Authoress here.
Sorry about the wait! I haven't really been busy, so I can't use that excuse. I haven't been without a computer to type on, so that one is null as well. But I can say my muse has turned towards the art aspect of my scope of boredom-induced talents. I'm really proud of this fanart thing I drew of Emiko, Kurama, Yusuke and Katsu. Hopefully I'll find the time to scan it and get it on the Internet so my readers can see my vision of my characters. (Squinty eyes at G-Dawg, who reaaalllly needs to update the website)
So anyways, on to the chappie!
Yujo Chronicles: Narrin's Story
Chapter Eight
Katsu's finger slipped, snapping a picture she hadn't intended. A round-faced man with thinning black hair noticed and threw his hands up, exasperated.
"Majoh! Where did your concentration go to today?!"
Katsu blushed, hiding both the camera and her slightly shaking hands behind her back. "Sorry, Mr. Sashuturo. I g-guess I just haven't been getting real good sleep lately."
Mr. Sashuturo sighed, placing a hand on Katsu's shoulder. "Majoh, you're my best photographer, and also the youngest. I can see how the strain of being away from home can take it's toll on you. But this is a high priority event, here, Majoh. Focus, and finish these last few shoots. We'll have you home within the week."
Katsu managed a feeble smile, and her manager clapped her on the shoulder. "That's the spirit! Now there's a nice little fountain I want to use about a half hour into town, so I'll be packing up our models for today and getting them on location. You and Koruno can follow once you've wrapped up the equipment, okay?"
"Yes, sir."
"Good." Mr. Sashuturo headed towards the costume and make up trailers, barking out orders in his gravelly voice. Katsu sighed, and wandered a little away from the main hustle and bustle of the current shoot location. The charm of the French countryside they were at was lost on her, although the beauty of it usually made her sit in awe.
Rolling gently away from the small hill where the vans and cameras of S&R's sat was a rich golden field of wheat. After about three acres of this, the wheat gave way to lush green tresses of long grass, and then a small, blue farm house.
Katsu found a stray plastic chair and pulled it into the shade of an ancient oak tree. Pulling up her knees, and resting her elbows on them, she let her chin rest in cupped palms. Her once-hazel eyes filled with tears, and she barely noticed as they rolled down her cheeks.
"Idiot." Katsu muttered. "Yusuke, how could you, of all people, get captured?"
It had been almost three days since Katsu had seen the roguish teenager and his friends, and the long absence confirmed Katsu's fears: the Queen had captured them. They were being held in her castle, where she did who know what to them-
"Oh-!" Katsu sat up straight. The castle! Perhaps if I could distract her, they could get out... Katsu shook the thought away. She, as a regular human, could do nothing but wait. She couldn't save Yusuke. Not this time.
This realization made Katsu's pale eyes overflow with bright tears. She tried to stand, but her foot turned and she huddled on the ground, letting her grief fall onto the slender blades of grass below her.
...
The guard shifted uneasily outside the master chambers of the Queen. Muffled sobbing sounded from inside, but he didn't dare go in to inquire what was wrong.
Narrin sat at her mirror, a masterpiece of glass and burnished silver. Her reflection stared back at her, showing the red-tipped nose and wet face from her sorrows. Her hair looked slightly unkempt, due to the fact she hadn't even done as much as run a comb through it since before that moment with the prisoner.
The prisoner. Narrin dared not even think his name, lest it brought another fresh round of tears. The mere kiss, in and of itself was divine. Narrin ran her tongue over her lips, remembering the way he had pressed that wonderfully warm mouth to hers with an ardor that made her nervous.
No, it was her deeper reflection of his true motives that made her eyes water. Narrin had freverently believed her actually loved her in that brief moment when he so forcefully embraced her. But the moment was fleeting, and then the realist in her started arguing with her heart.
A man in bondage is by definition desperate, and willing to do anything to secure a safe release. Seduction was generally a ploy used by females, but Aya had bent it to his will with flying colors. "And I fell for it like a novice." Narrin whispered, heartbroken.
You are a novice, an internal voice whispered. Do you really think you're fit to rule? You were thrown off of Olympus for a reason. Maybe this mortal Aya is what the Fates intended..
Narrin shook her head violently. "I shall stay as ruler. I deserve this. No other wants this more than I do. I alone have the merit to hold this."
The internal battle raged on, until Narrin's eyelids closed of their own accord, tears still leaking out from beneath them.
...
Kurama inspected Emiko's eye. It had healed nicely and quickly, due to her demonic blood. She was almost back to normal, although a dull brown-gray bruise lingered as proof of her abuse.
"Does it throb any longer?" Kurama asked, turning Emiko's face this way and that to examine her forehead. Emiko gave a small giggle and shook his hands away.
"I'm fine, Kurama. Thanks."
"Good." Kurama bent to give the bruise a quick kiss. Emiko flinched briefly, but smiled all the same.
