Chapter 4: Hidden Past
A/N: ^.~ Enjoy.
DISCLAIMER: Look at PREVIOUS CHAPTERS!
Sigh, me too lazy to write disclaimers. A peek into Eboshi¡¯s mind is all I can say. ^^ Hope this comes out in italics, and I hope everyone doesn¡¯t mind reading in italics. (Sorta changed the story format, hope it comes out right!)
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The little girl was running through a dark hallway, stumbling over her bare feet and panting from exertion, she was probably no older than 12, she winced as her knees hit the cold stone floor, after falling for the umpteenth time. She got up and ran even faster. The glow of torches and yells grew louder, gaining on the little girl; she made several sharp turns but was completely unsure as to where she was, or how to get out.
¡°Where did that little wench go?¡± a man snarled. The little girl quickly about-faced and ran the other way, praying to all the gods to save her from her pursuers in the horrid fortress. She made a few more turns but ran head-on into an ambush, surprised as a few muscular men grabbed her roughly by the shoulders, they threw her in front of a richly dressed man who looked at the little girl with evident disgust.
¡°Throw her into the dungeons, no food until she learns to respect her superiors.¡± The man said coldly, the soldiers dragged the little girl, now kicking and screaming curses, down a long flight of stairs only to throw her into a dank cell. There was complete silence except for the sounds of rats panicking from the sudden disturbance of the little girl¡¯s entrance. The little girl wrinkled her nose before settling herself down in a little corner, hugging her knees to her chest, silently sobbing in her ragged graying dress. However, she wasn¡¯t aware of the figure that was hiding, watching her from the shadows. The little girl was surprised when someone closed their arms around her, holding her protectively and whispering soothing words to her.
¡°It¡¯s alright, I heard everything, don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m here.¡± The figure said, his voice was very soft but had a hint of rebelliousness in it.
¡°Who are you?¡± the little girl whimpered.
¡°A friend, I was also thrown in here as punishment for speaking out against my-¡± the boy paused. ¡°I mean, for insulting milord.¡±
The little girl relaxed but retorted, ¡°You aren¡¯t a country boy, I can tell, I¡¯ve never heard such a horribly imitated accent. So who are you?¡±
¡°Er, well, you could say a relative to Lord Asano.¡± The boy said matter-of-factly. ¡°My presence annoys Lord Asano so I¡¯m always thrown in here. I¡¯ve gotten used to it, and the darkness. Plus, I¡¯m a good friend with the inmates.¡±
¡°I see, and Mister Asano would lock up one of his own ¡®relatives?¡¯ I¡¯ve never heard of anyone so cruel, the bastard! (A/N: little cursing, bear with me)¡± the little girl cursed.
¡°Shh, Don¡¯t say that, you¡¯ll get into bigger trouble if one of the guards hear you.¡± The boy said. ¡°So, what¡¯s your name?¡±
¡°Eboshi.¡± Eboshi replied.
¡°Eboshi-chan, ne? That¡¯s a nice name.¡± The boy mused.
¡°Thanks, what¡¯s yours?¡± Eboshi said.
¡°Err... You can refer to me as Kano. That¡¯s what everyone calls me here.¡± Kano replied.
¡°Kano-kun? Is that your nickname?¡± Eboshi asked.
¡°Yeah, sorta.¡± Kano said.
¡°Then... Can you help me get out?¡± Eboshi asked, eyes glimmering with hope.
¡°That¡¯s suicide...¡± Kano said, but trailed off when he saw Eboshi¡¯s disappointment. ¡°If you don¡¯t know where you¡¯re going, I suggest you take a weeks worth of food and follow the river, I¡¯m sure the guards wouldn¡¯t organize a search for you so you might be able to make a new life there.¡±
¡°Thanks!¡± Eboshi said with renewed enthusiasm, and hugged Kano; she still couldn¡¯t make out his face because it was still to dark, but upon closer proximity she could see that he was obviously one of royalty. ¡°But, where am I going to get the food?¡±
¡°We could wait until my rations come, I keep some of the biscuits as a snack when I get hungry, but I¡¯ll give them all to you, I¡¯ll you my blanket for a bag too.¡± Kano said reassuringly. ¡°You can escape by digging a hole out, especially after it rains, the ground is soft, and I have a pocket knife to dig with.¡±
¡°What about you? Won¡¯t you be hungry?¡± Eboshi inquired. ¡°And when can I leave?¡±
¡°Don¡¯t worry! I¡¯ll ask for more, Lord Asano may hate me, but he still cares enough to keep me alive. I¡¯ll be fine.¡± Kano answered. ¡°As for when you leave... tomorrow night at most, if you eat little during your journey, you¡¯ll have enough to go on by yourself for awhile.¡±
¡°There a lot of refugees there, I¡¯m certain that you¡¯ll be welcomed, you can build your home out of the wood from the Shishigami Forest.¡± Kano added.
¡°Shishigami Forest?¡± Eboshi asked.
¡°A forest ruled by the god Shishigami, they say if you look at him directly he¡¯ll blind you because he represents goodness and light. Others say he¡¯s a demon set out to kill humans with the inhabitants of the forest.¡± Kano said, but didn¡¯t seem to believe a word he was saying. ¡°Be careful, they say there are mountain dogs in the forest, and boars, lots of wild boars...¡± but little Eboshi had fallen asleep.
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Little dream Eboshi has, or at least, one of her memories. Don¡¯t worry! Eboshi wakes up next chapter, so this little snippet DOES have something to do with the plot. *Hint, hint, wink, wink, nudge, nudge*
