hi ppl! i'm back with another chapter! As i have warned you, Taiora is appearing little by little in the coming chapters. I know I have promised the other couples, but I just can't fit them in this part. Maybe by the next chapter, when the bandits will go to Tarben. okay... i'm giving away hints. enjoy this part!
Part 13: Misery of their Hearts
It's been two weeks since Sora had stayed in with the bandits. They've treated her kindly and were very caring enough to help her find news about Yamato. Sadly, they found no clues or trace if the blonde knight was still alive or dead.
Sora sighed and gazed at the faraway landscape. It's been her spot for letting out her emotions, her worries and tears. Being under the big oak tree was like a refuge for her. She wondered if her prayers even reached God… or if she's hoping for nothing at all.
"Ah… staring into oblivion again…"
Sora smiled upon recognizing the calm yet strong voice of the bandit. She patted a sit next to her and smiled at him. "Hello Taichi."
The handsome young man took a seat beside her and gazed at the lands of Tarben, which were miles away from them. He smiled and turned his head to the red-haired woman. "You miss Tarben, am I right?"
Sora nodded. "Yes… I wonder how my father and mother are doing? I wonder if they're angry with me for leaving the palace… I wonder if they still acknowledge as their daughter. Maybe they have forgotten about me and adopted Mimi as their daughter." Sora laughed and shook her head. "Sometimes, I never ceased to amaze myself for such out of this world ideas."
"You do amaze me also…"
Sora turned to Taichi and hugged her knees closer. He was one of those guys who truly respected her and cared for her. She once thought that Taichi was an inconsiderate chauvinist. "I do?" Sora asked.
He nodded and lied down on the lush green grass and stared at the puffy clouds that moved slowly in the sky. "Yeah… I thought women like you are always conceited. Always thinking of their clothes or their hair before other people. I thought you only think of things that would not break your nails or make yourselves dirty."
Taichi laughed upon remembering something. "I was so surprised when you challenged me for a swordfight the other day." He said, chuckling. Sora was definitely angry with him for humiliating her in front of the villagers and she was determined to challenge and kill him in swordfight.
Sora blushed, remembering the incident clearly. "Yes… but I lose."
"You put up a pretty good fight. And remember the time when you tried your hand on arrows? You were great. I even doubt if your royalty."
Tai sighed and closed his eyes, resting them from a day's work. "Honestly, I hated royal people. Royalties think they're way up to the heavens and we, bandits, are just lowly rats that lived in this world to clear the food that falls down from the royal table."
"Why on earth would you think that? Not all royal people are like that. Our family respects those who are in need and the palace is always open for anyone."
Tai's eyes opened and he sat up again, looking at Sora. "I know. I never knew that the ragged girl I met with the blonde guy in Tarben was actually a princess."
Sora chuckled. "I escaped the palace because I want to have a time for my own. I would dress up in those ragged clothes and would slide down from the window of my room and land at the stables. Fortunately, no one notices."
Tai laughed and stared at the pretty woman's face that somehow elicited happiness, yet her eyes were still lost in an ocean of sadness. Taichi knew what causes that sadness. And as much as Yamato would want Sora to be happy, he wanted to erase the sorrow in her eyes. He smiled and scooted closer to her. "You do amaze me, Sora Takenouchi."
Sora smiled a little. Sometimes, she could see a part of Yamato in Taichi though she wished she didn't see Yamato in the brunette's image. In only adds to the pain that she feels… only adds to the loneliness she feels and her desire to be beside the blonde knight's side.
"You do amaze me too, Taichi… in a way, you really do amaze me…"
Hikari gazed at her brother and Sora, who was busy chatting under the oak tree. She smiled, giggling also. Miyako noticed her giggling companion and nudged Hikari at her side. "What's the matter with you?"
Hikari leaned close to her and pointed at her brother. "Don't they look good together?"
"Who?"
The small brunette pointed at the two sitting under the tree. "Who else but Tai and the princess!"
Miyako nodded her head in approval. "You know…" she leaned close to Hikari and whispered, "Maybe your brother fancies her…"
Hikari shrugged her shoulders and continued with what she was doing earlier, which was cutting the vegetables for dinner.
"I kept asking if he fancies her, but all he do was just look at me like I'm some sort of witch!" Hikari exclaimed.
"So, all your brother do is just be silent about it?"
"Well, yes… I suppose so…"
Miyako clapped her hands. "Well, maybe he does fancy her! My mother always say that silence means yes!"
"Tell that to my brother and I wonder what'll his reaction be."
Miyako frowned and shook her head. "Poor Tai… why don't he just say what he truly feels for her?"
Jun had waited for the last 25 minutes and her servant hasn't returned yet. "MELINDA!" she yelled. Finally, the servant girl came in a hurry and bowed down in front of her highness.
"Pardon me mistress, but I couldn't find Sir Yamato!"
"You imbecile! And where, may I ask, did you look for him?" the princess said with threat, that if she wasn't careful with her answer, her life would be her payment.
The servant tried to be calm, but her hands shook with nervousness. "I looked for him – "
"Say his name, you ignorant fool!"
She closed her eyes in fear of Jun and nodded. "Yes, my lady. I looked for Sir Yamato in his room, in the kitchen, in the garden but Sir Yamato wasn't there!"
Jun groaned and pulled Melinda's hair with anger, that it was a surprise that her head wasn't pulled off. "You are a lowly human Melinda! Do you even have a brain inside your head?!" Jun yelled, slapping Melinda's forehead.
