AN: HEY! I'm back! Sorry it took so long, I was on vacation, and it's kinda hard to get anything typed when you lack a computer…duh. But I did get some ideas down for future reference, so no worries. I've had a bad case of "I don't like how this story is going…" It just doesn't seem right. I dunno, what can I do to make it better? Im a perfectionist at heart, so don't go and flame me, but a few helpful pointers would be great. Thanks for reading so far, and I'll pick up from the cliffhanger-that-wasn't from like two chapters ago…
Chapter 4
Rui's POV
Around midnight, a little after the bandit leader had dragged the girl off into his tent, the other bandits started dropping like flies.
One by one, they fell to the hard-packed ground, flasks of alcohol breaking. It was about time the drug took affect. I was beginning to worry that they had some kind of freakish immunity to the stuff. It would make some sense though…I mean they were bandits.
But it worked. They all passed out. At least I think they weren't dead. With this bunch you could never be sure of anything. So I waited another five minutes to see if they were out for the long haul. Not a twitch.
I stood up from the shadows and walked over to the supplies. I stuffed as much food and other necessities as I could into a sack. I tied the sack onto the horse that I had waiting for me. Everything was ready. Finally after years of being their dog, I was getting away. There was only one little problem. I had to save the girl too.
She was, after all, my miko.
I brought the horse around to the tent, careful not to wake the bandits. The lantern had burned low; the flickering light created haunting shadows on the stretched canvas. Pulling out the two daggers I, quite literally, kept hidden up my sleeve, I crept into the tent.
At first I could only make out one shape on the ground. I was guessing the leader had also passed out from the drink and that the shape was him. But where was the girl?
"Hey, girl!" I hissed into the silence, looking around for her. I really didn't have time for this. Then something caught my eye, an extra pair of arms sticking out from beneath the bandit.
Shit! I'm too late I thought. I ran over to the girl who was partially covered by the leader's bulk…but no. She was still fully clothed; he hadn't gotten to her. He must have passed out just in time. I took hold of the man's shoulder and dragged him off of her. He was so far gone that he only muttered something under his breath and went back to his drunken stupor.
I looked down at the girl. It looked like she had fainted. That was not going to be much help. I picked her up, careful of her head. We had to get out of there, now. I didn't even dare to think about what would happen when they woke up.
I walked out of the tent and pushed her up onto the horse. Her hands and feet were still bound, I didn't have time to fix that right then, so she ended up sitting sidesaddle. I swung up behind her and kicked the horse forward.
Freedom.
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Ari's POVAri kept her eyes closed as her mind slowly woke up. So warm…She snuggled closer to the source of heat. She realized that she was wrapped up in a blanket and that she was somehow moving…Hold it!
Her eyes snapped open and she looked up into the blushing face of the red-haired bandit from earlier. He pulled away from her slightly and she realized three things: it was daylight, she was on a horse and much to her embarrassment, had been sleeping in the arms of her kidnapper.
She sat up stiffly, trying to put as much room between her and her new captor.
He looked down at her. "Quite moving around so much. You'll spook the horse."
She turned around to face him. "What's going on?"
"We got away."
"I can see that. But how? And why? And…could you PLEASE, just tell me what the hell is going on!?"
The mare underneath them sidestepped nervously, so he walked her over to the side of the road and said, "Maybe it's time for a rest." He swung over the side leaving Ari glaring down at him from up on the horse. He led the mare through the soft grass on the side of the road. They had left the forest about an hour before sunrise, and by the look of it, it was almost noon.
Ari took in her new setting as she kept her precarious balance on the horse. Her feet and hands were still bound. This sent a jolt of fear down her spine. If he was saving her, then why was she still strung up?
They reached a tree far from the road and stopped. He pulled the packs down and proceeded to set up camp. He stooped and pulled a knife out of one of the packs and turned to her. Ari tensed up, ready to kick out at him with her bound feet. He noticed this and froze a few feet away.
"Listen. I'm not gonna hurt ya. Okay? I'm just going to cut you free. Is that okay? Can I do that without you kicking my head in?"
She stared angrily at him and said, "How am I supposed to trust you?"
Annoyed, he crossed his arms across his chest, the knife glinting in the sunlight. "I thought I told you. You are from this other world right? So that means that you are the Suzaku no Miko, remember? And the purpose of the Suzaku no miko is to save this country, my country, from total destruction. Therefore, it is in my best interest to keep you alive and well. Okay? Now, let me cut you free!"
Ari held still as the knife cut through the ropes. Once free she tried to slide down the horse but her feet were still weak from the bonds and refused to hold her. She stumbled and would have fallen if he hadn't caught her. He helped her over to the tree and sat her down in the shade. Blushing, she rubbed her angles and wrists, trying to get the blood flowing again.
He turned back to the packs and started pulling out food.
