Yuki-hime - bishoujosenshi_hime@hotmail.com - PG-13
Lyle sat down, exhuasted from the day's activites. Being King was harder than anything he'd ever thought of. Defeating Rugudorull was the easy part. His thoughts drifted over the people he'd met and how they'd forever changed him. Then to his love, Meria, and then to Ihrie. A smile crossed his features but disappeared quickly. How was he going to succeed running a kingdom by himself?
"Your majesty. I've just received word from the southern part of Reon. They're being attacked by a group of bandits. They said," the court servant looked at his scroll again, "magic users and swordsmen. What shall we do about this problem?"
"Take a small group of soldiers and see what it's like. I want a full report as soon as possible. We need to know everything about the bandits before we take action against them," Lyle ordered. 'What else could possibly go wrong?' he thought.
Ihrie looked at the castle through the trees. It was definitely old looking. Hopefully there would be treasure. After the last journey, they needed some serious money. "Come on guys. W have to find out if there really is any treasure."
"OK, but Ihrie what will we do about Shigeo? Is he coming with us?" Fam asked as she glanced at him.
"I'll be coming. I could be of use to you, Ihrie. And besides, I don't want any treasure that you might find," he replied.
"Then I guess it looks like we are ready," she replied and urged her horse on through the forest. Shigeo smiled at her.
The group made their way towards the forest. Reaching a small opening, the trio stepped off their horses and tied them to the nearest trees before walking to the castle.
Ihrie studied the floor, walls, and ceiling well. She didn't want to be caught in a trap. "Ihrie," Fam whispered.
"What?" she asked as she turned to see her friends. Shigeo was looking at something, when he spoke.
"I think it would be better if we went this way." Ihrie glanced in the direction he was pointing. She didn't notice it when she walked into the room. She nodded and turned to walk toward him when a noise behind her caught her attention. She glanced back and saw a giant razor swinging her way. Then she felt someone push her aside and lay on top of her. "Are you okay?" the voice whispered in her ear.
"Shigeo?" she questioned, not knowing what to do now.
"I'm sorry Ihrie," he said as he heaved himself off her. He extended a hand and she took it, lifting her to her feet.
"Thank you," she whispered and followed him over to where Fam was standing.
"Ihrie! Are you alright?!" concern in her voice.
"Yes, I'm fine," she said and forced a smile. It wasn't the razor that had made her tremble, but the man that had saved her. 'What's wrong with me?!' she screamed to herself. "Come on. We have to find the treasure," she said, taking the lead. And this time being careful not to miss anything in sight. She definitely didn't need to made an ass out of herself again. Or fall into something that she couldn't climb out of.
"Hurry up Migel! By the Gods, you are slow!" Rasha yelled at him. The castle was only a few more yards and they needed the money. Being broke was no fun.
"I'm coming just shut up!" Migel yelled back. Rasha was a pain in the ass. She was always looking for some new power now. Secretly, he thought that after meeting Ihrie, she needed to be better at everything. "How much farther is the castle?"
"Right up here, I can see it through the trees."
"Thank gods," he whispered as he followed the blonde.
"Wow! Migel look at that castle!" Rasha exclaimed.
"Yeah, yeah. Let's get in and out. I want to go get something to eat." Rasha glared at him before walking on.
"I swear! All you think about is food and how many men you've bested!"
"So?" he shurgged his shoulders as he followed her. Rasha stopped at the entrance to the castle. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing," she replied as a sense of familiarity came over her. She pushed it aside and decided that she could figure it out later. A treasure needed to be recovered.
Ihrie stopped as a feeling of familiarity swept over her. She was staring down the hallway before her vision blurred and saw a green field swaying in the wind, and on the next hill, a castle. A new castle by the looks of it. She glanced down at her clothing, and she wasn't wearing her usual armor. Instead, she found a blue dress that swayed with the grass in the wind. Ihrie looked up again and saw a shadowy figure walking towards her. Her black hair flew in her face and she had to pull it away, but the figure no longer stood there. It was just the green hills and a castle. And then suddenly, Ihrie was looking down the hallway of the old castle.
"Are you okay?" Shigeo asked as he looked at her.
"Yes," she replied before moving forward. Whatever had just happened, she definitely didn't want to talk about it. She had feeling that Shigeo didn't believe her answer either, but what could he say to her?
"Ihrie?" Fam questioned as she stepped up beside her friend. She'd blanked out for five minutes and shaking or screaming at her didn't help. She remembered Shigeo's comment about Ihrie's eyes, how they looked blank. Like she wasn't even there anymore. It scared her but what could she do when Ihrie refused to say that anything was wrong?
"Come on Fam. We have a treasure to find. It won't wait around forever," Ihrie said a little short. They didn't have to treat her like a baby. She could take care of herself.
"Coming." Fam looked at Shigeo, who nodded.
Lyle woke in a cold sweat again. It was the same dream he'd been having for a week. And it didn't seem to matter if he was awake or asleep. It was so vivid. Like it had happened, or was to happen. Only, he couldn't seem to make out the woman, she was always blurred. He got out of the bed and put on some proper clothes. He never could sleep after the dream, so he always went to his study.
