Save My Broken World
*"You!" He screamed. "You wench! What are you doing here!"
"Take that back." Heero said, personification of an ice storm.
"Stop it all of you! What is the meaning of this! Explain! NOW!" The king
bellowed in anger.
"Well, you see your highness, I'm not who we led you to believe. In truth
I'm Usagi and I'm obviously not a mute. Remember me?" That was when the
King finally recognized her. But he didn't get a chance to voice a
response.
"Usagi dear... we thought you were dead. That was what Karmain told
everyone. Come here darling!" The queen was crying as she crushed Usagi
against her. "How are you? What happened?"
"I'm fine. I'm fine." Even she had tears in her eyes. The Queen still
cared for her own well being. That really touched her. "And about what
happened, I'll explain that to everyone."
"I as well." Heero stated, and stood beside Usagi. He grabbed her hand
and held it in his own. Both to encourage her, and also himself. She
smiled up at him.
"Now, before when I had claimed I was innocent to the assembly, Karmain
refused to believe me. Obviously not wanting to be executed, and even
more so since I was innocent, I escaped to Sadhaj. It was the only way I
found to escape. I wanted everyone to just forget about me. Well, a while
after I had been living in Sadhaj, I found Karmain unconscious. I already
knew he was bad news so I purposely searched through his belongings. I
found the documents and took them. Heero came up later, he was the only
one I told where I was going, and told me his sister was getting married.
I went to the wedding, and after that I showed Heero the documents. And
here we are now presenting them to you."
"She is not innocent! And we should not believe her because she lied
about taking the documents! She's untrustworthy! Can't you see that?"
Karmain knew he was in trouble. He would do everything he could to keep
him safe and 'innocent' until the time was right.
"Would you like to tell us your version Usagi, of what happened with the
documents?" The king asked, though she knew it was an order.
"The whole mess began with a little joke. It was taken out of proportion
and revenge became too much a part of the equation, so a practical joke
was played. The first joke was Heero and Duo throwing me in the springs
in the forest wearing only a towel. I got back at Duo by rigging a trap
that, when he opened the door, made manure tumble down on him. He really
didn't like that. He had to get back at me, and when he saw those
documents, he grabbed them and hid them away in my saddle, only to be
revealed later to his parents. His parents confronted me and asked why I
took the papers. When I told them I didn't know anything about their
missing documents, which I didn't know about at the time, they were
furious. For the supposed lie, they came to the decision to press
charges. Duo tried his best to stop them from doing that because he knew
the penalty would be treason. He explained the truth of the matter, but
they believed he said his words to protect me from the trouble I
deserved. They pressed charges. I ran. And that would bring me to my
conclusion, that I am innocent."
"Usagi, you know how much we love you, but we need proof. You know
Heero's parents are very respectable people. Belief would go to them over
you. We need evidence, otherwise my citizens will think I let you go only
because I think of you as my daughter." The king wanted to believe her,
and he did, but he couldn't risk his name being shamed. It would bring
the ring of loss of faith to his people.
"Then bring Duo in," she announced triumphantly. "He doesn't know where
Heero and I are or what we've discussed with you. You can ask him, and
he'll give you the same explanation I did. That will be your proof."
Karmain put his elbow on the table and rested his head in his hand. He
sighed. "Your Majesty, it will just be a waste of your time to bring the
boy in. Just charge her as guilty and be done with it. Case closed."
"Our justice system is better than that. You should know." The King
turned his attention from the Chief of the Assembly. "Please, retrieve
Duo. Speak not a word of what we've discussed. Leave him clueless as to
what's been occurring."
One of his men ran of to preform the task.
"Thanks, King, Queen." She bowed to each.
~~~~~~~~~~~
Knock. A head pooped into the slightly opened door. "Duo is here.
Entrance granted?" The guard sent after Duo asked.
The king looks over to make sure the couple was still hidden behind the
large curtains. "Granted."
Dou walks in looking slightly confused. "What's happening Pops?"
"Duo..." the King growled. "Remember what I said about calling me that,
and especially in public?"
"Sorry, Highness," came the nervous reply. He clears his throat. Cool
composure regained. "My presence was requested and I came. Now, I know
I'm popular with the babes, but they aren't here, so please explain what
I'm doing here."
