AN: This is my second attempt at writing this chapter. The first time, it was in a e-mail so i could send it to a friend of mine to read what I had and to myself, but my computer froze and I ended up losing in -_-;;. I was seriously fmeeked off, but I've cooled down enough to try it again...in an e-mail. I don't think it will freeze this time. Knock on wood... ::reaches over and knocks on Tasuki's head:: ^_^v

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When Sadako awoke, she found herself on a cold, stone floor of a prison cell with her wrists bound behind her and rusty shackles around her ankles. She slowly pulled herself up into a sitting position, her head still swimming from the side effects of the potion that was put in her drink. Across the way, Tasuki's unconscious form lay, also bound and shackled. "Tasuki?" she called, attempting to wake him, but it was futile. He drank more than she did. He would no doubt be out for a while. Those glasses were a good size and there was no telling how much poison that hag put in to it.

The squeal of old hinges caused her to start and turn around. The door to the prison slowly swung open, a tall and very muscular man wearing black battle armor stepped in, his face stony with his black, beady eyes sunk deep in their sockets. His oily hair hung in the same ratted way over one of his shoulders as he made his way to the cell and opened the door. "At last we meet face to face, Princess."

Sadako instinctively felt her finger for the ring, but found that it was no longer there. "Where is it, Mashou?" she demanded.

"Where's what? Oh, you mean this?" Lord Mashou reached into a small satchel that was looped on his belt and held the ring out in his palm for her to see. Sadako glared at him.

"Give it back."

"I don't think so my dear. You are going to agree to be my medium into your city."

"Over my dead body!"

Mashou smirked and eyed Tasuki coolly. "You mean over his dead body."

Sadako felt her face blanch as she too turned and looked to him. She knew that Lord Mashou wouldn't hesitate to kill him. She couldn't let that happen, especially after everything that he had done for her so far, and because, most importantly, she had fallen in love with him. After another moment of debating, Sadako finally turned to face Mashou again.

"If I promise to cooperate, will you let him go?"

"Of course, Princess."

"I don't trust you..."

"What good is a has-been bandit to me besides a way of getting you to cooperate with me?"

Sadako bit her bottom lip and glanced back to Tasuki, then sighed heavily. "Alright, Mashou. I agree as long as no harm come to him and you let him go."

Mashou smiled one of his wiry smirks again and snapped his fingers. On command, two guards came in and picked up Tasuki's limp body and began yo carry him out. Mashou stopped them though and said low enough to where Sadako couldn't hear. "Take him to another cell. We still may need him to ensure the Princess will cooperate fully with us."


****

The ride to the capitol of her city seemed to stretch one endlessly for Sadako as she was escorted there by Lord Mashou and his men, unaware that Tasuki was among the dark army. She held her head up high despite the hot tears that coursed down her pallid cheeks. Her eyes were circled with black rings, indicating the sleepless night she previously had. The closer they drew nearer to her kingdom, the closer her country came to utter destruction.

Mashou ordered his men to wait just outside the boarder of the capitol's palace, and then proceeded forward with the princess. The guards at the gates were bewildered when they approached and was reluctant to open the main entrance, but then did so when Sadako gave a nod. People made way for them as the passed, whispering to one another and gaping, but Sadako couldn't bring herself to look at their horrified expressions. This was her fault after all. How could she possibly face her subjects when she was the source of their certain extinction?

As he expected, all the people had gathered in the court yard, and Mashou was able to address them. With a smirk, he slid out of the saddle when he reached the top of the stone steps of the palace, pulling Sadako down with him, and then turned to the people.

"People of Kejuti! As you are aware, you no longer have a queen, and as you know, her rien was put to an end with my own two hands. Here with me is the princess Sadako. Not to disappoint anyone, but she is not here to take the throne. She is here to tell you that she has failed you and has willing given me the Mystic Ring, allowing me to become the ruler of this land!"

There was an eruption of gasps disbelief and cries of protest. Sadako closed her eyes tightly as the focus was turned to her; a hush falling over the crowd as Mashou pushed her forward. She slowly opened her eyes and looked sadly over her anxious subjects, remaining silent for a long moment before answering, "It's true. I have given Lord Mashou the ring!"

Utter chaos broke out at her words, but Mashou's army was quick to respond and charged in to get everything under control. Mashou took Sadako by the arm and pulled her inside the palace along with his horse, that evil smirk still upon his face. She kept her face turned away from him as he did so. Once inside, Mashou took her face in his thick hand and forced her to look at him. "You better get used to this, Princess. You're going to be here at my side for a long."

She glared at him and jerked back from his grip. "I will never serve you, no matter what you do!"

"So stubborn ... your mother was the same way before I killed her."

Enraged, Sadako pulled her hand back and landed a hard blow across his face. Infuriated, Mashou drew back his own hand to strike her, but was stopped as a guard came rushing in.

"Lord Mashou! The prisoner! He's escaped!"