Chapter Twelve: Escape
The guards of TarraSohma along with the king watched on a hill as the young prince was led to the palace.
"Your highness" the head guard replied, "Shouldn't we do something?"
"No" Akito grinned menacingly, "A lesson must be learned here."
*****************
"But you don't understand" Yuki protested, "I haven't seen the princess."
"Yea right pal" Kageru said unlocking the dungeon door, "Your king makes a threat to mine a week ago about the princess and then you suddenly appear and she's missing. What am I to think?"
"Threat? What threat?"
"Never you mind about that your majesty" Kageru replied as Yuki was tossed in the cell, "We'll get the truth out of you soon enough."
"But I didn't do anything!" Yuki shouted as he clutched the bars.
"Yea, and I'm not the king's right hand man."
Kageru and the soldiers left him there without another word.
"Now what am I going to do?" Yuki thought as he hung his head.
*****************
"Haru" Momiji complained, "Sneaking out in the middle of the night is a bad idea."
"I'm just curious about where Yuki has been going for the past week, that's all."
"I think we have seen too much" the young boy replied, "If Akito finds out about Yuki being thrown into prison, he'll flip, and us being out won't do any better."
They were strolling through ShiraNobi with their head covered with brown cloaks.
"But what if Akito doesn't find out" Haru said simply.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean we are going to get Yuki out of there."
"How are we going to do that? We're princes remember? We'll get caught?"
"Then we'll find someone we know who isn't a prince."
"Who'd you have in mind?"
"Follow me."
Hatsuharu and Momiji walked out of the town and back to their horses tied to a nearby tree. They untied the ropes and climbed on.
"Okay Haru" Momiji asked, "What's your plan?"
"To fetch a cat," Haru replied.
****************
"Hana what are we doing following those guys?" Uo said walking up to the same spot the two boys had been moments earlier.
"Their electric signals" Hana said, "They are the same as that Kazuma guy we met in the mountains. And that Kyo guy."
"Orange top?"
"Yes. If Tohru is missing, I have a feeling that following them will help her a great deal."
"Well then what are we waiting for" Uo said bringing up two horses, "Let's do it!"
****************
Hatsuharu followed closely by Momiji led the way up the mountains.
"Haru do you even know where Kyo's cabin is?"
"Mhm. Trust me" Hatsuharu grinned.
The lights from the cabin flickered as they neared. They stopped their horses and walked up to the door. Not far behind Uo and Hana also stopped their horses and decided to travel the rest of the way on foot. Hatsuharu knocked on the door.
"No answer" Haru replied.
"Try again" Momiji suggested.
"I got a better idea," Haru said spotting a ladder on the side of the house. He climbed up it as Momiji watched. A few seconds later he heard scuffling on the roof, then two figures fell into the big bushes in the front.
"Damn it! What the hell did you think you were doing!"
Momiji walked over cautiously and saw Kyo and Hatsuharu face to face with Kyo gripping tightly on Haru's shirt.
"Do you mind Kyo?" Haru said calmly, "You will ruin my shirt."
"Do you mind? What the hell are you both doing here!" Kyo shouted angrily.
"Well" Haru began.
"It's Yuki!" Momiji blurted out, "He's been thrown into the dungeons of ShiraNobi."
Kyo stood up and brushed the grass off his pants.
"So what's that to me?"
"We were kind of hoping you would help us get him out," Haru explained.
Kyo stared at them for a few minutes then turned away.
"No thanks."
"But Kyo" Momiji whined, "If Akito catches him, he will be in such big trouble."
"Like I care!" Kyo yelled in his face, "I could care less what happens to that damn rat!"
"But you have to help" Momiji continued to fuss, "We really need you."
"No way!"
"Please Kyo!"
"No!"
All the while a change came over Hatsuharu's face. He looked up at Momiji crying and Kyo still shouting. Finally he grabbed the back of Kyo's shirt.
"What the hell!"
"You listen" Haru said in a dangerous voice, "And you listen good. I don't care what kind of relationship you have with Yuki. You either help us voluntarily or I will kick your sorry ass all the way down the mountain. Do I make myself clear?"
Kyo pulled away angrily.
"I'd like to see you just try it" he replied through gritted teeth.
"Very well then" Haru said throwing off his cape and balling his fists, "You asked for it!!"
He charged Kyo who sidestepped him and blocked his hands.
"You wimpy cat! You pansy! Come on! Hit me!"
"You want me to hit you? Fine you fat cow!!"
"Uh guys" Momiji fussed, "Stop it!"
"Stay out of it rabbit!" Kyo ordered, "I got to teach this bastard a lesson."
Meanwhile Hana and Uo had arrived.
"You got to stop them" Momiji insisted.
"Don't worry kid" Uo replied, "I'll take care of it."
Uo stuck her fingers in her mouth and blew very hard. A loud whistle was heard throughout the woods. Haru and Kyo stopped and stared.
"You know fighting isn't going to solve anything Orange top."
"Butt out Yankee! This is none of your business! Come on Haru, let's go."