"It's about the stolen documents and Usagi be placed with the blame.
Could you please tell me what went on that night."
"Why would that matter. Uh, she's dead." Why was the king asking this?
Did he discover that Usagi was still alive somehow?
"Just do it Duo." The king ended with a growl as a warning. He better
start cooperating.
"Right. My bro and I played a trick on Usagi. She played one back on me.
To get revenge, which went out of control, I put my parents documents in
her saddle bag. I just expected them to yell at her and she'd be
embarrassed and stuff. Then I would come in to save her by explaining the
truth. But it all happened so fast, that by the time I had explain,
everything was way out of control and they were going to press charges.
And Usagi was gone so I couldn't even tell her what really was going on.
It was all just a joke that got WAY out of hand. But she's dead now, so I
don't see how that matters."
Usagi creeps out from behind the curtain, sneaks behind Duo, and covers
his eyes with her hands. "Guess who?"
Duo looks puzzled. Then he grabs her hands and spins around. "Usagi! Ah!!
She's back from the dead! Run!!"
"Duo, chill!" She was laughing. "They know I'm alive, and of the same
truth you just told. You my dear friend, were the proof of my innocence."
"Cool." Duo smirked. "See, I'm still your knight in shining armor."
"Duo..." Heero didn't much like that comment. "I'm her knight," he said
and pulled her against his chest.
"Ahem." The king got their attention. "While you talked, I talked with
the Assembly. Usagi, you're innocent and free to live as you like as of
this moment. We're also very sorry about the mistakes. It won't happen
again. I'll talk with Dou's parents and let them know that Duo told them
the truth and that you were innocent all around."
"Thanks. Dad, Mom," Usagi said to the King and Queen. Rare it was that
she called them that, but that's what they were to her.
They were very happy to hear Usagi call them that, because to them she
was their daughter. Rare was it that she called them those names, it was
reserved for something special.
"Well, now that that's taken care of." Karmain stood to go, but the kings
dangerous voice stopped him.
"Where are you going? Don't you remember the documents. Sit, boy. We need
to talk."*
*"You!" He screamed. "You wench! What are you doing here!"
"Take that back." Heero said, personification of an ice storm.
"Stop it all of you! What is the meaning of this! Explain! NOW!" The king
bellowed in anger.
"Well, you see your highness, I'm not who we led you to believe. In truth
I'm Usagi and I'm obviously not a mute. Remember me?" That was when the
King finally recognized her. But he didn't get a chance to voice a
response.
"Usagi dear... we thought you were dead. That was what Karmain told
everyone. Come here darling!" The queen was crying as she crushed Usagi
against her. "How are you? What happened?"
"I'm fine. I'm fine." Even she had tears in her eyes. The Queen still
cared for her own well being. That really touched her. "And about what
happened, I'll explain that to everyone."
"I as well." Heero stated, and stood beside Usagi. He grabbed her hand
and held it in his own. Both to encourage her, and also himself. She
smiled up at him.
"Now, before when I had claimed I was innocent to the assembly, Karmain
refused to believe me. Obviously not wanting to be executed, and even
more so since I was innocent, I escaped to Sadhaj. It was the only way I
found to escape. I wanted everyone to just forget about me. Well, a while
after I had been living in Sadhaj, I found Karmain unconscious. I already
knew he was bad news so I purposely searched through his belongings. I
found the documents and took them. Heero came up later, he was the only
one I told where I was going, and told me his sister was getting married.
I went to the wedding, and after that I showed Heero the documents. And
here we are now presenting them to you."
"She is not innocent! And we should not believe her because she lied
about taking the documents! She's untrustworthy! Can't you see that?"
Karmain knew he was in trouble. He would do everything he could to keep
him safe and 'innocent' until the time was right.
"Would you like to tell us your version Usagi, of what happened with the
documents?" The king asked, though she knew it was an order.
