Ryoko's Zinnia
"Hakubi, Ryoko…the daughter of Washu Hakubi, and possible love child of the biggest warlord of the universe, Kagato." Ryoko languidly made her way down the corridor, the scorned woman's words permeating in her mind. Her blood boiled.
Her ears perked, "What's going on?" Laughter and a mingling of voices baited at her from the dining room, and she quickened her pace.
Peeking her head in, she was greeted with a warm smile from Ekrem who gleefully stuff herself with food. Ryoko regarded the women that escorted her through the cold night, quietly. She was thankful for them. Even more appreciative that the women were afforded a warm and nourishing feast. She backed away and continued her walk to her room for a needed nap.
Cowering behind the wooden panel of the threshold of her son's quarters. Akio waited for Ryoko's departure to trek down the hall. The older woman peeked into the doorway, her blue eyes following the movement of the innocent little girl and the women inside. Casting another cautious look to the hall, she flowed into the room haughtily.
"Kirekosi, how is the meal?" Akio questioned making her presence known. Eight pairs of eyes gaze at her, a mixture of bewilderment and disbelief. Feeling the tense atmosphere, Akio bowed "Anha ajjin, I will be going then. I apologize for disrupting the meal," She canted only to hear a grunt and a sound of porcelain crashing to the ground.
"Tih ven ma jela." A middle-aged villager stood slowly, pointing her index finger at Akio.
"I… know…evil when I see it." Another spoken brokenly.
Akio lips curled in a snarl, "An awful sight, all of you!" Her shoulders tensed and hurriedly walked out of the room. Akio hastily found the door to the garden; using the wall for support, she raked her wrinkled hands through her hair. No matter what, they will always remember the past, but everyone wants to remember what they want! Her lip curled into a snarl; her body screamed for her to run again. A wet sound of someone walking on grass alerted her, they were calculated, not threatening. Akio eyed the space, waiting for the creeper to show their self.
Haruka greeted her with a smile, carefully peeking around him as he stepped out the shrub.
Akio pressed a hand over her heart, "You scared me."
"Fini ajjin?" Haruka queried.
"In the dining room, there are women and a child, who followed Ryoko here. Anha jin malilat. If she intervenes, kill her too. I will distract my son long enough for you to do the deed. Now go."
"Yeri qisi jinak?" Haruka turns skeptically.
"Yes, I am sure. She is pregnant, she cannot defend herself accurately. Gwe ajjin!" Akio tossed her hand up.
Her translucent hair blew in the wind as she stared out to the ocean. A thousand strands of her golden locks shimmered in the hot sun. She knew he was coming this way. Motionless he takes in the sight before him. Of course, she did, she invades his mind.
Yugi peered over her shoulder, toying with the front lock of her hair. A look of disappointment etched across her face.
"What now?" His shoulders tensed.
"I have been defeated." Yugi gave a half shrug, "Those Masaki's are not a force to mess with. They protect their own that's for sure. I knew I was no match."
"What have they done to your body?"
"My body." Yugi snorted, "Why, I am resting fine on the Terra planet. In a very cozy cave…until I repay my debt for all that I have done to them."
"Repay your debt? You are a persistent child, how'd you gave up so easily." Yugi lifted a brow, she parted her lips. They moved as if she wanted to say something. "I mean-"
"I'm only beginning, Hotsuma. I can only dwell in the darkness now." Her eyes took on a sinister look. "Abandonment is a betrayal though, Hotsuma." What would have made him flinch, only made him look to her now cool, calm and collectedly. They both shared a terrifying coldness. Now the shell of themselves.
"Anna rizh!" A voice called out, tearing Hotsuma attention away from the child who phased away. "Mori yer hash! Are you out there? Where are you?"
Hotsuma cussed softly under his breath. He reached out to her seeing that she was experiencing difficulty walking in the sand.
"How is the ship?" Akio gripped his forearm and the fabric of his jacket tightly.
He glances at her, "I cannot give any specifics, but it appears to be still in good condition."