"Actually Kyo" Hatsuharu said calmly, "I don't want to fight anymore."
"What!" Kyo exclaimed.
"Phew" Momiji sighed, "He's not black Haru anymore."
"So are you coming or aren't you?" Haru asked a final time.
"I already said no" Kyo replied walking back to the cabin.
"I don't suppose I can change your mind?" Hana said stepping in front of him.
"I don't think so you crazy psychic."
"Just hear me out."
"Fine" Kyo sighed heavily. He sat on a log and placed his hands on his knees, "I'm listening."
"To save the prince is a priority, since he was the only one who can tell us where the princesses whereabouts are."
Kyo lifted his head.
"Say that again?"
"Princess Tohru is missing and Yuki has been blamed for it."
Kyo's eyes softened.
"Tohru's missing?"
"Oh yea" Momiji replied sheepishly, "We forgot that part."
"Well that part would have come in handy you know!" Kyo shouted angrily.
"So does this mean you'll help us?" Haru asked.
Kyo looked at the faces around him.
"Yea, I'll help the damn rat, but only for her sake."
"Good" Uo replied, "Now here's the plan."
***************
Kyo followed Uo and Hana closely towards the stairs that led to the dungeons.
"Okay" Uo said, "Hana and I will distract the guards while you rescue the prince. The keys are hanging on a hook inside the guard's sitting room. He is probably in the cells closest to the nearest exit. Take that exit out and meet your family on the other side."
"Then you go search for Tohru and leave everything else to me and Arisa" Hana finished.
"Okay" Kyo nodded.
Uo and Hana walked down the stairs and began flirting with the guards on duty. Kyo quickly snuck past them and walked towards the sitting room. Just like they said, he found the keys with no trouble. Then he followed the long passageway till he came to the cells.
"You in here you damn rat!" he called.
Yuki stood up and looked out the bars.
"Stupid cat? What are you doing here?"
"Saving your sorry ass, apparently" Kyo replied placing the keys in the lock.
"I guess I owe you one."
"You don't owe me squat" Kyo said opening the door, "I'm only doing this for her."
"That's right" Yuki replied, "The princess."
"You have any idea where she is?" Kyo asked.
"I do. But you won't believe it."
"Let's just go" Kyo replied leading the way to the door that would lead them to freedom, and hopefully their friend.
********************************************************
Authors Note: Hey guys! Hope everyone had a great Christmas! Here are chapters one of two until the New Year! Thanks for the great reviews! Look forward to receiving more.
Next Chapter: Zurinth
Tohru meets the other Zodiac members!
The guards of TarraSohma along with the king watched on a hill as the young prince was led to the palace.
"Your highness" the head guard replied, "Shouldn't we do something?"
"No" Akito grinned menacingly, "A lesson must be learned here."
*****************
"But you don't understand" Yuki protested, "I haven't seen the princess."
"Yea right pal" Kageru said unlocking the dungeon door, "Your king makes a threat to mine a week ago about the princess and then you suddenly appear and she's missing. What am I to think?"
"Threat? What threat?"
"Never you mind about that your majesty" Kageru replied as Yuki was tossed in the cell, "We'll get the truth out of you soon enough."
"But I didn't do anything!" Yuki shouted as he clutched the bars.
"Yea, and I'm not the king's right hand man."
Kageru and the soldiers left him there without another word.
"Now what am I going to do?" Yuki thought as he hung his head.
*****************
"Haru" Momiji complained, "Sneaking out in the middle of the night is a bad idea."
"I'm just curious about where Yuki has been going for the past week, that's all."
"I think we have seen too much" the young boy replied, "If Akito finds out about Yuki being thrown into prison, he'll flip, and us being out won't do any better."
They were strolling through ShiraNobi with their head covered with brown cloaks.
"But what if Akito doesn't find out" Haru said simply.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean we are going to get Yuki out of there."
"How are we going to do that? We're princes remember? We'll get caught?"
"Then we'll find someone we know who isn't a prince."
"Who'd you have in mind?"
"Follow me."
Hatsuharu and Momiji walked out of the town and back to their horses tied to a nearby tree. They untied the ropes and climbed on.
"Okay Haru" Momiji asked, "What's your plan?"
"To fetch a cat," Haru replied.
****************
"Hana what are we doing following those guys?" Uo said walking up to the same spot the two boys had been moments earlier.
"Their electric signals" Hana said, "They are the same as that Kazuma guy we met in the mountains. And that Kyo guy."
"Orange top?"
"Yes. If Tohru is missing, I have a feeling that following them will help her a great deal."
"Well then what are we waiting for" Uo said bringing up two horses, "Let's do it!"
****************
Hatsuharu followed closely by Momiji led the way up the mountains.
"Haru do you even know where Kyo's cabin is?"
"Mhm. Trust me" Hatsuharu grinned.
The lights from the cabin flickered as they neared. They stopped their horses and walked up to the door. Not far behind Uo and Hana also stopped their horses and decided to travel the rest of the way on foot. Hatsuharu knocked on the door.
"No answer" Haru replied.