"The whole mess began with a little joke. It was taken out of proportion
and revenge became too much a part of the equation, so a practical joke
was played. The first joke was Heero and Duo throwing me in the springs
in the forest wearing only a towel. I got back at Duo by rigging a trap
that, when he opened the door, made manure tumble down on him. He really
didn't like that. He had to get back at me, and when he saw those
documents, he grabbed them and hid them away in my saddle, only to be
revealed later to his parents. His parents confronted me and asked why I
took the papers. When I told them I didn't know anything about their
missing documents, which I didn't know about at the time, they were
furious. For the supposed lie, they came to the decision to press
charges. Duo tried his best to stop them from doing that because he knew
the penalty would be treason. He explained the truth of the matter, but
they believed he said his words to protect me from the trouble I
deserved. They pressed charges. I ran. And that would bring me to my
conclusion, that I am innocent."
"Usagi, you know how much we love you, but we need proof. You know
Heero's parents are very respectable people. Belief would go to them over
you. We need evidence, otherwise my citizens will think I let you go only
because I think of you as my daughter." The king wanted to believe her,
and he did, but he couldn't risk his name being shamed. It would bring
the ring of loss of faith to his people.
"Then bring Duo in," she announced triumphantly. "He doesn't know where
Heero and I are or what we've discussed with you. You can ask him, and
he'll give you the same explanation I did. That will be your proof."
Karmain put his elbow on the table and rested his head in his hand. He
sighed. "Your Majesty, it will just be a waste of your time to bring the
boy in. Just charge her as guilty and be done with it. Case closed."
"Our justice system is better than that. You should know." The King
turned his attention from the Chief of the Assembly. "Please, retrieve
Duo. Speak not a word of what we've discussed. Leave him clueless as to
what's been occurring."
One of his men ran of to preform the task.
"Thanks, King, Queen." She bowed to each.
~~~~~~~~~~~
Knock. A head pooped into the slightly opened door. "Duo is here.
Entrance granted?" The guard sent after Duo asked.
The king looks over to make sure the couple was still hidden behind the
large curtains. "Granted."
Dou walks in looking slightly confused. "What's happening Pops?"
"Duo..." the King growled. "Remember what I said about calling me that,
and especially in public?"
"Sorry, Highness," came the nervous reply. He clears his throat. Cool
composure regained. "My presence was requested and I came. Now, I know
I'm popular with the babes, but they aren't here, so please explain what
I'm doing here."
"It's about the stolen documents and Usagi be placed with the blame.
Could you please tell me what went on that night."
"Why would that matter. Uh, she's dead." Why was the king asking this?
Did he discover that Usagi was still alive somehow?
"Just do it Duo." The king ended with a growl as a warning. He better
start cooperating.
"Right. My bro and I played a trick on Usagi. She played one back on me.
To get revenge, which went out of control, I put my parents documents in
her saddle bag. I just expected them to yell at her and she'd be
embarrassed and stuff. Then I would come in to save her by explaining the
truth. But it all happened so fast, that by the time I had explain,
everything was way out of control and they were going to press charges.
And Usagi was gone so I couldn't even tell her what really was going on.
It was all just a joke that got WAY out of hand. But she's dead now, so I
don't see how that matters."
Usagi creeps out from behind the curtain, sneaks behind Duo, and covers
his eyes with her hands. "Guess who?"
Duo looks puzzled. Then he grabs her hands and spins around. "Usagi! Ah!!
She's back from the dead! Run!!"
"Duo, chill!" She was laughing. "They know I'm alive, and of the same
truth you just told. You my dear friend, were the proof of my innocence."
"Cool." Duo smirked. "See, I'm still your knight in shining armor."
"Duo..." Heero didn't much like that comment. "I'm her knight," he said
and pulled her against his chest.
"Ahem." The king got their attention. "While you talked, I talked with
the Assembly. Usagi, you're innocent and free to live as you like as of
this moment. We're also very sorry about the mistakes. It won't happen
again. I'll talk with Dou's parents and let them know that Duo told them
the truth and that you were innocent all around."
"Thanks. Dad, Mom," Usagi said to the King and Queen. Rare it was that
she called them that, but that's what they were to her.
They were very happy to hear Usagi call them that, because to them she
was their daughter. Rare was it that she called them those names, it was
reserved for something special.
"Well, now that that's taken care of." Karmain stood to go, but the kings
dangerous voice stopped him.
"Where are you going? Don't you remember the documents. Sit, boy. We need
to talk."*