"Of course he wouldn't be in his room, I already checked there! And why would he even be in the kitchen?!"
In frustration, she pushed Melinda to the floor and looked at her angrily. "You will get Yamato here in my room as soon as possible or I will end your miserable life! Go!"
Melinda scurried out of her mistress' room and went to where the dungeon is.
Yamato waited for Elizabeth's reply. He has been in the dungeon for quite a while and fortunately, no one's looking for him.
"Do you really want to escape?"
Yamato grasp the cell bars that block them. "Yes! I would want to get out of this hellhole as much as possible."
"Sir Yamato, if your married to Princess Jun, you'll be fed well, nurtured well and be the ruler of this land. Do you not see the good things that will happen to you if you choose to live a life with the princess?"
"Listen Elizabeth, if I ever make it out of this land alive, I would save each and everyone of you from this place! But if I'm here, we'll all die without seeing our loved ones…"
Elizabeth smiled. "Tell me the truth Sir Yamato, your main reason is to see, and only see your fiancé. Am I right?"
Yamato sighed. "Yes… I would want that." He whispered, a small smile appearing on his face. He'd be very much happy to see her smile again, her bright red eyes that dazzled happily whenever they're together. To hear her laughter again would make his day bright.
"I would grant your wish."
He blinked, when Elizabeth disturbed his little illusion. "You'll help me escape?"
Elizabeth shook her head. "No. There's too much risk and we need help." She motioned Yamato to sit closer by the cell. "It'll be full moon next week. I can use my magic for you to see your fiancé. When you see her, tell her that we need their help."
"Next week is too far away. I… I do not know if I can wait that long…"
"You must… just think of your love ones…"
"Sir Yamato!"
Both turned and saw a servant running towards them. "Melinda!" Elizabeth said while standing up, Yamato following her.
Melinda kneeled in front of Yamato and cried. "I beg you my Lord! Please see my mistress immediately. If you not, she would kill me! Please my lord…"
Yamato nodded his head and turned to Elizabeth. "I would wait until next week. Thank you Elizabeth. I must go now." With that, he ran to where his fiancé Jun is.
Jun immediately stood up upon hearing her bedroom door creak open. She smiled and walked gaily to her husband-to-be.
"Yamato… I was so – "
"What… do you want?" he snapped, causing Jun to shut her mouth. Then, she tried to smile sweetly and embraced his arm.
"I want us to discuss our marriage."
"Oh, is it that important to you?" he asked sarcastically. Jun's eyes widened and she stepped back from Yamato.
"It is important to me! It might not matter to you but it is very important to me!"
Yamato stared back coldly at the conceited princess. "If your finished, I would want to rest now."
"There's still dinner with my father. We would still discuss our marriage with him."
"Both of you can talk the matters without me…" he said flatly, making his way towards the door.
Jun's eyes flared angrily. Why is he acting like this? She said madly to herself.
"Yamato."
The blonde turned to her with his blue eyes glaring back at her own. She tried to hide the smirk forming in her face.
"I received news from our spy. It's been said that Princess Sora has been gone for about two weeks."
As she suspected, Yamato looked as if all hell has broken loose. What happened to her? I would kill anyone if she died!
"Why did she leave the palace?"
Jun smiled evilly. "Why? Is it that important to you?" she asked the same question.
"Yes… it's more important than our so-called marriage." He said icily, glaring at Jun.
"If she's dead, maybe our marriage would matter to you more."
"If she's dead… I would gladly accept my death next than to spend my life with you."
With one last glare, Yamato walked out of the room, leaving an angry princess.
Sora waited impatiently for the return of Taichi's spies. What's taking them so long? She thought, walking back and forth in front of Hikari. The younger girl smiled a little.
"Princess, they'll be coming soon. There' no need to be impatient."
Sora took a breath and sat down beside her. "You're right Hikari. Oh, may I ask you a favor?"
Hikari looked at the redhead and nodded her head. "Yes." She answered simply.
"Please don't call me princess."
Hikari giggled. "Sure… Sora."
Both smiled at each other, then heard Taichi's voice.
"What news have you gathered?" he asked his spies.
"Not a clue. We haven't got a new if he's still alive or not."
Sora's lips quivered but she forced herself to smile. "Oh… okay then… there's still food on the table. I bet you are very hungry." She tried to say calmly, but the tremble in her voice won't disappear. She smiled and said goodnight to everyone and proceeded to her room.
Taichi noticed this and dismissed his spies and followed Sora. He knocked thrice on the wooden door.
"Sora?"
"Yes… Tai?"
"Are you all right?"
"Yes… I'm fine."
Taichi doubt it. Her voice was trembling. "Are you sure?"
He heard her laugh and the door opened. He frowned a little upon seeing her eyes were wet from tears. " Yes… I'm just a little saddened from the news. Go attend to your people, they need you. I'm quite fine."
"Do you not need someone to comfort you?" Taichi asked gently, opening the door wider and stepping close to the maiden. Sora shook her head. "I'm quite fine, Tai."
Taichi forced a smile and brushed her hair. "Don't cry, okay? I promise I'll find Yamato. And I never break my promise…"
like it? please review! remember the couples i promised (takari, kenyako, jyoumi)? Well, I'll try to save the next (next) part for them. So, don't be angry. And also, Junato is not yet in it's climax. It's just a part of it. Prepare yourself for more Junato, specially when Yamato decides to marry her in his own will! review!!
insane-chick ~ please do not copy my story plots from any of my story coz I've worked my sweat and blood to give my readers a nice story for them to read. That's clear, okay? No copying