"You're not leaving me, are you?"
"If my wife wants to. I will gladly follow her."
"We need you here. We need to build our financial systems, gain our power and vanity back. Mend our communities, understand that I need you to do this."
"Duly noted." Hotsuma sighs opening the flap exposing Gai'en's computer system.
"Of course, my child is free to live and love who he loves." She cupped his cheek, and smiled adoringly at him, "I am your shelter, your guardian, your forever home…do not ever forget that."
"Are you supposing Ryoko will forsake me?"
Akio leered, "I do not suppose." She turned her attention to the exterior of the ship placing her palm to the cool guard. "He's a big one, isn't he? Holds true to his name, Gai'en, strength…sufficient power."
"Irrefutably." Hotsuma smiled proudly. "He has not let me down yet." He typed away, Akio looked over his shoulder proudly looking at him and his handy work.
Unnaturally loud sounds filled the hall, causing Ryoko cautiously tread toward the door. Opening the door, a full-throated cry pierced the silence. Ryoko stepped out, her saber readied, her blood ran cold as she got closer, the sounds were solely coming from the dining hall. The pirate pressed herself against the porcelain pillar in the hall, seeing a man position over the lifeless body of a woman. Her eyes glared back at her assailant. Ryoko hands covered her mouth, not believing the sight. Haruka, that bastard! Her yellowish-brown orbs snapped to movement from under the table. Ekrem lied in a pool of scarlet blood, her little body crawling toward her. Ryoko slid down reaching out her hand as the man was busy slaying the women. Ryoko took hold of the little hand and pulled her quickly to her.
Holding the child against her, Ryoko heard the rush of footfalls behind her. Reaching her quarters, Ryoko hastily closes the door behind her and successfully latching the door, she laid the injured girl on the bed.
Ryoko held out her arms to the bloody child. "Your neck."
"Mae ajjin elat tat kill anna!" Ekrem pleaded her eyes wide with fear clenching the side of her neck. No sooner as she could instruct the girl to hold the wound with the cloth, she felt herself being yanked back, her body collided with the dresser.
Haruka made the attempt to deliver the final blow to the child but Ryoko was able to reach the back of his vest and hauled him out of the room. The man tumbled and hit the adjacent wall.
Ryoko let out a rageful scream as she kicked and punched him. She clamored as she continued to strike him. He whimpered as his body slid down to the porcelain floor, tainted it with his blood. Ryoko took a deep breath as she staggered back to the doorway, dizziness overcame her. All she heard was the little girls cry and before she knew it, callused hands took hold of her hair.
All she recalled was a glint of silver and intense pain, like a rupture. In her mind's eye, pieces of her life on earth filled her mind, Tenchi's gentle smile…her mother, the family…the day she met Hotsuma…the news of their pregnancy…their wedding.
My baby…
She pivoted towards him, letting out a ferocious cry. With her saber in hand, she thrust the sword into Haruka and drew it back. His eyes went wide, his bloody and grimy teeth spit at her as he chortled. Disgusted, she angled the sword upward piercing his heart, she heard him wheeze and dropped to the ground. He clutched at his wound, his groaned filling the hall. Ryoko snarled then held the saber tall and plunged it down with swiftness.
'Hotsuma!' A strong voice called out to him, "Ryoko!"
"What was that?" He stopped what he was doing and turned his head towards the fortress.
"I-I did not hear anything." Akio retorted softly but tightly held his arm.
"Ryoko. Something happened to her. I feel it." Hotsuma protested as Akio reach out to him, "Release me. I have to go to her." He darted up the path feeling instant panic.
"Hotsuma, wait!"
The blond man sprinted up to the rear of the building, he opened the door nearest to Ryoko's room. The house servants were scattered about grimacing and holler at what they saw. He made his way through the crowd and saw the gore that greeted him in the dining room. The bodies were lined side by side, arms folded over their chest and eyes partially shut. Their limbs neared the stage of rigor, he was not gone long. Darting from the door and sprinted to Ryoko's quarters, the body of Haruka drew him. His eyes stared at the tiles above. Mouth parted and blue. The scarlet liquid leaking and drenching his shirt.
