Chapter2 (Touma to the Rescue)
Lord Toshitada, known to his friends as Shuten, smiled to himself. He had nearly fallen for the Lady's attempt to drive him away, but then he had begun to think as he packed. The main reason he had asked for the girl's hand was because he had observed her before. The fact that he had set spies on her helped as well, but that was not the point. The point was that he knew for a fact that the display he had been treated to was not her normal behavior. That could only mean one thing, a secret lover her father did not approve of. Shuten had seen this often enough at court and knew just how to deal with it, eliminate the cause of disturbance.
"It is a very unfortunate turn of events when a man discovers that the source of his daughter's misbehavior is due to the manipulation of an older man." Shuten went on smoothly ignoring Nasuti's look of distaste. "Such a shame that the great heir to the Date clan would stoop so low as to seduce the daughter of a great man when he is betrothed to another." Nasuti's gasp and the tightening of Seiji's face told him he had struck a nerve. It had yet to be announced that Seiji's family had arranged a match between him and a lady of the court, but Shuten's spies had made sure he was the first to know. And the news was working to his advantage. Nasuti's father was already beginning to form an idea of what was going on and it was not a pretty picture.
"You would seduce my daughter when you have been promised to another?" Lord Yagyu asked in disbelief. "You would make a fool of me? I had thought you an honorable man, Lord Date, but I see that you are not to be trusted near my daughter. I now banish you from my lands." Nasuti cried out at his proclamation but Seiji's hand in hers kept her from striking anyone. Lord Yagyu saw this and his face grew darker. "Because I respect your family, your life is spared, but be warned. Should I find you within sight of my daughter, I will send you back to your family missing a limb. Nasuti, come here. Now!" Nasuti turned her tear streaked face to look at Seiji. He nodded, silently telling her that this was not the last they would see of each other. Understanding the look she saw in his eyes, Nasuti walked towards her father with a bowed head. Lord Yagyu turned to leave, his daughter safely tucked by his side to prevent her from escape. Seiji watched them go; rage burning is his mind towards the man who still stood in the clearing with him. Shuten only laughed.
"You shouldn't let your final glimpse of the one you love be one filled with hate and anger. It will send bad spirits to the wedding bed." Shuten said smugly. It was taking all Seiji had not to knock the look of victory off of his face. He may have exposed them this time, but it would take time before an actual ceremony took place. In that time he would have Touma and Ryo help him sneak Nasuti out and they would run off together. He just needed time to plan.
Of all the words one might use to describe Lord Shuten, stupid was not one of them. He knew that the young man beside him would attempt to take Nasuti away, and he was not about to allow that to happen.
"Whatever scheme you are creating in that thoughtful mind of yours, I suggest you kill it right now. You will never see the lady Nasuti again; I intend to make sure of it. And fast" this last was thought to himself as he heard the approach of others through the bushes. He should have known that Lord Date's friends would be nearby, but it was of no consequence. In fact, it just might make what he was about to do even easier. The sound of a sword being drawn rang through the clearing and caused Touma and Ryo (hurrying to the clearing) to pause.
"You don't think that Lord Yagyu would actually..?" Touma didn't finish as Ryo took off at a faster pace. If there was a chance they could save their friend's life, they would have to move fast to do so. By the time they reached the clearing, a second sword had been drawn and the forest now rang with the sounds of fighting.
Seiji night not have been prepared for Shuten's attack, but he would be damned if he let Shuten know that. One thing was obvious now and that was that if Shuten would go against Lord Yagyu's orders that Seiji was to leave his lands alive, then it boded ill for Nasuti should she be allowed to wed with him. Seiji would kill this man or die trying.
Shuten laughed inside at Seiji. He was good, he would give him that. But he had no chance of winning against him, Shuten. Shuten laughed as he thought of how he should break the news to Nasuti.
"Tell me, boy, how do you think your lady will take it when she finds you dead?"
"I don't have to think about it because she won't find me dead." Their swords met in a ringing of metal that caused Touma and Ryo to race even faster than before. Breaking through the brush, they were just in time to see Seiji's sword go through Shuten's side. Shuten gasped in shock. Seiji wasn't supposed to win, he was supposed to die. Ryo was closet and called out to Seiji.
"I see we rushed to your defense for nothing." Seiji's face showed no sign of amusement.
"This scum told Lord Yagyu about the betrothal my family seeks with another clan." At his words the color ran out of his friends faces.
"Shall we just kill him then?" Ryo asked. His hand was already going for his sword as he spoke but Seiji shook his head.
"No, we must plan on how we will free my lady. Her father will keep better watch over her now. And ARgh!" Seiji's words cut off in a gurgle in front of his friends' horrified eyes watched him slump into Touma's arms to reveal the dagger in his back.
"NO! SAGE!" Mia's scream rang through the house waking everyone within hearing distance.
So who's curious as to what happens to the star crossed lovers? I warn you now, form this point on its beaucoup flashbacks and Anubis (Shuten) in ghost form. And of course, lots of Nasuti (Mia)/ Ronin goodness to satisfy everyone.
