The Shogun's Daughter

By: StarlightSakura

Chapter 6

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*bright flashing lights* Me no own, you no sue. I dun even own Whitney.

A/N: ...HOLY CRAP! Déjà vu. *shakes head to clear it* Enjoy.

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In a cave deep in the forest:

"Well, it looks like your plans are failing. Your first attempt to keep the two apart failed. Your curse will be broken in no time." A male voice said.

"Shut up Makoto! How was I supposed to know that some girl would actually fall in love with that stupid boy?! And I had hoped that attacking the capital and it's surrounding villages would have kept Soichiro Whitney from going back to the village. It doesn't matter now, I will send our little army to attack the village and kill Soichiro Whitney and Sohma Kyo. That boy will die before my curse is broken!" A female voice said.

As the first light from the rising sun poured into the cave, it revealed a man and a woman standing in the center looking towards a small room covered by a piece of material.

"Anata, would you really send them to do it? I think they are a bit too much just to kill two people." Makoto said.

"The love between two people can bring down even the strongest powers. I plan on using them to kill our two lovers before the girl breaks my curse." Anata answered. She walked towards the makeshift door, and stepped to the side. "Get out of the way my love." She said as she pulled the curtain towards her.

All at once, a swarm of flying insect-like creatures rushed out, leaving rotted space where they touched. A few had red eyes and started releasing fire from their mouths. They stopped at the exit of the cave just hovering above the ground. A few stayed in their place and came together taking the shape of a man. The man bowed to Anata. "Anata-sama. What is your bidding? Tell me and I shall do it." He said.

"In the closest village, there is a house. In this house lives an orange haired boy by the name of Sohma Kyo. His friend, a girl named Soichiro Whitney will be paying a visit to him this afternoon. I want you and your army to kill the girl. If you wish, you may kill the boy as well so long as you kill Soichiro Whitney." Anata said. She waved her hand, dismissing the man.

The man stood up and closed his eyes. A pair of black, insect-like wings came out of his back. He opened his eyes again and they were a deep blood red color. His wings started moving and he slowly rose from the ground. "Let's move out!" He told the insects as he took the lead and flew out of the cave. The insects followed and they all left.

"Can we leave it up to them?" Makoto asked as he placed a hand on Anata's shoulder.

"I am sure we can trust them. Besides, even if they don't kill Kyo and Whitney, Kyo is bound to change into his mysterious third form. Whitney will run from him for sure! That boy will never rid himself of the curse of the cat!" Anata said in excitement.

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Later that morning:

"Soichiro-san, wake up. Hiroyuki-san is here for you." A soft voice told the sleeping girl. Just then, rays of sunshine poured into the room as the middle-aged servant opened the windows to the room. "He says that the two of you agreed to spend the day together. That is just lovely. Why don't you try falling in love with him instead of some cursed boy?" She said. "Do hurry Soichiro-san, Hiroyuki-san is already waiting. Just where are you two going today?" She asked as she pulled out a pink kimono with lilies on it.

Yawning, Whitney got up from the futon she had been sleeping in and stretched. "We were just going to spend the day together. I don't really know where we will go, he just said I had to get out and do something." She lied. "Oh um, Yuki-san, I would rather wear this one instead." She told the servant as she pointed to her favorite blue kimono with the light blue wisps.

(A/N: So her name's Yuki as well, there's more than one Yuki in the whole world)

"Yes Soichiro-san." Yuki said as she replaced the pink one with the blue one. "Now we must hurry, it isn't nice to keep a guest waiting." She added as she left the room. "I already have a bath prepared for you Soichiro-san. Hurry." She said as she disappeared from the doorway.

Whitney looked out the window and down to the bustling market. She smiled at the children playing and even saw a boy who looked like an orphan steal some food from a vendor. 'Wish I were still a child, going about the day without a care in the world.' She told herself. Whitney turned and looked at the small table next to her bed. On it was the ring of the cat that Kyo had bought for her. She put it on and walked out of the room.

20 minutes later, Whitney was dressed and stopped by her father's office to tell Ken to tell him that she was leaving. Ever since the day he dragged her away from the Sohma house, Whitney only talked to her father by messages given to Ken. She knocked on the closed door and right away Ken answered.

"Ken-san, tell my father that I will be out all day with Rei-chan." She told the man.

"I don't know if he will let you. Ever since that attack here, there have been random attacks in some small villages in the surrounding area. But I will ask him." Ken said and closed the door again. A few moments later, Ken stuck his head out the door. "He thinks you should take along an escort, just to be safe."

"Tell him that Rei-chan and I will be perfectly fine on our own, we are not going too far off."

Again, Ken closed the door and when he came back out, he held out a bow and some arrows to Whitney. "He says to take these with you."

Taking them, Whitney bowed and left. As she came out to the front doors, she was met by Rei and a horse that had been prepared for her. Climbing onto it, Whitney smiled at Rei and the two took off.