Hiei sat in the corner, the Jagan Eye beneath his headband pulsing gently. Kuwabara shuffled over to him, movements hampered by the Energy ring still binding him. "Whatcya doin'?"
Hiei's other eyes snapped open with a jerk, and the glow faded from beneath his headband.
"Nothing, oaf." While he spoke, he fumbled to hide a small white object back into his cloak.
"What's that?" Kuwabara gestured with his chin.
"Nothing. Go away before I lose my temper and cut out your tongue." Hiei snapped, drawing his cloak more tightly around himself.
"Geeze, somebody didn't take their nap today." Kuwabara mumbled, shuffling away from the irritated demon.
Yusuke had stretched out on the floor between Aya and Emiko, and had been trying to sleep. "Shuddap, Kittin Boy. I'm tryin' to get some shut-eye."
"I can't win today!" Kuwabara complained. "Next thing ya know ole Narrinwhatsit will come in and erase me."
"If only." Hiei breathed.
"What?!"
"Shut up, I said!" Yusuke scowled. "I haven't slept hardly at all, and escapen' ain't no piece of cake, from my experiences."
Aya tensed, then moved both arms. They lifted easily through the suddenly weak Energy bands, and he stood up and out, questions and hopes flooding his mind. "Look!"
Kuwabara and Emiko quickly followed suit, delighted with the new freedom. As their occupants left, the bands of Energy began to fade until their light had gone out entirely.
"Well, whaddya know." Kuwabara scratched his head. "I don't get it."
"You usually don't." Yusuke interjected. "But this one's got me too."
Before any further contemplation could be done on the subject, the door opened to reveal a French guard, who began to speak in choppy Japanese.
"You...free to go." He managed, and then stepped aside brusquely. The six once-prisoners glanced at each other, each wondering if this was some new trap. Aya was the first to leave.
He turned to the guard, speaking in French. "Not meaning to pry, but what event led to our freedom?"
The man shrugged. "It was Milady Narrin's wish. I do not question her motives."
"Thank you." Aya turned to the others, reverting to their language again. "It doesn't appear to be a trap."
Hiei stepped out of the room with his usual brash stride. "I hope they intend to give me back my weapon, otherwise I shall have to find it myself."
Aya relayed an edited version of Hiei's message to the guard, who nodded. He spoke quickly into a walkie-talkie, and after a moment, another guard hurried up with a long, thin package wrapped tightly in fine muslin fabric. Hiei snatched it, and thrust the wrapped weapon through his belt.
The guard who had let them free gave them a short bow, and gestured for them to follow. Exchanging slightly mystified looks, the six followed the man to the main doors of the palace. The doormen opened the wide double doors, and sunlight poured in.
Kurama, Emiko, Yusuke, Kuwabara, and Hiei all emerged into the bright, midmorning light. Aya hesitated before following his friends, letting his eyes search the innards of the palace for any sign of the Queen. Nothing.
With a sigh, he too left for freedom.
...
"YUSUKE!"
Yusuke grunted as a brown-haired someone flew into him, with enough force to sufficiently wind him and knock the both of them over. It was Katsu, just having finished the last shoot of the trip and on her way to the hotel to pack for home.
"Heya, Katty." Yusuke gasped out with a grin. The brunette sat up abruptly, and smacked him hard across the face.
Yusuke yelped. "What was that for?!"
Katsu glared at him. "For managing to get yourself captured."
"Oh, come on, Katsu, like I coulda helped that?" Yusuke hauled himself into a sitting position, rubbing his left cheek ruefully.
"Well, probably not, but- mmph!"
Yusuke stopped her from talking by firmly pressing his lips against hers. Kuwabara let out a whoop from where he and the others stood watching, and burst into noisy applause. Emiko and Kurama joined in until Yusuke and Katsu broke apart, both blushing.
"W-Where did that come from?" Katsu asked, breathless and a little flustered.
Yusuke looked over his shoulder to where Aya stood, motionless and smiling slightly. "Oh, just somethin' our pal Aya demonstrated."
Katsu blinked, apparently trying to take the statement in the cleanest way possible and failing. She shook her head to rid herself of the thought. "I'm sorry, Yusuke, I've been sitting on you-"
Kuwabara was unable to resist adding his own comment. "Like he minds!"
"Shuddap, Kittin Boy." Yusuke and Katsu threw back in unison, before both bursting into laughter.
...
Horns honked insistently, and drivers poked their heads out of their windows, yelling for the backup to dissipate. Slowly, the sound of a marching band floated above the noise of the angry drivers, stilling their complaints.
Yusuke, Katsu, Emiko, Aya, Kurama, Kuwabara and Hiei all sat, highly cramped, in the back of a cab. Yusuke managed to roll down the window, hitting Katsu with his elbow in the effort. The music was unmistakable, sounding in the French National Anthem.
The cab driver started yammering away in French, and Aya leaned forewords as best he could to catch what the man was saying.
"What is it, Aya?" Hiei said sharply. "Come on, we haven't got all day."