Lord Toshitada, known to his friends as Shuten, smiled to himself. He had nearly fallen for the Lady's attempt to drive him away, but then he had begun to think as he packed. The main reason he had asked for the girl's hand was because he had observed her before. The fact that he had set spies on her helped as well, but that was not the point. The point was that he knew for a fact that the display he had been treated to was not her normal behavior. That could only mean one thing, a secret lover her father did not approve of. Shuten had seen this often enough at court and knew just how to deal with it, eliminate the cause of disturbance.
"It is a very unfortunate turn of events when a man discovers that the source of his daughter's misbehavior is due to the manipulation of an older man." Shuten went on smoothly ignoring Nasuti's look of distaste. "Such a shame that the great heir to the Date clan would stoop so low as to seduce the daughter of a great man when he is betrothed to another." Nasuti's gasp and the tightening of Seiji's face told him he had struck a nerve. It had yet to be announced that Seiji's family had arranged a match between him and a lady of the court, but Shuten's spies had made sure he was the first to know. And the news was working to his advantage. Nasuti's father was already beginning to form an idea of what was going on and it was not a pretty picture.
"You would seduce my daughter when you have been promised to another?" Lord Yagyu asked in disbelief. "You would make a fool of me? I had thought you an honorable man, Lord Date, but I see that you are not to be trusted near my daughter. I now banish you from my lands." Nasuti cried out at his proclamation but Seiji's hand in hers kept her from striking anyone. Lord Yagyu saw this and his face grew darker. "Because I respect your family, your life is spared, but be warned. Should I find you within sight of my daughter, I will send you back to your family missing a limb. Nasuti, come here. Now!" Nasuti turned her tear streaked face to look at Seiji. He nodded, silently telling her that this was not the last they would see of each other. Understanding the look she saw in his eyes, Nasuti walked towards her father with a bowed head. Lord Yagyu turned to leave, his daughter safely tucked by his side to prevent her from escape. Seiji watched them go; rage burning is his mind towards the man who still stood in the clearing with him. Shuten only laughed.
"You shouldn't let your final glimpse of the one you love be one filled with hate and anger. It will send bad spirits to the wedding bed." Shuten said smugly. It was taking all Seiji had not to knock the look of victory off of his face. He may have exposed them this time, but it would take time before an actual ceremony took place. In that time he would have Touma and Ryo help him sneak Nasuti out and they would run off together. He just needed time to plan.
Of all the words one might use to describe Lord Shuten, stupid was not one of them. He knew that the young man beside him would attempt to take Nasuti away, and he was not about to allow that to happen.
"Whatever scheme you are creating in that thoughtful mind of yours, I suggest you kill it right now. You will never see the lady Nasuti again; I intend to make sure of it. And fast" this last was thought to himself as he heard the approach of others through the bushes. He should have known that Lord Date's friends would be nearby, but it was of no consequence. In fact, it just might make what he was about to do even easier. The sound of a sword being drawn rang through the clearing and caused Touma and Ryo (hurrying to the clearing) to pause.
"You don't think that Lord Yagyu would actually..?" Touma didn't finish as Ryo took off at a faster pace. If there was a chance they could save their friend's life, they would have to move fast to do so. By the time they reached the clearing, a second sword had been drawn and the forest now rang with the sounds of fighting.
Seiji night not have been prepared for Shuten's attack, but he would be damned if he let Shuten know that. One thing was obvious now and that was that if Shuten would go against Lord Yagyu's orders that Seiji was to leave his lands alive, then it boded ill for Nasuti should she be allowed to wed with him. Seiji would kill this man or die trying.
Shuten laughed inside at Seiji. He was good, he would give him that. But he had no chance of winning against him, Shuten. Shuten laughed as he thought of how he should break the news to Nasuti.
"Tell me, boy, how do you think your lady will take it when she finds you dead?"
"I don't have to think about it because she won't find me dead." Their swords met in a ringing of metal that caused Touma and Ryo to race even faster than before. Breaking through the brush, they were just in time to see Seiji's sword go through Shuten's side. Shuten gasped in shock. Seiji wasn't supposed to win, he was supposed to die. Ryo was closet and called out to Seiji.
"I see we rushed to your defense for nothing." Seiji's face showed no sign of amusement.
"This scum told Lord Yagyu about the betrothal my family seeks with another clan." At his words the color ran out of his friends faces.
"Shall we just kill him then?" Ryo asked. His hand was already going for his sword as he spoke but Seiji shook his head.
"No, we must plan on how we will free my lady. Her father will keep better watch over her now. And ARgh!" Seiji's words cut off in a gurgle in front of his friends' horrified eyes watched him slump into Touma's arms to reveal the dagger in his back.
"NO! SAGE!" Mia's scream rang through the house waking everyone within hearing distance.
So who's curious as to what happens to the star crossed lovers? I warn you now, form this point on its beaucoup flashbacks and Anubis (Shuten) in ghost form. And of course, lots of Nasuti (Mia)/ Ronin goodness to satisfy everyone.