Hotsuma swiveled his head and looked into the room, more servants tended to the little girl and Ryoko who laid lifeless alongside the dead little girl. Time slowed for him, as he tried to understand what ensued. He even cursed himself for leaving her alone. He shuffled over to the side where Ryoko laid.
"Mae ajjin dhir." The physician peers up at Hotsuma, "Ajjin mae ma yalli?"
"Save her." Hotsuma eyes glistened, bending down to kiss Ryoko's forehead.
The physician looked to him solemnly, "Jin yalli tikh vo. I am sorry. Your wife…losing a lot of blood."
Hotsuma studied the physician determination in his eyes, "Anha tikh yer fin mae! I will see to it that I dispose of you if you let her die." The physician quickly beckoned for assistance and immediately attend to Ryoko. Hotsuma comprehended Ryoko healing process was taking place, she would pull through, but he needed to ignite the fire under the staff arse if he will be a
continued presence in the fortress. He saw the backside of Akio, she gazed down at Haruka body being wrapped in the white cloth. Akio held the handkerchief to her nose, shame and insecurities were what she hated most about herself, but she lacked the courage to face them. It was a lot easier to play victim than swallow the reality. Feeling she was watched, she turned looking to the piercing cold eyes of her son.
Swift and burning, Akio rocked under the force using the wall for support. Her blue eyes swam with tears as she straightened herself up, ashamed to look at him.
"Crying now, dear mother." Her sobs slowed to catch her breath. "Crying with style."
"Hotsuma…"
"Because of you…" Hotsuma eyes glowed with animosity, he paused scanning about for something in particular. "Years ago, what was the penalty for stealing?"
"50 lashes, I think it was." She estimated; she quirked a brow.
"25 for the child, and 25 for Ryoko."
"Don't you think that punishment is excessive?"
"Not at all, mother."
"Frankly my son, I am innocent, until proven guilty."
"You reek with guilt." Hotsuma scowled and ordered for his mother to be locked away until Ryoko made a full recovery.
It took all but two weeks for Ryoko to finally step out of bed. She rested alone in the last week, her head felt heavy, her skin felt hypersensitive. The images slipped into her mind like a horror movie, she could not fight it anymore. Instead, she analyzed every scene, who was responsible for the arrangement.
Looking out the window, everything appeared the same.
Her eyes twinkled as sadness overwhelmed her, no longer have the feeling of the most terrible hangover—without the means of drinking. Her hands slide down her flat stomach, a desolate sob escapes her. Pressing her forehead to the window, her gasping wails became louder.
"Princess, what you're doing up?" Hotsuma held her in his arms, supporting her to the bed.
"I am fine."
"You're burning up." He wetted the cloth and folded it, placing it against her forehead. Ryoko gave up and gasped when he lifted her legs to place the pillow under. She was thankful for him, handsome from the depth of his eyes to the gentleness of his voice. Did he ever cry? Has he ever greeted the sun and our child? Has he ever looked to the stars and spoke to our child? His face uttered peace, his body not once slumped. How could he smile, when their world fell apart? She secured the pillow under her cheek feeling his lips at her temple.
Outside of the basement door, the guard rocked slightly, only to straighten at the sound of footfalls approaching. Hotsuma approached with a round tray with a small loaf of bread and a glass of water. The guard opened the door allowing the man in.
Akio head snapped up as a low whistle sounded in the direction of the stairwell before he saw who is approaching. Her long hair was disheveled and her eyes bloodshot, she eyed the tray with ravenousness. Hotsuma slid the tray under the cell door and turned to sit at the table his gaze unwavering.
"Don't you think I have suffered enough?" Akio bit into the hard bread.
"Suffered enough?" He chuckled, "Insomnia is my companion that never quits. My brain is begging for a doze."
"Well, I have you know there are no such quiet moments down here. Rodent scampering about—Where are you going? Open this door!"