Ari looked at him. "Who are you? Why did you save me? How did you save me?" The bandit let out an audible sigh and tied the sacks shut with a jerk. He turned to her and gave her a chunk of bread. He sat down facing her and said, "Full of questions, aren't you?"
"Wouldn't you be? I mean come on! I've been transported to a different world, kidnapped by bandits, almost raped, and now I'm here with you. What else am I supposed to be besides curious, if not extremely pissed?"
His eyes narrowed. "I am sorry about back there. I would have saved you sooner, but I had to wait for them to fall asleep. There wasn't anything I could do." He seemed upset about the whole thing. Ari leaded over, trying to get a look at his face.
Gently this time, she asked, "So what happened?"
He sat up and stared out into the field. "Well, when I was unloading the horses for the night, I slipped a little something extra I had gotten from the last village we…visited…into their drink. They all passed out. I stole the horse, the supplies, and you. It looked like the leader had fallen asleep atop you, so I pulled him off and we left. We've been riding for hours since then. You slept through the whole thing…My name is Akariu, by the way. Just call me Rui."
Ari remembered the bandits calling him by that name and nodded. "I'm Ari. Thank you for saving me. I know I haven't been…very nice…" She mentally cringed at the understatement. "…But I am grateful."
He leaned against the tree and put his arms behind his head. "Don't worry about it. It must be tough…I understand."
"So now what do we do?"
"We are going to take a nap, and then leave for the capital at sundown. It's too hot to travel at midday. Better to wait until nightfall. Besides…you stick out like a sore thumb in this place. Hold on," He stood up and pulled a shirt and leggings out of the pack. "Your clothes look like they're beyond saving, not to mention out of place. Put these on." She looked down at what was left of her torn shirt and khakis. A flush crept over her cheeks.
"Go over there and change. Don't worry, I won't peek." He laughed as she blushed even more. "Just give a yell if there's trouble." He turned around, and seemingly, went to sleep.
Ari walked over to the bushes he had mentioned and pulled the rural fabrics on. The trousers almost fit, after she had rolled the hems up, but she practically swam in the shirt. Even with the sleeves rolled up, it was too big. She sighed and adjusted the cloth again. This was not going to be very comfortable.
She walked back into the shade of the tree and looked down at Rui. Nudging him with her toe, "Hey. I'm decent." He cracked one eye open and squinted up at her. Sitting up he looked at her for a while then said, "You still look like a girl."
"I am a girl." She replied indifferently.
"Yeah, but that's gonna change." He pulled a string from out of the pack along with a deep red sash. He hesitated before giving the red silk to her. "Tie your hair back with this," he said pointing to the string. "And bind your chest with this," he said holding the sash out to her, distinctly not looking at anything.
She nodded, went back to her changing spot, and did as she was told. Walking back to the shade she sat down to wait for the sun to go down.
Shifting the sash under her shirt, she thought, This is definitely not going to be comfortable. Ari pulled her knees up to her chest and looked at Rui. Her captor/savior had his eyes closed and seemed to be asleep. She couldn't blame him. He probably didn't sleep at all last night. He had to pay attention to where we were going.
In the afternoon sunlight of the glade, Ari let her mind wander. Suzaku no miko, hmm? Well if that's the way to get me home…Home…I wonder if people have noticed I'm gone. She blinked back tears. No more crying. It's not helping you any. She sniffed and leaned her head back to look at the sky. So I guess I have to follow this Rui person to the emperor…and then I have to find seven warriors? Was that what he'd said the other night? I can't remember…my head still hurts. She put her hand to the back of her head and felt the bump. Ouch.
Ari turned her head to look at the sleeping man. He's pretty young. I wonder what his story is. Doesn't look like the type to open up to a complete stranger though. I guess I'm stuck with him. It's not like I have anywhere else to go. And he seems nice enough… Her eyes traced the strong outline of his face. His dark red hair clashed with the green of the grass behind his head. Nice enough is an understatement. Ari looked away when she realized that she was staring.
Good grief. Don't go falling in love with this guy. You don't even know him. He could be a homicidal maniac or something; you know all the cute ones are crazy.
But he's been so nice to me…Another part of her mind argued with her. She sighed in frustration. He's been nice to me because I'm supposed to save his country. Wake up Ari. Think of where you are. You're in the middle of nowhere…literally…and you basically have a world to save. Don't bother with this guy. You've got more important things to worry about.
Leaning back into the cool grass, her eyes drifted closed. …More important things to worry about…and she fell asleep in the warm midday sun.
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Ari woke up, startled by the scream of the horse. She looked around in the fading light and saw the trouble they were in. Rui was crouching next to her, both knives ready to fight their attackers. The shadowed forms had them surrounded. The bandits had caught up with them.
"'Bout time you woke up." Rui hissed down at her.
Her eyes darted around looking for an escape. "No shit."