"He said it's the Coronation parade, thrown only in honor of the crowning of a new Ruler." Aya let the words die on his lips, his own thoughts echoing what everyone was wondering.
What had happened to Narrin?
The cab driver switched on the radio, catching an excited French reporter in midsentance. Both he and Aya listened intently.
After a few moments of disbelieving silence, Aya spoke. "It said that Narrin has stepped down from the throne of France, and has named the old ruler King again."
... One Month Later ...
A red haired girl hummed merrily, arranging the new shipment of young cosmos flowers in the window display of a small floral shop. A young man called to her from the backroom.
"Aya! Aya, help me with this, these pansies are heavy!"
Aya, Ran's sister, turned from her present task. "Coming!"
Koenma hadn't been idle while the six were in France. Pulling some influential strings in Spirit World, the Prince had managed to use his immense powers to miraculously awaken Ran's (known formerly as Aya) sister. Upon Ran's return home, he had found that Omi, Ken, and Yohji had taken her in and given her a job at the foursome's floral shop.
Aya had noted how listless her brother seemed. Even when he smiled and laughed with her, he had a shadow behind his eyes that made her worry. But whenever anyone inquired, he gave them the same dismissive answer of "I'm fine."
The bell over the door sounded, and a hooded person entered, cloaked against the brisk early autumn air. As both Omi and Aya were occupied, Ken hurried to the counter.
The stranger did not immediately come forewords, but instead wandered a little around the shop, touching a pale finger to one of the white roses on display.
"Er, may I help you?" Ken asked politely.
The stranger turned, making a sudden eye contact. Bright blue eyes, deep as twin wells, made Ken start with surprise. The owner of the intense gaze made her way slowly to the counter. Her voice was almost in audible.
"I'm looking for Aya."
"Which one?" Ken joked. "All of a sudden we have two Ayas around."
"What do you mean?" Her tone indicated that he should keep his frivolous behavior to a minimum.
"Well, miss, we have young Aya, Ran's younger sister. And Ran, who used to be known as Aya."
"Then, I believe I'm looking for this..Ran." Came the smooth reply.
"Okay..one moment." Ken glanced at the hooded woman uneasily before retreating back down the hallway. "Ran!"
The red-head looked up from the order sheet on the clipboard he held. "Yes?"
Ken lowered his voice. "Some strange woman to see you. Don't know her name."
Ran nearly threw down the clipboard before charging up the hallway past a bemused Ken. He checked his speed quickly before emerging behind the counter, and looked closely at the stranger standing there.
As he watched, two slender white hands reached up to the strange woman's hood and lowered it. It was Narrin, cheeks pink from the cool wind of outside, and hair falling gently to rest on her shoulders.
Ran stepped forewords slowly, letting his eyes lock stares with hers.
"Aya." Her voice was soft. "Or, Ran, now."
He took another halting step forewords. She continued, holding up her head, chin quivering slightly, giving away her nervousness.
"I had to come and see you. I h-have questions that need answering."
"Oh?" Now the distance between them was only the span of the counter.
Narrin bravely continued, drowning in the intensity of his gaze. "I need to know your true motives for your actions the last time we were to-together."
"What, my kiss?" Ran noted how they both were leaning towards one another subconsciously. Those enticing lips of hers were so close, quivering with her feelings.
"Y-Yes." Narrin managed out.
"What do you think?" Ran's stare seemed to pull her forewords. She stammered, trying to remain cool.
"I-I think you merely w-wanted me to crack and g-give you your f-f-freedom." Her voice came out as not much more than a throaty whisper.
"Wrong." Ran replied, and finally their lips met in an embrace both had longed for.
End Yujo Chronicles: Narrin's Story Start Yujo Chronicles: Ankara's Story
"I can see it. Emiko can see it. Even Kuwabara notices something is wrong with you lately." Kurama regarded his friend unblinkingly.
Hiei scowled, eyes scanning the night sky. "Get off the roof, Kurama. You might slip and break you neck. I wouldn't care, but your little mate might start to cry."
Kurama smiled, and sat more comfortably next to his demonic friend. "Come now, Hiei. Where has your sense of logic gone? I was quite the thief as Yoko, and then I practically lived on rooftops."
"Hn." Hiei purposefully avoided his friend's eyes.
"Come on, Hiei. You've been fingering your mother's teardrop pearl much more than you usually do." Kurama prompted.
Hiei took out the object of question. The perfectly round pearl dangled on the fine chain, that was constantly some ware on Hiei's person. The first time Kurama had questioned of its origin Hiei had said it was one of his mother's tears. "Well?" Kurama asked gently.
"This isn't my mother's," Hiei said slowly. "Nor is it Yukina's."
Authoress here.
There. I did it. I moved myself to escape from the depressingly deep crevice that is Writer's Block and finish Narrin's story. Hoped y'all liked it! (And, I hope you all overlook my rather large mistakes concerning Aya and Weiss )
I gotta go clean some of my tack. State Fair is at the end of this month, and I have to have it SPARKLING...foo....