a round watch wrapped in silver intricately twisted and wrapped.
"Time to let go," the girl, Amu's voice says placing a hand on my shoulder.
Slowly I pull away from Hotaka and wipe my tears. I then keep a smile on my face. The last thing I want him to remember is that I'm happy he could escape.
"Hotaka, mommy is happy that you can escape from here and live a decent life. Don't ever forget that."
Then the magic circle disappears along with my son. My smile dims and I can feel my throat constrict.
"Thanks Amu," I managed to choke out.
I don't look away from the spot where my son vanished.
I close my eyes.
I feel a sharp pain, but it only lasts for a moment and then I know I'm dead.
Amu's POV
I pull the sword out from her chest and watch horrified as so much blood spills out. The sword slips from my hand and clatters loudly on the ground.
Before I can find the emptiness a wail escapes my lips and refuses to stop. Tears are pouring down my face mucus is piling up making it difficult to breathe.
The only kind thing I could do for her was to kill her before her thoughts began to drift back to death. I wanted her last thoughts to be about her son, not death.
I don't know for how long I wail.
All I know is that my heart hurts so much.
All I know is that I am tired of living.
And all I know that is keeping me going is Ikuto.
I only know that by the time the door opens I'm a mess crumpled up on the ground taking in ragged breathes uneven and unfocused.
I am kicked hard in the side and wince as I feel a rib crack.
"You made such a big fuss. I was going to be kind and let you not have to do anymore of these for training, but it seems you need to be taught again how to close off your emotions and simply obey me," Roth growls.
Using magic he sets my rib back in place, but doesn't remove the pain or the big ugly purple bruise.
"Throw her back into her room," Roth ordered at his men.
The two men grab either side of me and drag me back into the tiny dark room. The door shuts and I'm alone.
Finally the emptiness is settling in. The emptiness is burning brightly so I won't have to feel anything anymore.
Well please review and let me know how this chapter went! I think this one came out really well, but if you disagree please let me know. I'll be waiting for 3 reviews before moving on to the next chapter and readily wait to hear what you think or any advice.
Thanks so much for reading! :)