In the forest, Whitney and Rei were talking about their friend Yuri's adventures in a mud puddle.

"Is she doing okay?" Whitney asked trying to hide a laugh.

"She is fine. All she got were a few minor cuts and mud almost got into her eyes."

"It's hard to see Yuri-chan tripping into mud. She is always so graceful when she walks."

"Yes but he passed by."

"He? Whose he?"

"His name is Akira. They have been talking for a few weeks now, I think he may ask for her hand soon."

"Really?! Oh my goodness that's so great! Good for Yuri, she will make a wonderful bride."

"I'm sure she will. All of you girls will make lovely brides. I just wished that you would have been mine." Rei said with a blush.

Whitney stopped her horse for a moment and looked at Rei with her own blush. "Rei-chan, I..." She started to say. Slowly, the horse started off again.

"It's alright. It took me all of last night but I finally figured it out. You and I, well, we have been best friends since we were both very young, and that's what we will always be to each other. I did think that I was in love with you for a few years but I guess I was wrong. I do love you Whitney-chan, but it is a love between friends. So don't worry, I will help the friend I love stay with the man she loves." Rei said.

Whitney's blush disappeared from her face. "I'm sorry Rei-chan. If I hadn't been in love with Kyo-kun I would have noticed how much you loved me. I... I'm so very sorry Rei-chan." She said. A tear fell down her cheek.

"I told you not to worry about it Whitney-chan. Now, let's go find Sohma Kyo." Rei said as he smiled at Whitney.

"Thank you Rei-chan."

The two rode for another hour and a half until the came to a familiar village. "Well, lead the way because I have no idea where the Sohma house is." Rei said to Whitney.

Smiling as big as she could, Whitney took off in the direction of the house, leaving only a trail of hoofprints for Rei to follow, which he did. He caught up to Whitney just as she got off the horse. Rei got off of his too and grabbed the reins from Whitney's horse. Almost right away a young servant came up to the two teenagers and recognized Whitney. "Hello Soichiro-sama. Shall I inform Sohma-sama of your arrival?" She asked Whitney.

"No thank you. If you don't mind, I would like to surprise them. Do you know where Kyo-kun is?" Whitney asked.

"Yes ma'am. The poor boy has kept himself locked away in his room since the day you left. Tohru takes him food and he doesn't finish all of it. I fear that he is becoming weaker each day. But hopefully seeing you will bring some joy back into his life." She said. She noticed Rei standing there holding the horse's reins. "May I ask the name of you friend Soichiro- sama?" She asked as she took the reins from Rei with a slight blush and a tiny smile.

"Good afternoon. My name is Hiroyuki Rei. May I have the pleasure of hearing your name?" He asked the girl.

"I... I am A...Asako." She said shyly. She looked to where Whitney was standing and noticed she was gone.

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In the garden:

"Yun-kun look! It's Whitney-san." Kagura said pointing to the brown and blonde haired girl walking through the halls. Kagura stood up and ran over to her. "Whitney-san! Hello I haven't seen you in a long time. How are you?" She asked.

"I'm doing fine. Where is Kyo-kun?" Whitney asked.

Kagura stiffened and looked at Whitney. "Kyo-kun is in his room. I've been cheering him up but he is tired I don't think he wants visitors while he is sleeping." Kagura said.

"Kagura-chan stop it. Hello Soichiro-san. Kyo-san is in his room. Kagura, go call Tohru-chan and everyone else." Yuki told his cousin who nodded and ran through the house looking for her relatives. "Kyo-san has been very depressed ever since you left. I don't think he will be expecting you. Go and see him." Yuki said.

"I will. Oh, my friend Rei-chan came with me. I hope you don't mind." Whitney said.

"Not at all. He is more than welcome in our home. Now you go and see Kyo- san. I will welcome your friend." Yuki said as he walked away.

Whitney took a deep breath and continued walking down the hall. When she was outside Kyo's door, she lightly tapped on the wood frame. Silence. She tapped again. Silence still. She tapped harder and heard someone from inside the room say, "Go away." She tapped again. "Dammit I said leave!" the person yelled.

"I won't." Whitney replied.

Right away, she heard footsteps rushing towards the door and as it slid open, Kyo appeared. "Whits-kun! What are you doing here?" He asked. He wanted to wrap her in a tight hug right then and there but contained himself out of fear that Whitney would run from him.

"I came to see you." Whitney said as a smile crept across her lips.

Not able to resist his urge any longer, Kyo wrapped his arms around Whitney. He felt Whitney tense up in his grasp but then quickly relax. She was about to wrap her arms around his back but remembered his curse so instead, she put her hands on his arms and rested her head on his chest. Kyo looked down at her and kissed the top of her head. "Why did you come back? I thought you hated me." Kyo said as he still had his face buried in her hair.