"Your Highness? What are you doing up so early?" a servant woman asked as he walked into the kitchen.
"I couldn't sleep," he answered with a half smile.
"Well, we can fix that. Warm milk."
"Thank you," he replied as he watched her work. Might as well try it, maybe, if some miracle worked, he could get a few more hours of sleep.
"Are you sure you know where you are going?!" Miguel hissed again.
"Yes." Rasha knew where she was going, she just didn't know if it was the right way to the treasure.
"Yeah right."
"What?!" she screeched out.
"Nothing," Miguel replied as he followed her. Suddenly they came to a big room with four doors. "Now which way?"
She glanced nervously at all four before noticing that one was cracked, not completely shut by whoever used it last. "This one." She walked over and pushed it open the rest of the way. It was a dark hall so she used a small light source to light the way. (AN: If you've ever seen RE, they use floating light bulbs. Sorta, just a short summary.)
"I hope this was the right door," Miguel said to himself before following her in.
"Looks like we made it," Ihrie said as she stood in front of a big door that had elegant engravings and jewels. She hesitated before she opened the door, not completely sure of what was in the room and suddenly not knowing if she wanted to know. But the two behind her was like a silent urge, and the doors were opened to reveal a trunk on the other side of the room. There was plush red carpet and expensive tapestries on the surrounding walls.
"Wow, look at all the beautiful pictures," Fam's voice sounded on the walls. But to Ihrie, the voice was faint. Almost like she was in a room by herself, and they were in an ajoining one.
The trunk seemed to glow and everything else dim as she walked toward her destination. Shigeo's voice was lost to her, and then she was suddenly grabbed from behind and ordered to stop. Ihrie blinked and looked down, the blue dress from earlier was fading to red armor. She noticed arms encircled her mid-section, and felt a hot breath on her neck. She heard her name whispered again and again. Then everything suddenly focused and she found herself in Shigeo's arms with him repeating her name over and over, waiting for her to reply. "What are you doing?!" she heard herself say.
"Trying to get your attention. I guess it worked," he replied as he dropped his arms from around her. "What were you doing?"
She stared at him dumbfoundly, like she didn't know what he was talking about. But in fact, she did. She'd blanked out again. Or would it be faded. All she could remember was that whatever was in that trunk was damn important. Important enough to make her see herself in a blue dress for the second time that day. "I was walking to the trunk. I want to know what's in it." It wasn't really a lie. Shigeo didn't look like he believed her, but did it really matter?
"I think one of us should open it," he said as he walked around her and toward the trunk, only to be thrown back and hit the wall.
Ihrie looked like she expected it and Fam was surprised. "What happened, Ihrie?"
"I don't know."
"Should I..."
"No, I don't want you hurt Fam." She looked at Shigeo, who was standing against the wall, catching his breath. "I didn't cast the spell you know."
"What are you doing here?!" a female voice caught Ihrie's attention. One that she knew.
"Rasha? Miguel? What are you doing here?" Ihrie asked, unaware she was repeating Rasha's question.
"I asked first!"
"Looking for treasure," Ihrie replied as she moved to stand in the path to the trunk.
"Well, if you think that just because we worked together one time that I'm going to let you take what's in that trunk, you are mistaken!" she said and walked past Ihrie and towards the trunk.
"I wouldn't if I were you," came Ihrie's warning.
"And why not," was the reply before Rasha ended up on the other side of the room.
"That's why."
"Miguel," she squeaked as she stood. It was an order that everyone in the room understood. Miguel moved to the trunk, getting the same distance that the others had before being thrown in the general direction of the far wall.
"Why doesn't anyone ever listen to me?" Ihrie whispered to herself as she walked to the trunk. The room faded to the grassy hill that she was on earlier and she wore the same blue dress. The trunk was the only thing different, and the absence of the man. She tentativly touched the trunk and felt a strange tingling in her hand. She jerked it back quickly but the tingling continuted. The glowing was consistent and it didn't seem to have a lock. Ihrie's guess was that there was a spell that kept unwanted visitors from the treasure. So why was she wanted? She didn't hesitate a second time and opened the trunk.
AN: I'd like to say thanks to UltraNova for the name of Lyle's kingdom. It's not Salegeo, it's Reon. DUH! Yuki-hime! *slaps hand on head* I don't know if Reon is spelt right but that's what I'm using.
Does anyone understand time zones? Well, I'm using them in here. Like when Ihrie has that werid vision, it's in the afternoon. And when Lyle has his, it's in the early morning. ^^
Also, thanks to Lynderia, and Shauna for reviewing. Ruin Explorers doesn't get as many reviews as my other ones. Plus, it's a favorite anime of mine! And I think I might focus on this one for a while. It's kinda sparked my interest. I guess I know what I'm going to write about now! ^.^
I was actually suppose to post this last night (2.13.01) but I couldn't even connect so I guess this is everyone's valentine. Happy Heart Day minna!