Captive

Chapter 1 -  Life's Prisoner

Akane stared out at the flowered gardens lost in her thoughts. Her face serious, even grim as she surveyed the domain of her father. She wanted out, goddamnit, out of here, out of this prison that was her father's kingdom. Her heart clenched at her thoughts. She had thought that she had grown out of this a long time ago. She had just turned twenty this year and she had thought that her rebellious thoughts about freedom had finally been left behind. This year, she would have to get married, she would leave here and make a new life somewhere else, with a man that she would have to learn to love. Akane sighed deeply in despair and lifted a hand to touch her hair. It was short, different from all the women in the kingdom with their long hair. She had cut it in defiance at sixteen and since then she kept it short. It was a way to remind herself that the rebel that she had once been would always be a part of her. She pulled back from her window as two horses reigned in the gardens. A twinkle of laughter floated to her followed by the hearty laugh of a man and Akane smiled as she recognized them.

Nabiki, she smiled. Her sister and his husband. Akane watched them from the shadows and their love shone for all to see. Her sister had tamed the great Kuno Tatewaki. He had fallen in love with her and she had not been able to resist him.

Just like Kasumi had fallen in love with Tofu Ono and her father had been only too happy to marry his daughter to the prince of the Ono kingdom and the well-known healer.

It seemed that only she was alone. Her heart had not yet been captured and Akane had never felt so lonely in her life as when she saw her sisters and their husbands together. She was very much loved by her parents and sisters and their husbands and yet somewhere, she could not imagine any man who would love her as deeply as Tofu and Takewaki loved Kasumi and Nabiki. Her father would not force her into marriage but she knew quite well that she would do her duty in the end. In the end, even the freedom she yearned for so much would give in before duty. She hung her head as a soft knock was heard.

A young woman popped in her head and smiled as she saw Akane. Her long chestnut hair was tied in a ponytail and it hung down her back.

"Akane," she smiled excitedly as she hopped into the room and Akane plastered a smile on her face for her friend.

"Ryoga is here," her friend's eyes were shining as she looked at Akane and Akane slowly got down from where she had been sitting on the window ledge.

"He is huh?" she smiled mischievously and Ukyo sighed, very much in love. "So, you've told him?" Akane asked casually.

"What? Are you crazy? I can't tell him that," Ukyo paced the room as Akane plopped down in an armchair.

"No," Ukyo grew serious as she shook her head, "He's here to see if there is a way to avoid war with the Saotome kingdom."

"Ah, the Arrogant Wild Horse," Akane murmured.

"Yes, the talks are drawing to an end and Ryoga and your father would prefer to find a way to end it all in peace but the Saotome prince does not wish to end this feud."

Akane thought about it as Ukyo left after a few minutes. The feud had existed for a long time between the Saotome and the Tendo kingdom, ever since the times of her great grandfather. Genma Saotome had tried to end it in his reign but he and his wife had been murdered while still in their young years and their only son had had to take over while still a child. His childhood must not have been very easy, Akane thought to herself. He had such strong hate towards the Tendos but nobody had ever found another reason but that of a long existing feud. The prince was now a man and hate still seem to feed his heart and war would soon be declared. She knew that the Tendo kingdom would win. Everybody knew that. But the other kingdoms wanted this feud to end, even if it meant that the Tendos and the Saotomes would go to war. But once the war was over, the feud would no longer exist. Such were the laws between the kingdoms. End a feud with an alliance or a war. She knew her father's kingdom was greater, larger and much more powerful. But she also knew that her father did not want to send any of his men to their death because there would be those who would die. There was always death in war and her father loved his men. But the Saotome prince was not ready to settle for an alliance and soon he would have no choice but to go to war.

Akane smiled at her maid as the latter came in to help her dress for the evening dinner. It was summer time, when everybody visited the palace, when her sisters came over for a month and when even prince Ryoga and Ukyo dropped by. Dinner went smoothly and Akane let the laughter of the people around the huge dinner table soothe her with their light chatter and their laughter. Her mother smiled at her as she caught Akane's eyes and the twinkle in her eyes seem to tell Akane that she knew of the thoughts tumbling in her daughter's head. When her mother suddenly winked, Akane choked on her mouthful of food and Ukyo had to slap her back as the queen laughed full aware that she had provoked this. Soun Tendo smiled at his wife wondering what she was up to again. She was still so beautiful and she still took away his breath.