The leader stepped forward into the remaining light. "Thought you could just take off with our horse and our woman, did you, runt?" He snarled at Rui.
Ari growled at being put on the same level of value as the horse and stood up. "Give me a knife." She held her hand out to Rui. He looked at her as if she had lost her mind.
"You can't fight."
"Just give me a damn knife!"
He slid the cool steel of a hilt into her hand and turned back to the bandits. "Fine, but the leader's mine." With that he lunged at the bandit. He jumped up and sliced at his chest with almost superhuman speed. Ari gawked at the fight but then her eyes fell back on her own troubles. It was time to see whether or not she really could take care of herself.
There was one bandit in front of her, grinning. She recognized him as the one who had taunted her the most before. And now his buddies stood back to watch her lose to this one moron. Their mistake, she thought as she stepped in.
The bandit took a few lazy swings at her; he was toying with her. Insulted, she lunged in and swiped him across the cheek. He laughed at her as she took a step back, surprised at her own boldness. Blood dripped down his chin. He stepped in, more ready for her this time.
Ari swung at his chest but he caught her arm with his hand, twisting it up behind her back. She dropped the knife with a yelp of pain and anger. With her back to her opponent she could see Rui's fight. Rui was fast and the leader was covered in gashes, but the bigger one was winning. Rui had blood running down the side of his face from a wound at his temple. (AN: sound familiar at all?) The bandit was bigger, stronger, and deadlier. His speed wasn't enough; Rui was losing.
Ari's captor ran his hand through her hair. "Don't worry, pretty one. He'll be dead soon. The boss has never lost a fight. And this tike has no chance." She flinched away from him as his hands got bolder. She pulled her knee up and stomped on his toe as hard as she could.
He let her go and grabbed his foot in his hands. Hopping around in pain, he yelled at the others to get her. Grabbing her knife from the dirt, she crouched low, ready to face any attackers.
However, she wasn't expecting to be hit from above. Her eyes clouded over with pain. Why do they always go for the head?
The bandit who clubbed her, caught her as she fell to the ground. "You're more trouble than you're worth, girl."
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Rui was struggling against the outlaw. His speed couldn't make up for the difference in size and strength. The thug even looked like he might be enjoying the fight. Time to pick up the pace.
Rui stepped back far enough to get out of reach. The bandit followed. He kept moving back until the tree was behind him. The leader grinned, thinking that he had Rui cornered.
"Time to die, whelp!" He snarled as he took the final swing. Rui placed a foot to the trunk of the tree, dodged the blow and pushed off from the base.
The leader fell to the ground, his gut pierced by Rui's knife. Rui pulled his weapon out of the body and turned to find the others.
He was not all that surprised to see that Ari was holding her own. It looked like she had just broken one bandit's foot. And the bandit was none too happy about it. Rui started running when he saw her clubbed over the head and fall to the ground.
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Ari opened her eyes to see Rui fighting off all the bandits that had been watching her own fight just minutes before. He wasn't much more than a blur of steel and muscle. Wow, he's fast. Sooner than she could have ever hoped to overcome the bunch he was standing over their bodies, breathing deeply. He turned to her and crouched down.
"You okay?"
"Asides from the obvious brain damage I've received in the past day or two, I'm fine." She touched the back of her skull gingerly. "Why do they always go for the head?"
He chuckled as he gripped her arm and helped her up. "You're easier to deal with when you're unconscious."
She leaned her weight against him as she tried to make the trees stop spinning around her. "Gee, thanks." Looking up at him she saw the blood on his face. She reached her hand up and gently wiped it away from his eyes. "Are you okay?"
"I'll be fine."
Their eyes met for a breathless second. She blushed and looked away, pulling away from him. Stop that! She scolded herself. She looked back up at Rui from beneath the cover of her eyelashes. He was looking at her strangely. But it was something behind him that caught her attention.
Ari gasped. "Look out!"
The bandit leader laughed as Rui fell to the ground, a knife in his back.
To be continued…**************************************
AN: ok I have a couple of apologies to make. One: Im sorry for leaving off at cliffhangers so often, it's just so much easier to finish the chapter that way you know? And Two: I apologies for the…ahem innuendo, for lack of a better word. I read back over this and I almost delete the whole thing in frustration. I told you I was a perfectionist…but seriously, it's so sappy at time I feel like gagging! But what do I do? I just post the damn thing instead. And another thing, I changed this from a PG rating to a PG-13. Why? Well, there's gonna be some swearing, and some blood, and some angst…so I did what I though was best. (some swearing she says! HAHAHA! I have to admit, I love a heroine who can count her cuss words on more than one hand) SO! That's it! Thanks to all reviewers! You are my inspiration! (IE if you, yes YOU, want to be my inspiration then for crying out loud! REVIEW!!!!)
***wanderlily***