"I never said I hated you Kyo-kun."

"Then why did you leave me?"

"My father forced me too. He said that I am forbidden to see you forever."

"So why are you here?"

"Because I don't care. I don't care what he says, I don't care about your cur..."

Whitney was cut off by a loud explosion coming from outside. She and Kyo separated and ran to the entrance of the house. There they saw Rei shielding the servant girl and saw the two horses lying in a pool of their own blood. Around them, the ground was covered in many little cracks.

"Oh no! REI-CHAN! Are you alright? Are you hurt? Asako-san, are you alright?" Whitney yelled as she ran over to them followed by Kyo.

"Whi... Whitney-chan? I'm okay. What... happened?" He asked as he leaned against the wall and lifted himself up. He held a hand out to Asako and helped her up as well.

At that time, the rest of the Sohma's arrived outside. Tohru saw the two horses and screamed. She turned and hid her face against Yuki's chest. "Soichiro-san, what happened? Are any of you hurt?" Yuki asked as he held onto Tohru.

"Everyone is fine Yuki-san. I don't know what happened. I..." Whitney noticed the sky get darker. Everyone looked up and saw a dark shadow covering the sun.

"What is that?" Kisai asked. She got scared and hid between Yuki and Tohru. Hatsuharu, Kagura and Shigure squinted their eyes to see if they could make out what it was.

"Hey look! It's coming closer!" Kagura yelled pointing to the sky.

"Tohru-san, take Kisa, Asako, Whitney and her friend inside." Kyo said.

"I'd rather stay out here. I am not scared. Let me stay." Whitney begs.

Deciding it would be pointless to make her go, Kyo looked at Tohru. "Whits- kun is going to stay out here with us."

Tohru looked up at Yuki who nodded. "It might be safer." He told her. Tohru nodded and turned, trying to keep herself from looking at the two dead horses. She grabbed Kisa's hand and told the others. "Come on inside, I will treat your wounds." Once everyone was inside, Tohru entered. "Be safe." She said as she closed the door.

The shadow descended slowly so it was a few minutes before anyone could really make out what was coming down. As it came into better view, Kyo pointed out what they really were. "It's a huge swarm of insects. And there is some sort of demon-creature flying with them." He said. He squinted his eyes a little more and saw a few of the open their moths and saw a ball of orange come out. "Out of the way! They are some sort of demons!" He yelled. He pulled Whitney with him as they ran towards the house with the other Sohmas. "Whits-kun, maybe you should go inside with Tohru-san and everyone else." He said.

Before Whitney could answer, a man with insect wings and deep red eyes landed in front of them along with the swarm of insect demons. "Where are Soichiro Whitney and Sohma Kyo?" he asked.

"What do you want with my Kyo-kun?!" Kagura asked as she stepped up to the demon. She looked ready to kill the demon if he tried to touch Kyo.

"Are you Soichiro Whitney?" the demon asked.

"What business of yours is it as to who I am?"

"If you are not Soichiro Whitney then get out of the way!" the demon hit Kagura, sending the girl crashing into the wall with an ear-splitting scream as her head hit the wall and her arm landed between her and the wall, causing it to break.

"Kagura!" Kyo yelled. He ran to his cousin whose arm was hanging limply on her side and had blood running down her face. "Kagura, are you okay?" He asked. Kyo picked up the injured girl and ran back to the group. "Whitney- kun, take Kagura to Tohru and help clean her up please." He begged Whitney.

Nodding, Whitney took the now unconscious Kagura into her own arms, quietly opened the door and went inside.

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In the house:

"Tohru-san! Tohru-san! Quickly, Kagura-san has been hurt!" Whitney yelled when she got inside.

Immediately, Tohru came rushing out of a room. "Oh my! Kagura! Come with me Whitney-san." She said. Tohru ran back to the room she was in. "Lie her down here." She told Whitney.

When Whitney entered, she saw that three futons were lied out across the floor. Rei sitting in one holding a frightened Kisa and Asako sitting in the other looking at the floor, still in shock from what happened earlier. The third was empty and that is where Whitney put Kagura. Right away, Tohru started bundling small blankets under Kagura's head.

"Whitney-san. Can you run out to the pond and get me some water? Please? And do be careful." Tohru asked.

Whitney nodded, grabbed a small bucket that Tohru used to clean Rei's and Asako's wounds and ran into the gardens. When she got there, she heard explosions coming from the front. 'Oh Kyo-kun, please, be careful. The rest of the Sohma's too. Please protect them all.' She silently prayed. She got to the pond and had just dipped the bucket into it when suddenly, she felt something hit her on her back. "AHHHH!!!!!!!!!" she screamed as everything turned black for her and she fell into the pond.

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~*~*END CHAPTER SIX*~*~

A/N: don't hurt me for hurtin ya! *hides under computer desk* Oooo gum. ^.^