Dinner ended and Akane smiled as Ukyo stood rapt before Ryoga who was talking to her. The latter was blushing lightly as he stared down at the beautiful woman smiling up at him. Akane left them alone and went back to her room, changing into a tunic and a pair of pants before throwing a cloak around her shoulders. Her door opened slightly as she peeped into the long corridors. They were deserted and the palace was silent. Everybody had retired to his chambers and Akane smiled to herself as she tiptoed out of the room, down the corridor. She smiled at the cook and lifted a gentle finger to her lips as she passed by. And the cook chuckled to herself. She had always had a soft spot for the youngest princess. Everyone had. The young and rebellious princess with the biggest heart in the world. Who wouldn't love her? She was beautiful, strong and yet so soft. She loved everyone, never looked down to anyone and she was so much like both her parents. The kingdom adored her.

Akane slipped out of the service door that was used only by the kitchen-helpers or the maids. She was soon into the gardens and she laughed softly, a twinkling sound in the softness of the night. A figure hidden between the branches of a tree started. He watched the young woman below shed her cloak and let himself fall softly on the grass. He watched the play of the moonlight on her features and watched her smile softly at the stars when the wind ruffled her bangs. His heart clenched with hate and something else when his loins stirred. He scanned his surroundings as he remembered the layout of the huge gardens that Soun had had tended to for his queen. He knew the exact placements of the palace guards and their routines. And then he swooped down. Akane's head snapped up as the figure fell on her from out of nowhere. Her body moved instinctively as she evaded the figure and slipped behind him. Her kick however was caught as the figure swirled and pulled suddenly on her lifted ankle. Akane went forward and threw a hand down to give her momentum to throw herself back on her feet. But the figure was too quick for her as his kick sent her hand off and she lost her balance and fell. His body met hers on the grass and a piece of cloth was stuffed down on her nose and mouth even as she kicked and her hand ripped off the man's headpiece. Raven hair stumbled down to fall over her face and she only had time to stare into the deepest blue eyes she had ever seen before it all went black. Shinosuke lifted a hand and softly brushed back the girl's strands of hair that had fallen on her face during their struggle. And his hands stayed. Her hair was so soft. His body again responded and he suddenly pushed himself to his feet. The girl was certainly a surprise. He had known that she would be pretty, after all, her mother was. But he hadn't been prepared for her strength and fighting spirit. She had looked desperately beautiful as she had lain in the grass smiling at the heavens and yet there was also so much strength in that beauty. It was subtle, hidden. To be seen only by those who knew how to look. He shook his head to clear it and smiled cynically down at her. So, she was a fighter and a pretty thing. Well, she was not so different from Xian Pu, Ranma's mistress. And she would turn out to be as bitchy and hard-hearted as Xian-Pu - Shinosuke deduced. All women were the same. He picked her up, threw her over his shoulder and jumped up into the trees, immediately disappearing from view. He reappeared on the palace wall and jumped down. A horse was waiting and he was on the horse in seconds galloping away with his burden.

The palace awoke the next day in chaos. The youngest princess had disappeared and there was a note on her bed for the king telling him that she had been kidnapped and that he would soon be contacted. Knights were sent all over from the Tendo, the Kuno, the Ono, the Kuonji and the Hibiki kingdoms to find the princess or anything that related to her. And in the midst of it all, the men gave orders and tried to cope with the situation. And in the night they laid their heads in the laps of their women who had stood strong behind them in the days and who now gave them the comfort they needed so much and the peace of mind they wanted so much. And the knights rode on in search of a princess they knew and loved. But they were too late. They had already been too late when Shinosuke had captured Akane. And now the rider reached the gates of the kingdom where Akane was to be taken. It had been one day and one night's ride on a horse that never tired, never stopped, never slowed. Shinosuke smiled at himself as he caressed the mare. That witch of Cu Lon certainly knew her way with potions and magic. The horse was barely tired. Shinosuke grabbed the still unconscious Akane, hefted her over his shoulder and his long strides ate up the distance to the palace. He tapped on a few of the stone bricks and a secret door gave way in the wall and he was engulfed in the darkness. A tall young man was waiting when he came out in a large room.

"Well, how did it go?" the young man asked and Shinosuke lifted a brow.

"Perfect," the young man replied turning away.

"Take her to the tower and lock her there. Those will be her chambers and nobody will hear her there or will ever know that she has been here," the young man finished.

"As you wish," Shinosuke nodded and was leaving when the voice stopped him again, "Have some wine afterwards with me friend? You must be tired from your journey."

Shinosuke smiled and nodded as he said gently, "I am never too tired to talk to you friend." And he left as the young man turned to his window to stare moodily away, lost in his thoughts.

My Notes :

The story's an altaverse one.

The Ranma crew is different for they have lived different lives.

I hope you guys like the story ^_~

Sorry for those stories that I have not finished yet, I am working on them right now and I will end them :o)