"Try again" Momiji suggested.
"I got a better idea," Haru said spotting a ladder on the side of the house. He climbed up it as Momiji watched. A few seconds later he heard scuffling on the roof, then two figures fell into the big bushes in the front.
"Damn it! What the hell did you think you were doing!"
Momiji walked over cautiously and saw Kyo and Hatsuharu face to face with Kyo gripping tightly on Haru's shirt.
"Do you mind Kyo?" Haru said calmly, "You will ruin my shirt."
"Do you mind? What the hell are you both doing here!" Kyo shouted angrily.
"Well" Haru began.
"It's Yuki!" Momiji blurted out, "He's been thrown into the dungeons of ShiraNobi."
Kyo stood up and brushed the grass off his pants.
"So what's that to me?"
"We were kind of hoping you would help us get him out," Haru explained.
Kyo stared at them for a few minutes then turned away.
"No thanks."
"But Kyo" Momiji whined, "If Akito catches him, he will be in such big trouble."
"Like I care!" Kyo yelled in his face, "I could care less what happens to that damn rat!"
"But you have to help" Momiji continued to fuss, "We really need you."
"No way!"
"Please Kyo!"
"No!"
All the while a change came over Hatsuharu's face. He looked up at Momiji crying and Kyo still shouting. Finally he grabbed the back of Kyo's shirt.
"What the hell!"
"You listen" Haru said in a dangerous voice, "And you listen good. I don't care what kind of relationship you have with Yuki. You either help us voluntarily or I will kick your sorry ass all the way down the mountain. Do I make myself clear?"
Kyo pulled away angrily.
"I'd like to see you just try it" he replied through gritted teeth.
"Very well then" Haru said throwing off his cape and balling his fists, "You asked for it!!"
He charged Kyo who sidestepped him and blocked his hands.
"You wimpy cat! You pansy! Come on! Hit me!"
"You want me to hit you? Fine you fat cow!!"
"Uh guys" Momiji fussed, "Stop it!"
"Stay out of it rabbit!" Kyo ordered, "I got to teach this bastard a lesson."
Meanwhile Hana and Uo had arrived.
"You got to stop them" Momiji insisted.
"Don't worry kid" Uo replied, "I'll take care of it."
Uo stuck her fingers in her mouth and blew very hard. A loud whistle was heard throughout the woods. Haru and Kyo stopped and stared.
"You know fighting isn't going to solve anything Orange top."
"Butt out Yankee! This is none of your business! Come on Haru, let's go."
"Actually Kyo" Hatsuharu said calmly, "I don't want to fight anymore."
"What!" Kyo exclaimed.
"Phew" Momiji sighed, "He's not black Haru anymore."
"So are you coming or aren't you?" Haru asked a final time.
"I already said no" Kyo replied walking back to the cabin.
"I don't suppose I can change your mind?" Hana said stepping in front of him.
"I don't think so you crazy psychic."
"Just hear me out."
"Fine" Kyo sighed heavily. He sat on a log and placed his hands on his knees, "I'm listening."
"To save the prince is a priority, since he was the only one who can tell us where the princesses whereabouts are."
Kyo lifted his head.
"Say that again?"
"Princess Tohru is missing and Yuki has been blamed for it."
Kyo's eyes softened.
"Tohru's missing?"
"Oh yea" Momiji replied sheepishly, "We forgot that part."
"Well that part would have come in handy you know!" Kyo shouted angrily.
"So does this mean you'll help us?" Haru asked.
Kyo looked at the faces around him.
"Yea, I'll help the damn rat, but only for her sake."
"Good" Uo replied, "Now here's the plan."
***************
Kyo followed Uo and Hana closely towards the stairs that led to the dungeons.
"Okay" Uo said, "Hana and I will distract the guards while you rescue the prince. The keys are hanging on a hook inside the guard's sitting room. He is probably in the cells closest to the nearest exit. Take that exit out and meet your family on the other side."
"Then you go search for Tohru and leave everything else to me and Arisa" Hana finished.
"Okay" Kyo nodded.
Uo and Hana walked down the stairs and began flirting with the guards on duty. Kyo quickly snuck past them and walked towards the sitting room. Just like they said, he found the keys with no trouble. Then he followed the long passageway till he came to the cells.
"You in here you damn rat!" he called.
Yuki stood up and looked out the bars.
"Stupid cat? What are you doing here?"
"Saving your sorry ass, apparently" Kyo replied placing the keys in the lock.
"I guess I owe you one."
"You don't owe me squat" Kyo said opening the door, "I'm only doing this for her."
"That's right" Yuki replied, "The princess."
"You have any idea where she is?" Kyo asked.
"I do. But you won't believe it."
"Let's just go" Kyo replied leading the way to the door that would lead them to freedom, and hopefully their friend.
********************************************************
Authors Note: Hey guys! Hope everyone had a great Christmas! Here are chapters one of two until the New Year! Thanks for the great reviews! Look forward to receiving more.
Next Chapter: Zurinth
Tohru meets the other Zodiac members!